Spot the Spotters (Auckland) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Tramper Ted: We aren't in a position to maintain this cache now, so have decided to archive it.

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Hidden : 4/3/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Spot the spotters

Plane spotting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plane spotting is the enjoyment, observation and photography of aircraft: gliders, powered aircraft, large balloons, airships, helicopters, and microlights.

When spotting planes, observers notice the key attributes of an aircraft. They may notice a distinctive noise from its engine(s) or the number of vapour trails it is leaving against a blue sky. They will assess the size of the plane and the number, type and position of its engines. Another clue is the position of wings relative to the fuselage and the degree to which they are swept rearwards. Are the wings above the fuselage, below it, or fixed at midpoint, perhaps it's a biplane or triplane. The position of the tailplane relative to the fin(s) and the shape of the fin are also clues to its type. If it is an antique or light aircraft it might have a tail wheel. Some aircraft types have a fixed undercarriage while others have retractable wheels.

Other features may come into view, the speed, cockpit placement, colour scheme or special equipment that changes the silhouette of the plane. Taken together these clues will enable the identification of a plane. If the observer is familiar with the airfield being used by the aircraft and its normal traffic patterns, he or she is more likely to leap quickly to a decision about the aircraft's identity - they may have seen the same type of aircraft from the same angle many times.

Spotting styles
Some spotters will note the markings, a national insignia or airline livery or logo perhaps, a squadron badge or code letters in the case of a military aircraft. Published manuals allow more information to be deduced, such as the delivery date or the manufacturer's construction number.
Ancillary activities might include listening-in to air traffic transmissions (using radio scanners, where that is legal), liaising with other "spotters" to clear up uncertainties as to what aircraft have been seen at specific times or in particular places, and the drawing, painting, filming, tape-recording or photographing of aircraft.

The hobbyist might travel some distance to visit a different airport from their usual one, to see an unusual aircraft or to view the remains of aircraft withdrawn from use. Some aircraft might be eventually be placed in the care of museums (see Aviation archaeology) - or perhaps be cannibalised in order to repair a similar aircraft already preserved.

Some spotters are competitive and may get a thrill from seeing all the planes of a particular operator, military or civil. Aircraft registrations can be found in serial books, such as Military Aircraft Serial Review.

All sounds about as addictive as Geocaching.

Worth considering downloading this app (visit link)
Flightradar24, available now in the App Store. fr24.com/iOsProApp
Enables you to see in real time where and what the planes are. (Thanks Glyn for the info).

A straight forward cache. Only big enough for log, BYO pen. Bring the kids anytime but be sure to watch them closely due to the very busy roads. Not a place for pets but can be accessed on foot during a travel stop-over. Stay a while and ponder why all the other people are here. Spot the spotters.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fvg n juvyr va gur RNFG

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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