Planespotting in Seattle Southside

What exactly is planespotting? Any time you look up when you hear a plane overhead, you're already on your way! Planespotting can be as informal as simply looking up and noticing the planes flying by or as formal as detailed logging and photographing of the specific models you're seeing. The great thing about planespotting is that to get started, you don't need any specialized equipment, just your eyes and a spot where you can see planes. Simply enjoying all the different liveries (that's planespotter lingo for the cool paint jobs that planes sport) and types of planes you can see from one spot is a relaxing and fun pastime, especially on a beautiful day when picnicking is already on the agenda. But if you want to get more involved, here's a short list of things that will help you on your planespotting journey.

• A Camera: Unless you're already an expert on planes, chances are you won't start out knowing how to identify the make and model of a plan just on first glance. That's why it'll help to have a good quality camera to capture images of each plane you see to help you in identifying your plane after it's passed by. And even if you are an expert, it'll be nice to have a visual souvenir of what you saw! While phone cameras will do in a pinch, a camera with a long lens and/or excellent zoom capability might be needed to see small details on the planes you spot.
• Binoculars: These can help with spotting the differences between similar planes, especially if you don't intend to use a camera.
• A Smart Device: Whether this is a smartphone or a tablet, smart devices are incredibly helpful to planespotters. There are multiple apps that track flights and can tell you more details about the planes themselves. As an alternative to the notebook listed below, you can also keep notes on the planes you spot either just using a notepad app or by using a site such as PlaneLogger or SpottingLog.
• A Notebook and Pen/Pencil: Of course, if you prefer the analog method of note-taking, there's nothing that can beat a good old-fashioned notebook and pen or pencil.
• A Comfy Place to Sit: Many of the places we recommend for planespotting have benches, but others are parks that have better views of the planes from open fields than from sitting areas. Bring a camping chair, picnic planket, or other comfortable place to sit so that you can enjoy relaxing between planes.
• Snacks and Water: Once you start planespotting, you may find yourself at it for a long while. Make sure to stock up on snacks and drinks so that you stay hydrated and fueled during your planespotting adventure!