You owe it to yourself (and us!) to take this opportunity to visit VNY.
Don’t forget to stop on the way and visit LGB.
I drive past there often. The Sand Dunes are closed and fenced off. Cops drive past often.
Let me know if you want to try. I’ll bring my video camera.
I love your web site.
Just got finished with day one of the spotting.
Started off at Long Beach (LGB) where I was able to find a good spotting location after about an hour of driving around, and missed my shot at a DC-3 because I left too early.
I checked out a couple of GA airports Torrance Muni (TOA), Compton/Woodley (CPM) which has what looks like a parted out T-38 sitting inside the fence on the South side of the field. I then had lunch at Nat’s Cafe at Hawthorne Muni (HHR). Not really any good (or safe) areas to spot from at those airports.
I then made my way over to LAX where I fell in love with my new digital camera (Canon EOS XSi). I finally had to tear myself away after an hour and a half (and almost 200 pictures) and made my way up to Santa Monica (SMO) which is now my new favorite place to go spotting. I really can’t believe this one didn’t come up in the suggestions. They have an observation area right at the East end of the runway and then another one on the second story very close by. There were what looked like a couple hundred planes parked there and I had departures and arrivals ever couple of minutes to photograph.
I’m looking forward to going back tomorrow morning and then visiting the other airports I didn’t get a chance to visit (VNY, BUR, EMT, POC, CCB, ONT, CNO, and FUL. I’m also working on putting the pics into Photobucket to share, but please be gentle, the weather was horrible today and I’m still learning how to use my new camera.
SMO was pointed out…by azav8r
Wow…that was a serious day…
The best spot at Long Beach is the parking lot of the Kilroy Center south of the field (on the tower side). Use Spring Street to Kilroy Airport Way. The lot looks out on the approach end of RY 30.
Another spot is the east side of the airport next to the AAA parking lot. (Spring Street and Airport Plaza Circle).
There is a restaurant the, the Prop Room, that overlooks the airport from the way cool Streamline Modern design terminal building. It may be awful if you are a passenger, but it is very nice to look at. The view from the Prop Room is excellent.
At HHR, Nats is the best spot for watching planes. I used to work there at the AFSS back in the 80’s and early 90’s, so yes, if you aren’t experienced in the area, it has a bit of an uncomfortable feel to it. The development around the airport has helped the atmosphere a lot, but not the airport traffic.
I hope you caught a glimpse of the little courtyard between the Admin Building and where the old AFSS building was. An FSS supervisor worked for years to fix up the courtyard and find volunteers to paint a mural on the wall, etc.
But, I’m afraid this note is a day late for these airports…I hope you had a nice trip!!!