http://www.spotterfreak.net At Spotterfreak.net, you can find plane spotting information, airshow reviews, calendars and aviation articles. en-uk (c) 2008 - Spotterfreak.net contact@spotterfreak.net (Wouter Plaetinck) http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/tailwheelmeet2009.html Gliding Club VZP (Vlaams Zweefvliegcentrum Phoenix) organised their opendoorweekend together with the Tailwheel Meet, like the name says: a fly-in for taildraggers. There were many visitors, what clearly showed ... Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:05:17 GMT http://planespotting.fotopic.net I present you my best shots of my trip to Asia. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:50:49 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/koksijdeairshow2009.html After last year’s shortened edition, the yearly airshow at Koksijde Airbase was totally back. The main ‘themes’ were 30 years F-16 and 60 years NATO. Traditionally Koksijde attracts many visitors, and this year was no exception. Many families with children enjoyed the whole day of the airshow and the activities on the ground. For example... Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:50:49 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/belgiumairshowagenda.html 02 July - Last year this airshow was reduced to one day due to savings in the defensive budget and took place on a weekday (read this article). Now I'm glad to tell you that the Koksijde airshow is totally back with a whole weekend full of action. A quick look to the programme learns us that there are many interesting visitors. There are 2 themes this year: 30 years F-16 service in Belgian Air Force and 60th year NAVO. The Belgian air force brings the new ... Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:23:11 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/chipmeet2009.html 22 May - Today I visited a meeting of classic DHC 1 Chipmunk aircraft on Zoersel Airfield. Thanks to the good organisation and the clear weather, the photos are absolutely a must to see! The review with details about the event and the visiting aircraft is now published in the Airshow section. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 28 May 2009 20:08:01 GMT http://planespotting.fotopic.net 22 May - Today I visited a meeting of classic DHC 1 Chipmunk aircraft on Zoersel Airfield. Thanks to the good organisation and the clear weather, the photos are absolutely a must to see! The review follows later and will be published in the Airshow section. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Fri, 22 May 2009 22:31:45 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/airbusa380.html I recently visited the south of France and toured the Airbus facility at Toulouse-Blagnac airport to get an insight into the production process of the Airbus A380. I can say that it was an impressive visit. See the box at the bottom of the page for more details about the tour itself. Now follow me into the production process of an A380, the largest airplane in the world. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:38:49 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/planespotting.html No article can give you the guidelines for perfect photos. This one can't too, but giving tips to shoot something better than just 'snapshots' is possible. First of all, if you are... Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:52:12 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/redbullairrace.html The new Race locations for the 2009 season are published. Time to take a look at the updated article of the Red Bull Air Race at Spotterfreak.net . This gives you some history, information about the race planes and an insight in the rules and race format of the Red Bull Air Race. En joy the 2009 Red Bull Air Race! Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 02 Feb 2009 20:19:45 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/belgiumairshownewsarchive.html After a good filled 2008 airshow season, it's time to make plans for next year. 2009 will certainly be marked by the Tiger Meet Spottersday in Kleine Brogel on 18 September and Sanicole Airshow 2 days later, which will work together. Something new next season, is the Ursel Avia Show... Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:06:32 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/yearoflearjet.html On October 7, 2008, Bombardier Learjet celebrated its 45th anniversary. Time to take a look into the history from the famous manufacturer of business aircraft. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:06:32 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/aircraftguide.html Photos from a beautiful Spotting Trip in the morning at Brussels Airport. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:27:14 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/aircraftguide.html A new aircrfat guide is added: Bombardier Aerospace Commercial aircraft. Included are: the CRJ-100,the CRJ-200, the CRJ-440, the CRJ-700, the CRJ-705, the CRJ-900, the CRJ-1000, the Dash-8 Q100, the Dash-8 Q200, the Dash-8 Q300 and the Dash-8 Q400. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:16:16 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/belgiumairshowagenda.html Tomorrow, on Sunday 14 September, the 15th Wing from Melsbroek airbase at Brussels Airport organises an Open Door because of its 60th anniversary. This event takes place from 10h till 18h. Visitors include a civil Dragon Rapide, a Hungarian Antonov An-26, a Dutch B-25 Mitchell, and more... For more information about the Open Door, visit mil.be/15wing Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:22:06 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/brulocations.html This is a guide for the plane spotting locations around Brussels Airport (Zaventem). Brussels Airport is the most important airport of Belgium and Brussels is the capital of Europe. Thus many interesting aircraft visit this airport. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Mon, 09 Sep 2008 17:32:05 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/aerobatics.html If you have already seen an aerobatic display from a skilled pilot, you may have asked yourself: “What would that manoeuvre be?“ Well, here is an overview of the most performed aerobatic manoeuvres. So if you see an aerobatic display the next time, you can recognise the manoeuvres. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Mon, 24 Aug 2008 10:13:18 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/flugtagbreitscheid.html At 16th and 17th August 2008 the internationaler Flugtag took place at flugplatz Breitscheid. At Saturday there was a flugplatzfest and you could see some aircraft exercising for the next day; the flugtag! I visited the flugtag on Sunday and here is my review! Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:52:16 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/flightcontrols2.html Flight control surfaces are used to control an aircraft's direction in flight. The flight controls are separated into 2 classes: the primary flight controls and the secondary flight controls. In this article, the secondary flight controls are discussed. The secondary flight controls are: flaps, trimming devices, spoilers, slats, slots and speed brakes. The secondary flight controls are not always all present on an aircraft. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:28:15 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/aircraftguide.html A new aircraft guide is added: Embraer. Included are all commercial jets from Embraer and the military variants of the ERJ-145 (the EMB-145 AEW&C, the EMB-145 RS/AGS and the P-99). Also, the other guides are updated. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Sat, 9 Aug 2008 19:17:16 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/belgiumairshowagenda.html This weekend there are 2 airshows: the 3rd Tailwheel Meet at Overboelare Airfield and the Wings And Wheels event at Ursel Airfield. Not easy to choose one of them... But of course you can visit one on Saturday and one on Sunday! The Tailwheel Meet is, as the name says, a gathering for taildraggers. The Wings And Wheels event is a mix of historical WOII fighters, modern military aircraft, civil aircraft and over 300 military vehicles. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Fri, 8 Aug 2008 18:52:14 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/planespotting.html These files contain the GPS points of interest from the plane spotting locations for Brussels Airport and Amsterdam Int. Airport (Schiphol). Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Fri, 1 Aug 2008 17:53:10 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/balloon.html The first balloon, a hot-air balloon, was made by Joseph and Jaques Montgolfier on 4th April 1783. It was made from cloth. The balloon flew a distance of 2km and was unmanned. With this flight the aviation era started. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:50:20 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/airplanefly.html Ever wondered how an A380, the biggest airplane in the world, stays in the air? The correct answer is at the same time simple and difficult. The most heard declaration (the law of Bernoulli) isn´t wrong, but still incomplete. In fact, there are 2 reasons why an airplane flies. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:40:10 GMT http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/basicflightinstruments.html In this article I will show you the basic flight instruments, that are found in almost every airplane. Wouter Plaetinck <contact@spotterfreak.net> Mon, 7 Jul 2008 10:33:15 GMT