Community, events & lifestyle

Spotting farewell and first flights: finding retirement flights, first landings and special flights

Last flights of a type, first landings on new routes and one-off special flights are the highlights of the spotting year. Where they are announced, how to recognize them on the radar and how to plan the day at the fence.

AERO Friedrichshafen: the general aviation trade show for spotters

AERO on Lake Constance is Europe’s big meeting point for general aviation. How the show came about, what awaits you in the halls and static display, how the fly-in works and how to plan your show day as a spotter.

Airline and airport shops: how to find official aviation merchandise

From the Lufthansa WorldShop to the Boeing Store to the airport shop in Munich’s Besucherpark: which official shops exist, what they sell and what spotters should look for when buying.

AIRPOWER in Zeltweg: Austria’s big airshow for spotters

Free admission, hundreds of thousands of visitors and a program from Eurofighter to B-25: what makes AIRPOWER at Hinterstoisser Air Base special, how it has developed and how to get the most out of the day as a spotter.

Airshow day checklist: gear, food and hearing protection

An airshow day lasts ten hours or more, usually without shade and with fighter jets on afterburner. What belongs in the bag, what stays at home and how to get your camera, body and ears through the day.

Airshow photography: choosing your spot, shutter speeds and display lines

Where you stand at the fence decides light, background and perspective at an airshow. How to read the display line, find the right spot and match your shutter speed to distance and direction of flight.

Airshows in Europe: the guide for plane spotters

From the military show in England to the aerospace trade show at the gates of Berlin: which European airshows are worth it for spotters, how often they take place and how to get the best pictures on site.

Collecting amenity kits: business and first class pouches as collectibles

Pouches from first, business and premium economy are little time capsules of cabin history. What’s inside, what matters for condition, how to store cosmetics properly and how to document your collection cleanly.

ATPL training: flight schools, financing and costs

Six-figure sums, installment plans and financing models: what airline pilot training costs, which items are often forgotten, how you can finance it and how to recognize a reputable flight school.