Hello From An Old Ex-Spotter!

[RobPF104]

Hi Guys,

I was a spotter way back in the last century. My interest waned in the early eighties, when setting up my business and such domestically blissful things as marriage and augmenting the world's burgeoning population got in the way.

My interest in aviation, particularly military, has always remained, but buried deep beneath other stuff. And then about a year or so ago, one of my former school/spotter mates got back in touch. He's still a spotter all these decades later, and he put me in touch with a few other school friends/spotters from back then, along with a couple of other spotters.

It was wonderful to be back in touch and to have aviation hauled back up my list of interests.

I can't see myself becoming a full on spotter again, but I now regularly refer to ADSB and Flightradar, and even met up with a couple of those school mates at the Fairford departures day last year. Enjoyed every moment of it and got some great photos - my main aviation interest now.

The current chat about Exercise Cobra Warrior is what brought me here, and it looks like a brilliant resource.

But wow! How things have changed since 1980!

Rob (a Southerner living in Derby)

[Tiger 1]

Good evening RobPF104

Welcome to FC

Like the user name... guess your a Starfighter fan.

My bet is you will have some nice photos from your time as a spotter.

I first put pen to note book in 1983 at what was then IAT 83 at Greenham Common and still spotting now but yes... how it as changed... I'd like a time machine just to go back for a week in the 80s to see all those great airframes once again.

Enjoy the forum.

T1

[paddyboy]

Welcome aboard the friendly aviation forum, Rob

Paddyboy

[RobPF104]

Good evening RobPF104

Welcome to FC

Like the user name... guess your a Starfighter fan.

My bet is you will have some nice photos from your time as a spotter.

I first put pen to note book in 1983 at what was then IAT 83 at Greenham Common and still spotting now but yes... how it as changed... I'd like a time machine just to go back for a week in the 80s to see all those great airframes once again.

Enjoy the forum.

T1

Thank you.

Yep, defo a Starfighter fanboy!

You're right about the photos. Unfortunately they're buried somewhere in the loft and despite my best intentions, i never quite get around to digging them out.

[RobPF104]

Welcome aboard the friendly aviation forum, Rob

Paddyboy

Thank you, Sir. It looks good around here!

[raptor309]

Nice to see youve discovered this site. Ive had real problems trying to decide wether its time to put down my pen and concentrate on photos (same with trains)
Im.not usually indecisive about things so why i am about this is a mystery