Our Board

I have been plane spotting now for almost 5 years. I live 10 minutes north of PWK, and 20 minutes north of ORD, so I have aircraft of all sizes flying overhead pretty much 24/7. Growing up, I lived north of the old Naval Air Station Glenview, and got used to having military aircraft flying overhead all day long. In addition to spotting in and around Chicagoland, I have been to airshows and airports all over the country. I have been a member of Airport Watch for the last 5 years, and vice president for the last 2.

When I am not plane spotting, I am a Lieutenant with the Oak Park Fire Department, and will soon celebrate my 20th year there. I am fortunate to work there, as many of the flights coming in to ORD from Asia and the western US fly overhead eastbound to line up to land when the airport is in west flow.

In my time off I also ride motorcycles, go to car shows, and herd cats.

I’ve been an avgeek since I was a toddler, when my airplane-obsessed father started teaching me about them, but I didn’t know that it was a “thing” until the summer of 2021. Coming out of the pandemic, I was really struggling personally and my morbid fascination with watching Air Disasters led me out of the darkness and into the light, where the YouTube algorithm began feeding me aviation content that led me to discover ORD Airport Watch. Joining the group was a no-brainer, and it inspired me to buy my first “real” camera and start learning how to use something more complex than my iPhone. Though I live up in Madison, Wisconsin, I had no qualms about regularly driving down to ORD to bask in the smell of jet fuel and the roar of GE90 engines. I soon discovered that there are a LOT of other people just as weirdly obsessed with aviation as me!

In 2023, I got more active with ORD Airport Watch. Before I knew what was happening, I was running for a spot on the board, and despite having no aspirations to be in charge of anything, I found myself in the role of Vice President. This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly! I’m a Communication Studies student at UW Oshkosh, so I have lots of ideas and enthusiasm for fostering member and community engagement.

My favorite airplane is naturally the Boeing 747, but I also have a deep affinity for the Boeing 777, 787, and the Airbus A380 (a sweet, sweet ride on the upper deck!), A330, A340, and A350. Honorable mentions go to the McDonnell Douglas DC-10/MD-11. The bigger the aircraft, the better!

When I’m not planespotting, I’m Mama to the two Cavalier King Charles spaniels I share with my partner, Rob. I’m also a semi-professional baker, as well as an occasional circus performer (aerial dance). It probably goes without saying, but I also love to travel. ORD is my favorite close-to-home airport but it gets edged out slightly by London Heathrow, which is a truly magical planespotting destination with incredibly diverse air traffic.

I got into aviation when I got lost at O’Hare back in the early 70’s and I was hooked ever since. I tried to become a commercial pilot, but color blindness got in the way. After college, I worked for Air Wisconsin and was a load planner. I have always been interested in photography, but in the last three years, I started photographing Airshows and the Blue Angels in Chicago and St Louis.

My history with OAW has been very short. I joined in March 2023 and have shot planes on the hill 4 times at O’Hare. Can’t wait to for the weather to break so I can take more images.

My favorite airplane of all time is the DC-10. The sound of those engines taking off is spectacular. My favorite airport is O’Hare.

I have been in love with planes ever since my childhood. I have always loved watching them fly by and that grew even more after moving very close to ORD, where various types of planes are flying 24x7. I joined this lovely community last year and have been excited to be a part of it.

I am in IT by profession and I love to spot planes, play xbox, read books and travel.

Ever since I first flew on a plane as a child, I have been hooked on aviation! I took my passions to the next level when I was in 6th grade and started learning more about pilotage in addition to planes, and in 2020, I took it a step further and went planespotting proper for the very first time.

I have been affiliated with OAW since 2020 under my mother’s membership, but received my own membership in fall of 2022. In May 2023 I was elected onto the board.

While I try to visit other airports while on vacation, I spot mainly at ORD. I fly the Cessna 172, but my favorite aircraft is the Boeing 757.

I started plane spotting with my late father back in the 1980s at MDW on the south side of Chicago. During high school I lived close to ORD, so I started plane spotting there in the late 1990s. I presently live near RFD, so I plane spot there and at ORD when I am not teaching.

I joined OAW in the summer of 2021 after watching a live stream online that another current OAW member was filming. I had no idea such a unique group exists for AvGeeks like myself. During the pandemic, I organized a couple of same-day trips where several OAW members and myself flew up to IWD and back to ORD for the day – we had a blast! I’m very happy to be part of a group that encompasses such a diverse group of people from all walks of life.

My favorite aircraft is the 727. I miss flying on those as a kid.

I got into aviation when my youngest son was very little. I loved taking him to as many airshows and warbird displays as I could.  

I joined Airport Watch about 6 years ago. It was then I thought I would try my hand at aviation photography. Hanging around ORD I fell in love with the classic beauty of the 747.  

Outside of airshows and plane spotting, my hobbies include racing on a variety of closed tracks with my 370z Nismo.