For decades, the image of a plane spotter was fixed in the public mind: a solitary, anorak-clad figure, often male, with a camera and a notebook. But that stereotype is being spectacularly dismantled by a new generation of glamorous, social-media-savvy young women who are turning aviation enthusiasm into a vibrant, online community.
The Rise of the 'Fly Girls'
At the forefront of this movement is 27-year-old Glo Amponsem from Hertfordshire. She is the founder of The Plane Spotting Club, Britain's first all-women group dedicated to the pastime. Since launching earlier this year, her club has attracted over 300 members, proving a huge, pent-up demand.
Glo actively combats the 'nerdy' stigma associated with the hobby, even sharing her 'plane spotting-approved makeup routine' to ensure she looks glamorous while filming aircraft like an Air Dolomiti Embraer 190. 'It’s a hobby with a nerdy, geeky stigma, so many are not as forthcoming about it,' she told The Telegraph. Her message is clear: 'Fly girls love planes, that is my motto.'
The club's first event at Heathrow Terminal 5 garnered more than 200,000 views on TikTok, signalling a sky-high appetite for this new take on the hobby. The community now includes a unique mix of seasoned spotters, aviation industry professionals, casual observers, and complete newcomers.
Social Media as a Runway for Passion
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been instrumental in this revival. Influencers are creating aesthetic content, posing with aircraft overhead set to emotional music, framing plane spotting as a form of cool, accessible leisure.
For many, it's deeply personal. Grace Bethany, 28 (@thatplanegirlgrace), calls it 'my therapy' and says she feels 'rich' because of her passion. A former employee of Boeing and Rolls-Royce, she now runs The Aviation Edit to demystify flying. Another club member, Nella Gugliersi, turned to watching planes after a panic attack in Santorini. 'They calm me down... by watching the planes land, I knew it was going to be okay,' she explained.
The dedication runs deep. Romilly Jane, an enthusiast from Manchester, stated that her primary criteria for buying a house is that it must be under a flight path. 'If I can't look out my window and see the Emirates A380 fly over, then what's the point?' she said.
Why Planes Captivate a New Generation
The appeal of plane spotting to Gen Z—often labelled 'Generation Sensible' for their quieter social habits—is multifaceted. For some, it's a mindful escape. For others, it's the sheer wonder of aviation technology. 'I just think planes are cool. Of course, I understand how they stay in the sky, but it amazes me every time,' said Isabel Tello-Wharton, who works for British Airways.
This sentiment is echoed online. In a Reddit thread, enthusiasts described the hobby as 'relaxing', a perfect blend of photography and passion, and expressed awe at 'how something so big and heavy can go really fast, really high up in the sky.'
The trend also received an unexpected boost during 2022's Storm Eunice, when over 130,000 people watched live streams of pilots battling 90mph winds to land at Heathrow. The dramatic event, including a Qatar Airways A380's multiple landing attempts, captivated a massive online audience.
This fresh interest could provide a much-needed boost to UK aviation diversity, where currently just 6.5% of pilots are women. Glo Amponsem now hopes to turn her passion into a career, a goal she is actively 'working on'. What began as a niche pastime has found a new runway, powered by community, social media, and a generation redefining what it means to be an enthusiast.
