a brief guide to Winter Plane Spotting at Innsbruck (INN) & Salzburg (SZG)

With the end of summer looming into sight in the Northern Hemisphere  im starting to look at some Winter trips especially over Russian New Year (Different to us here in Europe) to go to the Alps in Austria and the Tirol region to get pictures of planes at the major ski "Hubs" of Salzburg (SZG) and Innsbruck (INN).

With amazing snow covered land scapes,  Shear rock faces, Pine Trees as well as more general houses, with snow tops roofs forming unique Backdrops, its a great chance to photograph some rarely seen planes in Europe.

Spotting is easy at both locations, even for those on foot. Both terminals have Viewing decks with excellent views. For Salzburg, a short walk takes you to open fields where mounds offer views over the fences for easy picture taking shots.Follow your nose and you wont go wrong!

For cheap flights, Easyjet, BA and Ryanair are given a run for their money by Flybe, Monarch, Thomsonfly and even Thomas Cook! So shop around. 

Below is a look at some of the highlights of previous visits, for more check out :
www.plane-sight-images.photoshelter.com   

Innsbruck Pictures

Salzburg Pictures

Take Off shots are possible from the Viewing Deck at Innsbruck

As are Night Shots, with care

Often the ramp gets congested at Innsbruck, making for a great photo with stunning backgrounds

Although just one plane is all you need!

Salzburg in Busier, with more diverse types, but the castle makes a great backdrop

As do Logo jets!

At Russian New year, YAK-42s are much in evidence

Sometimes you can get lucky with the weather at Salzburg

And Lucky with aircraft, here a TU-214 Taxi's to stand

At sun up, the ramp is covered in bright light

Making the colourful visitors stand out

Spotting here is very easy and there are few problems

A Russian New Year visitor in 2009

One of my favourite Salzburg shots

Guide to plane spotting in Saint Maarten (SXM)

Thought it was about time to blog a quick guide to plane spotting in Saint Maarten (SXM)

St Maarten, shared between Holland and French interests, is the ultimate location to visit for most plane spotters. The great thing about it is that the hotels around Maho Beach, offer great views, easy walking to teh beach itself, some nightlife and even gambling!

Maho Beach itself is dominated by the sunset bar, filled with spotter and holiday makers alike. Great for beers, food and views of the comings and goings - it is complete with surf board come arrivals board. Its well known, any taxi driver will gladly take you to the beach bar.

For those after other views, around the terminal side of the airport, apart from the problems with taking pictures into the sun, there are very few spots. Pictures from inside the terminal once airside are possible with care.

Driving along the road from the terminal, it wraps around the end of the runway, from which some pictures of departures, especially heavies are possible. The large hill at the end of the runway, which aircraft turn to avoid, also offers great views of aircraft as they depart and turn, plus some great, if distant views of the airport and maho beach.

For a full look at my pictures taken last winter, please follow the link to :

Plane Sight Images - St Maarten Photo's

Movements are sometimes well spaced out, but on the most part Insel Air MD80's, Carribean Airlines B737-800, LIAT Dash 8's and DAE F100's will come and go regularly. Supplemented by daily US carriers and most excitingly the Heavies from France, the traffic is exciting enough, but then throw in many regional aircraft from the neighbouring islands and based Winair Dash 6's - it becomes a perfect place to watch planes. Finally getting up early on several mornings will reward any spotter with Amerijet B727'F, Shorts 360 and best of all DC4's!

For flights to SXM, all major East Coast cities are served, as well as direct flights to Paris and Amsterdam. Intra Cariibean links are numerous and frequent allowing you to visit for a day or two, or holiday for a lot longer! check out teh following websites amongst others....

www.liat.com, www.jetblue.com, www,flyklm.com, www.airfrance.com, www.winair.com, www.delta.com, www.fly-inselair.com, www.flydae.com 

Don't forget for any aircraft or aviation images, log onto my site to buy or download images, pictures and branded merchandise @ Plane Sight Images, Galleries 

Caribbean Airlines B737-800W taxying onto runway 20 at sunset

B727-200F of Amerijet arriving at 8am

A Fokker 50 at Sunset

The mighty Boeing 747-400 shortly after take off

The Danger signs around the runway can frame a perfect picture

Classic B727-200F on short final

Not often you see a Shorts 360!

Even less a DC4!

Dusk makes this J31 shot all the better

Classic B747-400 over Maho Beach

Bizjets arrive regularly

Pictures from the terminal are possible with care

Sunset Bar arrival "Surf" Board

You'll see this Dash 6 a lot

Perfect Dash 8-300 shot