The year of 2012 did not disappoint in the world of aviation enthusiasm. We saw planespotters gaining amazing access on the enthusiast level, once in a lifetime events such as the multiple Space Shuttle museum deliveries and just good old spotting.
The following three photos are the winners of our 2012 planespotting photo contest. We asked NYCAviation members to submit up to three photos for each of three categories: Commercial, Military and VIP/Special aircraft. NYCA Staffers Phil Derner, Matt Molnar and Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren judged the winners. Each winner will receive an NYCAviation logo t-shirt, logo baseball cap and a Plane Spotter guide.
It is worth noting that these photos are not from NYCAviation correspondent coverage or assignments, but normal aviation enthusiasts going about their hobby, as they do on a daily basis all across the US and the world.
Judging the photos was not easy. There were so many amazing photos to choose from that all judges’ first choices were different from one another, and it took our individual 2nd and 3rd place nominations to make decisions on the winners. Below the three champion photos is a gallery of the 48 top submissions from the year for your enjoyment.
2012 COMMERCIAL Aircraft Photo of the Year
Winner: John Musolino
Late sun in Charlotte means the spotting day is coming to a close. Photographer John Musolino decided to stay for one more shot, and managed to make this small US Airways Express Dash-8 into a winner, sporting the sunset light and motion blur with a skyline backdrop. Unknown at the time, the pilot flying the plane from the right seat happened to be a longtime friend and NYCA member as well. With so many beautiful airliner shots submitted, none gave us the relaxing feel that we had been spotting with Moose all day like this one.
2012 MILITARY Aircraft Photo of the Year
Winner: Nick Peterman
Being able to snag a ride on a Colombian Air Force 767 MMTT (multi-mission transport tanker) is a treat in itself, but the air-to-air photo opportunities can add some crippling excitement. NYCAer Nick Peterman is one of few in the Northern hemisphere to have the opportunity to photograph a Colombian Air Force KFIR, an Isreali-built multi-role fighter, during Nellis Air Force Base’s 12-4 Red Flag training missions. For all of the intense, fighter jet submissions received that made us sing “Highway to the Danger Zone” in our heads, the judges could not ignore the rarity of this great shot.
2012 VIP/SPECIAL Aircraft Photo of the Year
Winner: Stephen Furst
For as long as I remember, the ultimate spotting possibility ever for enthusiasts would be to catch a Space Shuttle landing at your local commercial airport. That very event happened at JFK, IAD and LAX this year. What could top that you ask? Stephen Furst managed to capture a photo of a rare-in-itself Boeing 747SP, with the added bonus of a 5th engine sticking out the side of its upper deck being used for testing by Pratt & Whitney. (The fifth engine was a PW1200G geared turbofan developed for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet.) The judges were so divided on the many Space Shuttle submissions, but were equally in awe of the 5-engined 747 seen at Bradley International Airport.