Going to the airport and not getting a flight is strange

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My in laws and bro in laws regularly go to the airport to watch planes take off and land. I rang them this morning to see if they had any plans that we could tag along with and this was the plan.
I have a friend who does the same but she has two 3 year olds who are obsessed with planes. I get that. I don't get two people in their fifties and two men in their twenties doing it on a sunny Saturday when the airport is 45 mins drive away. Last time they asked me I said 'I think I'd feel sad going there and not actually going on holiday.' This takes me to the strangest part, none of them have ever flown or would ever consider flying, or so they say.
Each to their own I guess.

Evangelinda my dad used to take me to the roof at Manchester Airport frequently in the early 1980s. They were exciting times.

NicolasFlamel I used to do that too at Luton airport with my sister and Dad. I later had a blind friend who Dad took with us on one occasion and he coukd identify the type of plane just by the sound. He could do this with trains too!

Going to the airport to watch planes take off and land was a great Sunday afternoon thing when our twins were little - we did it a lot as our two were plane-obsessed. Especially when the LOTR films were popular, as they were made just a stone's throw from the airport - the whole airport had a LOTR theme, and now there's a massive Smaug, plus Gandalf on an eagle. Prob more exciting for some folk than watching planes

PS I haven't RTFT sorry but anyone remember in "Wayne's World" how Wayne and Garth used to sit on their car roof and watch the planes land just over their heads? Used to be able to do that here too but now there's a tunnel instead of a road. Shame....

JaneEyre70 whereabouts in Gloucestershire are you?
Kemble airfield near Cirencester has little planes taking off and landing and gliders too.
Staverton near Gloucester/Cheltenham has commercial flights, private Lear jets, helicopters, acrobatic and all sorts, the county police helicopter HQ is there as is the county Air ambulance.

There's a brilliant pub called the Aviator right at the end of the runway that does excellent food and you can sit outside on the grassy hill and just watch the planes for hours.
Hope this helps

My school went on a trip to Manchester Airport. We had a big talk about the famous chandeliers and saw Concorde. I'd never flown at that point and thought it was the most exciting day EVER.

Sorry haven't RTFT but I have never been in a plane but will quite happily spend time on the perimeter fence of Birmingham Airport watching the planes.

I regularly go past a lorry spotter on my way home from work. He seems to be there every day.

I'm guessing that's why neither of them have girlfriends. Hanging out with your parents when you are in your 20s is one thing but going to do this at an airport is just plain weird if you'll excuse the pun.

My oh would do this and he is not a great flyer either. Not my cup of tea but meh each to their own. Do they go to Air shows?

My oh would do this and he is not a great flyer either. Not my cup of tea but meh each to their own. Do they go to Air shows?

Sorry for double posting

Wow I literally had no idea people did this in real life!!

I've never thought of doing this but now I think I want to! I love lying on the lawn on a sunny day watching the tiny planes up high

We do this at train stations with the kids

I have really fond memories of my Dad taking me to the airport when I was little; watching the planes come and go and fantasising about the lives of the passengers was fun and kinda educational. I still love the occasional airport visit just to watch them take off and land, so I totally "get" your in-laws!

When the old airport in Hong Kong was in the centre of the city, myself and a friend, early on a Sunday morning, still drunk, would stand on the top of the apartment building we were living in, and try to jump up and touch the planes, they seemed so close.
Fond memories.

As a child used to go early to collect relatives to watch from the roof. A lot less stressful than when we were actually travelling. Airport parking was cheap though and there was a great viewing gallery.

I thought Train spotting was bad enough until I worked with a guy who did Station Spotting....

Station spotting? But the stations don't, um, move. Blimey, I have a high boredom tolerance threshold but even I'm struggling to see the thrill in that one.

I work at one and will never get tired of watching an aircraft rotate. Every time I'm at auditing a turnaround I'm amazed they can get in the air. I do wonder if they were at 'my' airport actually, you said south west but not Cornwall so that rules out NQY. There were quite a few members of the public at various viewing points yesterday

They should swap with all the people whingeing about living next to Heathrow's new runway or whatever.

When we were kids my parents didn't have much money and now and again in the school holidays our Mam used to take us to the local airport which was about 15 mins drive away to watch the aeroplanes taking off and landing. We absolutely loved it!! I flew for the first time when I was 20 and still love airports!

My DH and I regularly do this, I'm a bit of a plane geek. Love going to airshows too...

Orlatina he would have loved my OH then we had a boat in a lock and he was standing on the side holding the chains at side of lock. He pushed on the side of boat which moved out and he was hanging from the chain with no boat under his feet. I had to get a broom and push back from the other side of lock toover boat back under his feet. The lock keeper gave him a right bollocking! As for planes wemail have a place in the canaries 10 mins from airport and I love going to the end of the town to watch the planes take off and land the runway is short and they come in low. They are fascinating and I've been flying for 45+ years. Still look up when one comes over

To move boat back .... damn thumbs