Simviation Forums

i have noticed that when i say i am a "Aviation Hobbyist" or a "Plane spotter" i usually i get these looks of boredom or get asked if it is boring... i was thinking about names or sayings we could have to spice it up, i could not think of anything for the civilian market but i came up with a few that would work well for north american military aircraft fanatics, any more you can think of is very welcome!!!


you could say you are any one of these:
"Eagle Eye'r" (still kind of iffy on that one)
"Viper Sniper" (especially applies to those with big lenses)
"Hornet Hunter"
"Raptor Catcher"
"Lancer Chancer"


when someone asks you where you're going you could say"
"i am going to catch a Boeing"
"i am going to catch a spirit" (applies mostly to Whiteman AFB spotters)


anyways i had more last night but waited till this morning to post so... any suggestions

Or you could just not tell people..... 

[quote]Or you could just not tell people.....

I once asked for a book on airport charts at a Borders book store,
and got some odd looks, as though my intentions may not be all that good.
The clerk told me that such things were illegal,
and then asked for me to leave.

What about Cigar-Tube-Aficionado

Depending on who asks I'm an aircraft spotter or photographer. I don't care what people think.

I once asked for a book on airport charts at a Borders book store,
and got some odd looks, as though my intentions may not be all that good.
The clerk told me that such things were illegal,
and then asked for me to leave. 

That sounds a tad over the top to me.

[quote]Depending on who asks I'm an aircraft spotter or photographer. I don't care what people think.

[quote]I once asked for a book on airport charts at a Borders book store,
and got some odd looks, as though my intentions may not be all that good.
The clerk told me that such things were illegal,
and then asked for me to leave.

[quote][quote]Depending on who asks I'm an aircraft spotter or photographer. I don't care what people think.

[quote]I once asked for a book on airport charts at a Borders book store,
and got some odd looks, as though my intentions may not be all that good.
The clerk told me that such things were illegal,
and then asked for me to leave.

Here in corn land, that seems to be the norm.  I think she didn't quite understand what I was asking for.

Perhaps she thought I meant blueprints. In any case, no one I talk with outside of Simv, has the slightest knowledge or interest in aviation it seems. Glad to know I'm not alone in that aspect. 

[quote]Normal people have too much ignorance.

Normal people have too much ignorance.

No kidding. A few years ago I told one of my friends a joke off the forum. He aked me where I got it and I told him. Now everytime he greets me it's "Hey Brandon, how's Flight Simulator?"

I suppose many think us a bit flighty...

Quite a few people I know are aware that I have a PPL, but I keep flight simulation stuff strictly to myself in person unless someone else happens to bring it up out of chance. I at first wanted to try keeping the real world flight training/license stuff to myself too, but after a couple days I figured it's the only notable accomplishment I had going for me and that it wouldn't be too bad to share.

Also, I have only revealed an interest in photography to close friends and family.
I have a few friends who are more open with others about photography, and people around here either are indifferent or treat them suspiciously if they see a camera.

My usual "canned response" to questions about hobbies is that I "have an interest in aviation, along with photography". Usually that's the most detail you'll get out of me in person, unless they ask about school which results in either:

A: If I don't know you well: "A state university".
B: If I have met you more than once/you're a cute female/I'm in an exceptionally trusting mood: ", studying ".

If online in boards like these, I'll usually be a bit more open, with the exceptions that I won't show images of myself (not counting those who I granted Facebook access to), or be very specific with my living location. If you know where to look here, or have a good memory, you'll know where I go to school, and generally (within a few hundred miles) where I reside, etc.

When I was in highschool I was an avid plane 'listener'!

KSTL had a very nicely maintained public viewing area that was a favorite "parking" spot on any given summer evening.

Now don't get me wrong, we also hung out there a lot to actually do some plane-spotting and we had quite the menu of visual treats....McDonnell-Douglas, the main TWA hub, a very active Air National Guard base and a very large GA area!  One particularly cool one was a roadside ramp for an air cargo service that sported DC-3s and DC-7s.

But I digress.

I can't think of a cool moniker for the hobby, but back in the day there was literally hundreds that would frequent the PVA at KSTL.  If it was a nice evening you couldn't find a spot to park.

That said, folks in my area have always thought aviation was quite awesome.