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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Addictive sorry IABU!

18 replies

RenGreen · 12/01/2022 22:34

So we live in an area where we don’t get many aeroplanes never mind at 10pm anyway I googled ‘what plane is above me?’ And literally just spent the last half hour looking at various flights/aeroplanes around the world….I mean look at the flights over the US!

www.flightradar24.com/NPT09G/2a7a09b4

I’m next going to look at China - but just click on the aeroplane and you can see what flight it is and what type! Apologies addictive!

OP posts:
hocuspocus666 · 12/01/2022 22:50

When the taliban took over Kabul, I was constantly watching which planes were going to Kabul airport it was so addictive, quite strange to see that no planes go over there and they all go round Kabul and also parts of Syria!

RoyKentsChestHair · 12/01/2022 23:00

I’ve seen threads on here about flight radar. You are among kindred spirits!

My DS works in aviation and he’s always checking out what’s going on above us. Hears a plane going overhead and tried to guess what type it is “oh that’s a XYZ123” then checks on FR and he’s usually right Grin

WabbitsAndWeasels · 12/01/2022 23:04

If you like this you might also like a marine traffic tracker: www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:25.0/zoom:4

From experience it won't always pick up every little ship/boat as they need their GPS turned on but it shows how busy the world's waters really are.

BadgeronaMoped · 12/01/2022 23:10

I love Flightradar, especially when something unusual goes over! My favourites are the cargo planes going to and from east Midlands Airport, DH always hears me shout "CargoLogicAir!" or "CargoJet!". Sometimes the big Emirates Airbus flies right over our garden on its way into Manchester Airport... So exciting Grin
And don't get me started on storms and planes getting redirected and doing go-arounds.

Aquamarine1029 · 12/01/2022 23:18

The amount of planes in the air at one time is fucking insane.

SkiingIsHeaven · 12/01/2022 23:20

My DS went on a school trip to America. I watched his flight and landing. You could even see the plane taxiing to the flight gate. I was so happy he was safe.

I also watched him come home.

So exciting.

Obviously didn't tell him because he would think that I was a weird stalker.

StCharlotte · 12/01/2022 23:24

@WabbitsAndWeasels

If you like this you might also like a marine traffic tracker: www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:25.0/zoom:4

From experience it won't always pick up every little ship/boat as they need their GPS turned on but it shows how busy the world's waters really are.

I tracked my new car from Korea using this.

"It's through the Arabian Sea and hasn't been hijacked by pirates!"

"It's through the Suez canal!"

"It's been stuck outside Immingham for nearly a fortnight!"

Takingabreakagain · 12/01/2022 23:24

@SkiingIsHeaven
My mum does this when I go away and I'm in my 40s. I'll probably do it when my DC go I think it's nice to know they've arrived safely without waiting until they've had chance to call.

BluebellsGreenbells · 12/01/2022 23:28

If you like that, try lightening maps

www.lightningmaps.org/

RenGreen · 12/01/2022 23:36

Wow so many people into the same thing! Another way to increase my screen time 😂

OP posts:
WingingItSince1973 · 12/01/2022 23:45

Thanks for that OP 🤣 Just downloaded the app as we usually quite busy airspace here in the Midlands but ended up tracking some flights over Russia 🤣

Poshjock · 12/01/2022 23:46

DH can correctly identify planes if he can hear them or by their trails thanks to spending far too long on flightradar. It was spooky as hell during lockdown 1 to see the map so empty, especially comparing it to how it was during pre-pandemic times.

I have a FB friend who is similarly addicted and she posted one night about an emergency in a US airport (can't remember which) and on flightradar you could see planes that were "stacked" and the little collection of fire trucks on one of the outside runways. I also discovered that you can listen to some air traffic control talk that night too as she posted a link to listen in. We all "watched" until the plane was landed - safely and without incident!

I am a regular seafarer and I use Marine Traffic a lot.

I LOVE lightening maps. I can impress people when I can predict incoming thunder.

StarryNightSparkles · 13/01/2022 00:01

There are loads of fantastic videos on YouTube about planes. You can watch them taking off and landing. They also do live links at Airports. Its fascinating and hours just fly by (pun intended) so my friend said 😳

RenGreen · 13/01/2022 07:31

First thing I thought about this morning as it was night (obvs) over Europe so I imagined less aeroplanes. Do military planes have a cloak so they don’t appear? I love the how all the planes have a similarly shaped little plane to identify them.

OP posts:
Poshjock · 13/01/2022 10:13

Planes have the ability to turn of ADS (AIS on ships) and this is usually set in policies. Military flights or ships general disable tracking much of the time. But not always so it is fun to look out for them.

RenGreen · 13/01/2022 12:14

Thanks @Poshjock I must admit my DH and I had a good laugh over ‘cloak’ and likened it to a Klingon spaceship 😂

OP posts:
Batinhernightdress · 13/01/2022 19:51

Obviously didn't tell him because he would think that I was a weird stalker.

I am a weird stalker. I bloody love watching planes with people I know in them, all my friends send me their flight details and then I like a fucking muppet track their flights and then text them to tell them their flight path. Thankfully I think they think it is a batty quirk of mine, rather than worrying, at least they still send me flight numbers.

StCharlotte · 13/01/2022 19:56

OP you should have been on it when all the flights were coming in and out of Glasgow for COP26 (and Edinburgh and Prestwick). We were all looking for Air Force One Smile

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