Seattle Spotting Question

[nssd70]

I was thining about going to Seattle at the end of October for a couple of days,and other than the info on the spotter guide is there any other suggestions before I book the trip? I want to try to catch some of Boeing's flights,and get some pictures around SeaTac,as well.

Doug

[cowens727]

Definitely hit Boeing Field & Everett. Both offer great locations for spotting. When I went out to Seattle way back when, I took Amtrak up to Everett (it's a beautiful ride along Puget Sound) and spent the whole day spotting, got some stuff I doubt I'll see again. I didn't spot at SEA at all, so hopefully someone else can chime in about where to spot there.

[nssd70]

Thanks for the info.

Doug

[gonzalu]

SEA/TAC is tough to spot, and you will need a car. No real good locations depending on which direction the pattern is in.

Renton plant is a great spot to visit and you may get lucky with a departure. Otherwise you will definitely see a lot of B737s ready for delivery / first flight. There is an observation area that's a parking lot that overlooks the end of the runway/tarmac and planes are as close as 100 feet or as far as perhaps 1500 feet.

BFI is a great place with TONS of surprises but you have to stick around for hours or sometimes an entire day for anything great to happen. Every time I have visited (4 total so far) at least ONE new delivery shows up from Renton. So called green birds which are plain fuselage no paint and just a rudder and sometimes engine nacelles painted in the airline colors. You may also get a 787 and a 748 doing touch and go or braking tests etc. If really lucky, one of the military planes will go out for a test flight. The light is either on the east or the west of the filed so easy to figure out where to be. On the north end, there is a small park you can hang out in. Pattern is almost right over your head and very fast and also will literally surprise you. No way to see them coming.
Now that most of the spots on the west of the field are closed, it is almost impossible to shoot departures from the north unless you like shooting them high from the museum.

PAE is also hit or miss and for me, it is FAR MORE boring than BFI. PAE doesn't get much other traffic than Boeing traffic. BFI is a municipal airport so it gets various other commercial traffic... UPS, FedEx and other cargo ops. Not so in PAE. But the rewards could be tremendous.

Here are my two favorite surprises from PAE and BFI visits

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[nssd70]

Thanks,Manny. Paine Field and BFI are on the top of my list,along with the museums.

Doug

[gonzalu]

If you like museums, be prepared to spend the ENTIRE day at BFI, it is that good... the one at PAE did not impress me much... Are you going to take the tour at PAE? If so, it takes a LONG time out of your day, be warned. It is best for when it is raining

[nssd70]

I'm not sure if I want to do the factory tour. I would rather photograph the test flights. My son wants to see the museum at BFI,so that one I will check out.

Doug

[nssd70]

How tall of a ladder do I need at BFI,or can I get by without one?

Doug

[gonzalu]

You're not going to get near the fence any more :( If you do, you will likely get escorted out at a minimum. All other spots are at the ends of the runways so planes are above the fence. If you find a spot where you can shoot from the fence, let us know Fence is quite low. I bet you could step on the bumper of your car and get over it with a camera.

[nssd70]

I could have sworn that I read about needing a ladder. Maybe my wife is correct,and I am losing my mind!

Doug

[jerslice]

Ladders are not a problem in the Seattle airports...except Renton.

Seatac you don't need a ladder anyways...BFI is ok anywhere except the museum of flight. PAE pretty much encourages it.

The museums are great...mof is very good. The ones at PAE are good too, but different. Paul Allen's museum has a number of very rare airworthy specimens. HFF, full disclosure I volunteer there, is excellent with several airworthy specimens too...though small. The restoration center is also small, but when open you can get into a comet in restoration which is super cool. The museum at the boeing tour isn't much to see, but is very spotter friendly.

The Boeing tour is worth doing if you havent yet. It's good.

[nssd70]

Thanks,Jeremy,so how big of a ladder do I need at BFI? I'm 6'5",and my son is around 5'0"tall. I want to make sure he can get some good photos as well.

Doug

[snydersnapshots]

One thing to keep in mind when shooting at BFI, RNT, or PAE: Just make sure you're not on Boeing property. They mark it pretty well; I know their security used to get pretty bent out of shape over people shooting on their property. If I remember right, several years ago (pre-digital days) Boeing security folks went to the park near the Renton plant and tried to confiscate film. I don't know if they're as uptight as they used to be (maybe some of those who live in the SEA area can weigh in on this).

[jerslice]

At BFI the fences are maybe 6-7 feet high around most of the field except the north end by the fuel farms - those are 10.

As far as security goes for BFI...note the guides on NYCA, they haven't changed. Stay out of the Boeing lot on the north end of the tower (they will see you and kick you out). Avoid the public works area (if you don't find it / see it don't worry about it).

Boeing security is a lot more uppity at RNT. Stay on the west side. There's a bike/walking trail on the east side that has very close views of the flight line for RNT, but BOE security does NOT like pics being taken from it.

PAE is rarely a problem (in fact its generally very friendly), but don't take photos from Boeing property like in their parking lots on the east side.

[nssd70]

Thanks for the info.

Doug