The art and joy of photographing airplanes: spotters

Have you ever seen people taking pictures of airplanes? Did you know that there are people willing to stop what they are doing because a special plane is going to land at the Prat airport? Someone with these characteristics is a spotter. And in El Prat they have their paradise. Aircraft spotting has never been so much fun.

What is a spotter?

A spotter is someone who is crazy about everything that surrounds the aeronautical world. They are interested in airplanes, their flight schedules, the different airlines and airports. Spotters practice photographing and filming landings and takeoffs of all aircraft. They also work to promote and raise awareness of aeronautical culture among the public.

The spotters have generated an extensive network of followers who are in permanent contact. This means that they know the flight plan of the companies and know what day that special or unique aircraft will arrive at an airport. They are the plane hunters, who are always equipped with their cameras so as not to miss any details or aircraft registration numbers.

El Prat, spotter paradise

In El Prat de Llobregat, the spotter has his own paradise. In addition to having an association dedicated to this hobby, the availability of strategic viewpoints on the airport runways makes it even more attractive. The aircraft viewpoint, with stone benches, is located at the foot of runway 1. Sitting on it, you can almost caress the underside of the planes as they land. And you can reach it on foot, or by bicycle, from MuchaMasia.

Another viewpoint is a few meters further along, on the same road as the beach. It is located parallel to the runway and allows a privileged observation of all the maneuvers of the pilots with the planes. No kidding, from these viewpoints have been recorded shocking sequences of landings on windy or rainy days. If you can, don’t miss it.

Learn more about Prat’s aeronautical tradition

And if you are tired of watching airplanes (difficult because when they pass right over you they are very impressive) we recommend that you delve into the aeronautical culture. To do this we invite you to visit an exhibition on the history of aviation at the Fundació del Parc Aeronàutic de Catalunya, right in the area of the Iberia Hangar, behind the Parc Nou del Prat.

Getting to the exhibition is a pleasant walk, behind a large park. And inside, you will learn all that aviation implies for a town like ours and also for Catalonia.

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