How To Identify A Commercial Aircraft Birmingham AL

Steps

1. Purchase a book that has three view drawings and other information to help you identify aircraft. If your not sure if spotting is the hobby for you, check out a book at your local library before investing in purchasing one.
2. Bring the things you will need:
   • For the Hobbyist / Serious aircraft spotter: If you like, you can bring a camera so you can show off your discoveries on a website or just to keep and display in your home.
   • For the Casual Spotter / Person waiting for a flight at the airport: Since you probably didn't plan on having your flight delayed and you probably don't have a camera in your carry on you are pretty much confined to observing, which is just fine.
3. Look for the basic identifying portions of the airplane. Since a good portion of the times you get a good look at aircraft they are flying overhead, you may only have a few moments to lock vital information about the aircraft into your brain.
   • The engines. Look for is the number and position and type of engines. (Look at the tip section below to read the description of each characteristic and the possible choices)
   • The wings. Look at the position of the wings (if you are looking at an airliner and can't decide if the wings are low or mid, mid is your best bet).
   • The tailplane. Tthe tailplane is the horizontal piece that sticks out of the tail.

Tips

• Most books that you purchase that are specifically for spotting aircraft will have a system for identifying them. Usually this consists of __ parts:
  • Wing Position
    • High- In this configuration the wings are attached to the top of the fuselage.
    • Mid- Most commercial airplanes have this orientation. The wings appear to sprout just above the bottom of the fuselage.
    • Low- This is mostly found on small general aviation planes. The wings are connected to the fuselage at the base of the fuselage.
  • Number/Position Of Engines
    • Wing Mounted- Most jets and all propeller driven aircraft have their engines wing mounted.
    • Fuselage Mounted- The engines are attached to the fuselage at the back of the plane.
    • Tail Mounted- Not to be confused with fuselage mounted engines, tail mounted engines are actually in the tail.
    • Combination- Some aircraft such as the DC-10 and L-1011 have a combination. They have 2 wing mounted engines and one tail mounted.
  • Types Of Engines
    • Jets
    • Propeller Driven
  • Tailplane Position
    • High- Connects at the very top of the tail (the part that sticks straight up at the back of the plane).
    • Mid- In the middle of the tail.
    • Low- At the point where the tail connects to the fuselage.
• [1] has a photo database that can help an an aircraft recognition quiz to help test your skills.

Warnings

• After 9/11 airport security personnel aren't to keen on having people near the airport perimeter taking photos so please do what they say.
• This is not always a family activity, particularly in the U.S aviation is really something that interests that many people compared to Europe so please, don't drag along your, son, daughter, spouse, dog or goldfish spotting with you unless they have a passion for aviation like you do.

Sources and Citations

• http://www.aviationencyclopedia.buildmy.ws/index.html - Original source.

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