Four decades of spotting

[SOUspotter]

Today, August 5th, is FORTY years since I started logging aircraft. I was spotting prior to this on and off but stopped and, as with others, just mislaid 
my logs from earlier years.
So when I restarted spotting from 5/8/82 I kept a daily log. I use MS excel spreadsheet for my complete log (reg, type, c/n, operator, where seen, and when), and
use MS word for my daily logs, and can trace back from the start when and where I logged something.

I now total 53,212 - 1034 mil and 52,178 civil which equates to 1,330 per year. (I do paint scrapes.. urghhh I hear people say) no mil choppers or fighters though
totals include (all civil):
B- 1205 (China, HK, Taiwan, Macau all combined)
G- 10,383
N 15,412
RP- 438
VH- 796
ZK- 254

First log was at Southampton, where I made 3, the first in my log being HB-LNL a PA31T Cheyenne
First biz was Falcon 20 I-EDIM at LHR
First overseas trip was Paris air show 1985.

296 airports, airfields, air strips visited. Flown IN to 75 of those, and OUT of 76 of those. (The odd one is just flying OUT of Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Of course, flying is much better when you're a spotter, getting to choose airlines, routes, types and stop over durations when booking flights (providing 
I bribe the wife with a compromise - long layover in return for paying part of her air fare)
222 flights, from a TB9 Tampico to an A380 , totalling over 471,643 miles.
Would be happy to get to 60,000 civil before I go on a permanent departure 😁

Mark

[lordevanelpuss]

Five decades for me. Whilst I did read off the odd registration for my I-spy Aircraft book. The first being Cessna 336 G-ATAH at the 1970 Farnborough air show, performing the traditional low pass of the runway after a photo sortie at a much higher altitude. The serious spotting began two years later when I got my first pair of 10x50 binoculars courtesy of my late mother winning the Woman's Realm 'Mum Of The Year' contest in 1972. Very few of my early logs survive.

From 1972 I remember logs from airshows at Farnborough & Blackbushe.

My first foreign trip was to Canada in 1976 and my first aircraft logged on Canadian soil was Cessna 172 C-FUDA at Vancouver airport.

It's probable that my first biz were Falcon F-BTMF and HS125 G-AZHS at the 1972 Farnborough airshow.

After managing to scrape together the princely sum of £1, my first ever flight was in PA28 G-AXSH from Blackbushe in 1973 with an officer from my then air cadet squadron. And my first airliner flight was from Gatwick in DC8 CF-CPT for that 1976 Canadian holiday. First LHR flight was two years later and was in Viscount G-AZNB to Birmingham.

First helicopter flight was in 1977 in Jetranger G-BBFB from the 1977 Army show at Rushmoor arena in Aldershot.

First hot air balloon flight was in 1989 and was in Thunder AX7/77 G-BNHS launching from a site in Runfold (near Farnham).

First glider flight was in Scleicher ASK-13 G-CFMH at Lasham in 2009.

[timvlf]

Wonderful memories chaps !!! Thank you spotting on and of since early 70s 1st glider was at dunstable first light was ardmore in auckland new zealand 1at balloon was in kenya britania 737 from luton 1st jet vickers vicount frim gatwick 1st propliner happy days
Keep the faith and yer eyes peeled
Regards tim

[mrbluesky]

1st of June 1963 is the earliest date I can remember starting spotting at Liverpool might have been earlier, I was also into steam trains as well.

Happy Days

Bob