The Best Plane Spotting Happens Just Outside Of DC’s Restricted Airspace || Jaunted
Jaunted has posted a nice piece about spotting at Washington Reagan National Airport in the USA. The Gravelly Point Park passes the end of the runway giving some spectacular views of departing aircraft at close range.
The park is popular with cyclists and walkers, and shouldn’t draw too much attention if you want to watch the movements – as that’s what most people are doing anyway!
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Keishi Nukina recently posted a great overview of the main Washington DC area airports from a spotting perspective, following his recent visit. If you’re planning on heading there, it makes great sense to give this a read:
WASHINGTON – NATIONAL
Traffic consisting of mostly domestic narrowbodies with a couple of Air Canada Jazz mixed in. For spotting, there is an exibit hall between terminal A and B, from where you can see all movements and in the afternoon you can take nice photographs there as well.
WASHINGTON – DULLES
Spent there one day, spotting from the parking lot of the museum and Daily Garage 2, both are excelent for photos, but you will miss a couple of movements from both. Notable international traffic include Qatar Airways, Saudi and SAA.
BALTIMORE – WASHINGTON
A couple of movements from each major airline from the US, with a lot, and I mean a lot of Southwest and AirTran aircraft. If youre in the area, definitely an airport that is worth a visit for a half day or a full day. You can spot all day from the observation room located inside terminal without being bothered, but the place is not the best for photography due to being backlit almost all day.
COLLAGE PARK AIRFIELD
If youre going to Baltimore by public transport, you will most likely be on the green metro line to Greenbelt. After the University of Maryland stop sit on the right and get your camera ready. Right after the train leaves the station, there is that airfield with a couple of light aircraft parked outside, so you will be able to get a couple of new light frames by reading them off the photos you take. Was a nice surprise for me. Nothing for those who dont collect light aircraft.
There are two ‘official’ locations at Baltimore Washington Airport it seems.
From a recent report, the best one is that inside the terminal. This overlooks most action, though some will be missed on Runway 15L. There is also a preserved nose section from Boeing 737 c/n 19307 here.
The other location is to the south of the airport, under the approach to Runway 33L. Aircraft approaching Runway 33R can also be noted. You can reach this spot from Dorsey Road. It is not ideal as registrations are hard to see and photography is even harder. You are also have very limited views of any aircraft on the ground or departing.
Credit to Darren Kellett for the report.
A recent report from spotters visiting Washington Reagan National Airport states that Gravelly Point Park, just off George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an excellent spot.
This is particularly the case if aircraft are landing from the north, as they will pass very close to you.
If aircraft are landing from the south, you can still read off most movements from this location, although photography may be unfruitful.
This also seems to be a location that is tolerated by the local authorities, as the report states the spotters had no problems being there.
