Plane spotting with Sky Hub Cloud: the light, the runway and the moment

A good spotting shot needs the aircraft, the light and the right place at the right minute. Usually that means a flight tracker, a sun app and the airport weather report open side by side. Sky Hub Cloud puts them on one card for the flight you follow in the Flight Tracker, worked out for your own pin.

The best moment

When the aircraft will pass closest to your pin, how far away, in which direction and how high, from its course and speed.

The light

Where the sun will be at that minute: behind you for good light on the aircraft, into the sun for a silhouette, or from the side. Golden hour is marked. After dark the card says you will see its lights only.

Clouds and visibility

The forecast low and total cloud for that time at your pin, and whether a plane at that height will be hidden. The card also estimates whether you will see it as a small plane, only a dot, or only its contrail, and whether it leaves one.

The lens

The focal length that fills the frame on a full-frame camera, from the distance and the aircraft’s size class. Too far for a frame-filling shot? The card tells you.

Which runway is in use

Aircraft land and take off into the wind. From the airport’s latest weather report, the card shows the runway probably in use at the destination, so you know which end to go to.

Runway probably in use and airport weather from the latest report — Runway probably in use (22, landing into a 230° wind) and the airport weather from its latest report.

Your own spotting log over your pin

How many times an aircraft has passed over your pin and on how many days, the usual time a flight number passes, which flight of the day it is, and how loud it will be at your pin.

How many times an aircraft passed over your pin and the usual time of the flight — 27 times over the pin on 12 days, and the usual time this flight number passes.

Specials: military, police, air ambulance

Fly Radar colours them by role and flags emergency squawks, so the rare ones stand out.

Every value here is an estimate from the aircraft’s course and speed and from the forecast, and the card marks it as one.

Frequently asked questions

Which runway is in use today?

Aircraft land into the wind, so the card works the runway out from the airport’s latest weather report and marks it as an estimate.

When is the best time to photograph planes?

Golden hour, with the sun behind you. The card shows where the sun will be when the aircraft passes your pin and marks golden hour.

What lens do I need for plane spotting?

It depends on distance and aircraft size. The card works out the focal length that fills the frame for each pass.

How you get it

Try everything in the free 60-minute demo, no card. Paid plans start at £8.99 a month and include Fly Radar, Flight Tracker, Ship Radar, Train Radar and Coast Explorer on one pin. Try it free · Plans

Questions: office@skyhubcloud.com.