Calgary aircraft photo enthusiasts ready cameras for arriving G7 planes

With Alberta playing host to the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit, there’s a buzz over Calgary skies as support aircraft for the event start landing at the city’s airport — and plane spotters are taking it all in.

Aircraft enthusiasts equipped with cameras in-hand are hoping to capture an image or video of a Blackhawk Helicopter, an Osprey, a fighter jet, or possibly even Air Force One.

With over 5,000 photography enthusiasts signed onto their Facebook page, Calgary Aviation Photography members post images and videos of these rarely seen metal machines in Calgary.

“The military planes are always exciting, rare and somewhat uncommon especially for Calgary, but now the G7 puts all the attention on all this,” says plane spotter Jason Hampton.

Hampton says if he had to pick one plane he’d want to capture it would be Air Force One.

Restrictions are in place, in and around the airport, creating challenges for the photo enthusiasts, but similar to bird lovers, you do what you can with the equipment you’ve got.

Calgary police will be closing the tunnel on Airport Trail NE starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday through to Wednesday in order to ensure the safe arrival and departure of the G7 delegates and leaders.

No stopping or parking around the perimeter of airport property will be allowed between Saturday and Wednesday.

“Again it’s one of those watch and wait and see, cause there’s not exactly a posted schedule for any of these arrivals,” says Hampton.

Expect the parade of aircraft arrivals and departures to continue through next week with the G7 Summit set to begin Sunday.