SPOTTERS SPOTLIGHT
What’s a Plane Spotter? Someone who loves to track airplanes and take photos. Meet Nick Hesler (@NickFlightX), a talented photographer from San Jose whose beautiful photos at SFO caught our eye.
My first time spotting at SFO was all the way back in 2011, soon after Lufthansa launched the first A380 service.
[I got into spotting] around 7 or 8 years old. My next-door neighbor and best friend at the time got Flight Simulator X and I had always enjoyed going over and playing flight sim. A few months later for my birthday, my parents got me the same flight sim and a joystick. The rest is history as they say!
The best thing about plane spotting is getting to meet new people. Whether it’s other spotters, crew for the aircraft, airport personnel, it’s great to see what others bring to the aviation community!
At SFO, my favorite location is Terminal G Garage Air Train Station. You have an almost unobstructed view of the aircraft arriving and departing from the International G gates. Listening to the big GE90s low rumble as they start up is not something you are able to hear at any other airports.
Easily my favorite aircraft to shoot is the Boeing 747! It’s very popular…it’s got the iconic shape that just doesn’t look bad from any angle.
If I could spot anywhere, the top of my list is definitely St. Maarten. Having jets pass low overhead while on a beach is literally paradise for an AVGeek!
