Plane Watching

"Maule Driver" wrote

You are a winner. I think they have a B737 and some other equipment. I
hear the hangar setup is fantastic.

I had no idea until recently.

grin I've never even been to RDU. I have a sister in law that is one of
the early people in the start up of SAS. They are consistently in the top
in the country, of places to work. EVERYTHING they do is first class. The
employee's cafeteria is true world class cuisine. They have child-care, on
campus. They have their own doctor's office for employees, their own sound
stage, for recording training films. Working time is pretty much flex time.

Anyone in the computer scene would do well to try to get a job there.
--
Jim in NC

An interesting Plane Watchers note - KJNX - Johnston County airport was
recently *outed*.

Home of a great avionics shop - Sparkchasers - is also the home of a
mysterious (unmarked) set of hangars with some interesting equipment
inside. The NY Times outed them last week in a story about the the
movement of terrorists around the globe for 'intelligence gathering'.

I had heard that it was a CIA-type operation and it was reported as such
last week. Gulfstreams and other unmarked Fed equipment launch out
there for Gitmo and DC to pickup people to travel to the mideast and
Eastern Europe where 'intelligence gathering' is a core compentency.

I sped read the article and don't have the date - anyone want to help
here with a link?

Anyway, an interesting plane watchers stopoff though tourists are
probably not welcome. I've had a G4 launch up my rear and away on 2
occasions and seen an interesting looking DC3 in the hangar, along with
a crop duster of some sort a few years ago. Very mysterious but not so
secret.

KertDawg wrote:
Hello,

I'm looking for an airport in central North Carolina at which I can
watch airplanes and listen to them on my handheld scanner. I've done
this before in other parts of the country with some pretty good
results. For instance, at Allegheny County Airport (KAGC) near
Pittsburgh, PA, you can walk out in front of the tower and watch
private jets, helicopters, and quite a few light aircraft for hours. I
just like watching and listening.

However, in NC, I've not found a good airport at which to do this. For
instance, at the Piedmont Triad Int. Airport (KGSO) in Greensboro,
there are some pretty big jets, but you can't get close enough to see
much happening. At other airports, like KBUY or KIGX, you can get
really close, but you might see one or two planes per hour on a good
day.

Can anyone recommend an airport in central North Carolina (or close
enough for a day trip) to an airport that might be better suited?
Thanks for any replies.

- Kertis

Here's a link:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U3272253B

Sorry if you have to subscribe but I don't think so.

Maule Driver wrote:
An interesting Plane Watchers note - KJNX - Johnston County airport was
recently *outed*.

Home of a great avionics shop - Sparkchasers - is also the home of a
mysterious (unmarked) set of hangars with some interesting equipment
inside. The NY Times outed them last week in a story about the the
movement of terrorists around the globe for 'intelligence gathering'.

I had heard that it was a CIA-type operation and it was reported as such
last week. Gulfstreams and other unmarked Fed equipment launch out
there for Gitmo and DC to pickup people to travel to the mideast and
Eastern Europe where 'intelligence gathering' is a core compentency.

I sped read the article and don't have the date - anyone want to help
here with a link?

Anyway, an interesting plane watchers stopoff though tourists are
probably not welcome. I've had a G4 launch up my rear and away on 2
occasions and seen an interesting looking DC3 in the hangar, along with
a crop duster of some sort a few years ago. Very mysterious but not so
secret.

KertDawg wrote:

Hello,

I'm looking for an airport in central North Carolina at which I can
watch airplanes and listen to them on my handheld scanner. I've done
this before in other parts of the country with some pretty good
results. For instance, at Allegheny County Airport (KAGC) near
Pittsburgh, PA, you can walk out in front of the tower and watch
private jets, helicopters, and quite a few light aircraft for hours. I
just like watching and listening.

However, in NC, I've not found a good airport at which to do this. For
instance, at the Piedmont Triad Int. Airport (KGSO) in Greensboro,
there are some pretty big jets, but you can't get close enough to see
much happening. At other airports, like KBUY or KIGX, you can get
really close, but you might see one or two planes per hour on a good
day.

Can anyone recommend an airport in central North Carolina (or close
enough for a day trip) to an airport that might be better suited?
Thanks for any replies.

- Kertis

("Maule Driver" wrote)
[snip]
Anyway, an interesting plane watchers stopoff though tourists are
probably not welcome. I've had a G4 launch up my rear and away on 2
occasions and seen an interesting looking DC3 in the hangar, along with
a crop duster of some sort a few years ago. Very mysterious but not so
secret.

Here's a link:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U3272253B


Crop duster?????


Montblack-ops

I know - no where near NC, but since someone mentioned San Jose.....

