Honing One's Aircraft Identification Skills
Greetings,
On each of my field trips ... I try to photograph interesting aircraft ... and their registration numbers ... so I can check the number via Google and FAA at home to learn the aircraft type, etc. Are there other ways to become more proficient at identifying aircraft types?
As a former birder I recall the handy field guides we used where each bird had distinguishing "field marks" that set it apart from other "look alike" species. Why couldn't this be done for the bigger birds we seek out?
For example: - wing position (low vs high) ... number and location of engines ... number of passenger windows ...number and spacing of exit doors on the fuselage ... tail configuration ... shape of the nose ... sweep and shape of the wings ... winglets or not ... number and type of landing gear wheel sets ... shape and length of fuselage ... breadth of wingspan ... the significance of registration numbers sets ... the list could go on ...
Maybe long-term aircraft spotters already have such information stored away and may not think this is necessary. But how many years did it take to acquire this mental database?
It would make an interesting project that could help newcomers ... like moi ... and draw even others into our collective passion. I could assist in compiling such a spotter's field guide ... but wouldn't be better as a team effort. Yes? No? Maybe?
Thanks.
Mike (shamrock838)
