NYCAviation and PHX Spotters are excited to announce the 4th annual LAX planespotting weekend September 22-24! Join us for planespotting, food, and plenty of fun! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we will announce spotting locations there each day. We have a hotel block available until Sep. 1 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport South. Rooms are limited so book early. Book your room here.
We will also have a dinner event Saturday night Sep. 23 at 7:30pm at Flights located at 5119 W. El Segundo Boulevard, Hawthorne, CA 90250. Cost is $30 at the door and a cash bar will be available. Please RSVP as we need a head count for food.
We look forward to seeing you in California!
Here are some of our favorite shots of LAX from a few of the different planespotting locations around the airport.
In-N-Out Burger
Probably the best known planespotting location at LAX, In-N-Out burger and the park adjacent to it get you just about as close as you can to the planes flying overhead as they land on Runway 24R. It is also the location of the annual Cranky Dorkfest, which takes place on the Saturday morning of the NYCAviation and PHX Spotters Meetup.
Take a short walk down Sepulveda Blvd and you can catch some more traditional side shots of arrivals.
Even as the sun sets, In-N-Out remains a fantastic spot.
Imperial Hill
If In-N-Out is the most famous spot at LAX, Imperial Hill can’t be far behind. Located alongside Runways 25 Left and Right, it provides views of both arriving and departing aircraft, along with the ability to see almost all of the southern half of the airport.
LAX is extremely photogenic after dark, with fantastic shots available from many locations including Imperial Hill.
Westchester Parkway
Located directly across the airfield from Imperial Hill, Westchester Parkway is really only good to use during a short part of the day when the sun isn’t directly into your lens. But in that short time, it can yield some fantastic photos.
Other Spots
At night, the tops of the short term parking garages inside of the loop road around the airport can yield some very nice shots. Just be aware that you are very much in view of the travelling public here.
The Proud Bird, the famed aviation themed eatery located alongside the arrival end of Runways 25 Left and Right, can offer some excellent shots of arrivals to those runways. Just be aware that it is private property.
For photos of aircraft departing off of the 24s, Dockweiler State Beach can be your best bet. Just find a place to park your car along Vista Del Mar and get ready to snap away. They come up on you quick here, as a hill obstructs your view of the airport.
We do hope you will join us at LAX this September. And as always, if you would your photos considered for next week’s Photo Friday, please upload them to the NYCAviation Photo Hangar.