For plane watching - no light GA, but does have biz jets and the
airliners - is MSP. They have a parking area off of Post Road, just
for plane watchers. Never stopped by there when there were less than
three families sitting atop thier car watching the planes go by. The
spot is towards the south end of on of the two parallel runways.

If you want small craft - in the Minneapolis/St Paul area - Crystal
Airport on the north end of the metro and Flying Cloud near the south
end - are usually quite busy, especially on nice weekends.

Randy

" wrote)
[snips]
For plane watching - no light GA, but does have biz jets and the
airliners - is MSP. They have a parking area off of Post Road, just
for plane watchers. Never stopped by there when there were less than
three families sitting atop thier car watching the planes go by. The
spot is towards the south end of on of the two parallel runways.

It's got a Drive-In Theater, before the first movie starts, feel to it
sometimes doesn't it? People hanging out on the hood of their cars, sitting
in lawn chairs, sitting in their cars eating a Subway sandwich, kids running
around some days, limos parked waiting to roll, guys with scanners, etc. I
go there and sit - killing time, before heading to the terminal for a
curbside people pick-up.


If you want small craft - in the Minneapolis/St Paul area - Crystal
Airport on the north end of the metro and Flying Cloud near the south
end - are usually quite busy, especially on nice weekends.

Crystal (MIC) is being kicked around as an airport that might get closed.
Stay tuned.

Flying Cloud (FCM) is the busiest reliever airport (1 of 6) in the MSP /
Twin Cities area. You'll see some corporate jet traffic.

Anoka County-Blaine (ANE) is our second busiest reliever airport. You can
park by the tower, but there's no 'plane watching spot.' No tables or
benches, no deck, no speakers, no group hang-out feel to the place like MSP
has. All that MSP has is a long parking area - but it still has that certain
'here's where you can watch planes' feel to it. To be fair, the parking lot
next to the tower at ANE is a good spot to see planes - it just doesn't feel
like a public viewing area.


Montblack

ASH is a rally good spot. Park right behind the chain link fence off of
Runway 32. There are no amenities, but you can get right up next to the
runway. I usually see some guys hanging out there with pickup trucks, or
lately some bikers. (Its motorcycle week here in NH.) Below is there
website. They have a really good restaurant at the airport too!

http://www.nashuaairport.50megs.com/

" wrote in message
ups.com...
I know - no where near NC, but since someone mentioned San Jose.....

For plane watching -

On Bermuda, you can sit along a road, at the runway fence, that is close
enough you can wave to, and see the pilot wave back to you. The road also
crosses the centerline of the runway, also very close.

I have to admit, I wanted to sit at the end until a big one went over, to
see if the wake turbulence would make you do cart wheels, like in "Pushing
Tin."

BFG
--
Jim in NC

KertDawg wrote:
Hello,

I'm looking for an airport in central North Carolina at which I can
watch airplanes and listen to them on my handheld scanner. I've done
this before in other parts of the country with some pretty good
results. For instance, at Allegheny County Airport (KAGC) near
Pittsburgh, PA, you can walk out in front of the tower and watch
private jets, helicopters, and quite a few light aircraft for hours. I
just like watching and listening.

Raleigh-Durham KRDU has a nice observation area with a playground for the kids
and a scanner on the loudspeakers, a shelter to keep you out of the wind, rain,
and sun. It's not very close to the runway, but it is somewhat elevated so has a
pretty good view of rwy 5L/23R. Enough traffic to keep you entertained, at least
during the busy hours.

Pictures he
http://www.rdu.com/AboutRDU/obpark.htm

In the GA parking area directly in front of the observation deck, the airplane
directly in front of you in the middle row with the canvas cover is my Mooney.

Dave

"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1118264931.287279@sj-nntpcache-3...
KertDawg wrote:
Hello,

I'm looking for an airport in central North Carolina at which I can
watch airplanes and listen to them on my handheld scanner. I've done
this before in other parts of the country with some pretty good
results. For instance, at Allegheny County Airport (KAGC) near
Pittsburgh, PA, you can walk out in front of the tower and watch
private jets, helicopters, and quite a few light aircraft for hours. I
just like watching and listening.

Raleigh-Durham KRDU has a nice observation area with a playground for the
kids and a scanner on the loudspeakers, a shelter to keep you out of the
wind, rain, and sun. It's not very close to the runway, but it is somewhat
elevated so has a pretty good view of rwy 5L/23R. Enough traffic to keep
you entertained, at least during the busy hours.

Pictures he
http://www.rdu.com/AboutRDU/obpark.htm

In the GA parking area directly in front of the observation deck, the
airplane directly in front of you in the middle row with the canvas cover
is my Mooney.

Dave

YOu mean the one that the gas truck dinged this morning?







Just kidding!