I’ve been exploring for almost seven years now, others I know longer than that, yet I’ve never been the recipient of hatred as a result of something we’ve explored. Sure I’ve received the occasional angry email from those concerned with the fact we’re putting ourselves at risk, not to mention the effect this could have on others should something go wrong, but nothing too serious. Most, if not all accept that what we do can be dangerous, sometimes illegal and acknowledge the fact that we’ve accepted these risks while trying not to inconvenience anyone.
Unfortunately this trend of constructive criticism came crashing down last week after the Victorville Boneyard pictures were posted. The response was in one word, incredible. Never before have I seen such aggressive hatred, especially given the fact that those giving it knew little more than our aliases.
The day after the story broke I woke up to an inbox full of death threats, many wishing physical harm on both myself, those I explore with and my family. Things like “I hope you get shot next time you sneak onto an airfield” , “You’re mother deserves to be hit by a bus for raising you so badly” and “Natural selection will get you soon”. I was simply amazed, you would have assumed we were guilty of murdering their family judging by these outbursts.
Since almost none of the above bothered to use fake emails, names, or at least hide their IP address it was simple to trace around 90% of the threats back to the wonderful members of Airliners.net. Here things just got worse, more abuse, members condoning the use of drugs as a more appropriate hobby, or suggesting that the crime of trespass was similar to breaking into a persons home or, get this, raping a supermodel. No joke, they actually said these things.
The fact that these members are more than likely adults, makes this display of behavior event more pathetic. Now I’m not saying all the members of this forum were this childish, it would be unfair for me to group them as a whole. Many were reasonable, levelheaded and had actual questions and desired to know more. Obviously they didn’t condone the fact we trespassed, that goes without saying but they at least enjoyed the pictures, understood why we did what we did, and most of all didn’t wish disease upon us.
Its for these people that we’re posting the pictures today, those with an actual interest in the content and not totally obsessed with how it was obtained. I personally thank you for the positive messages and for not joining the rest in throwing your toys out of the pram. The rest of you, grow up.
…if things were not for the Urbex community-at-large…I’d of gone batty [ier] through these past, long & frustrating [13+] years of bein’ permanently laid-up in a med-bed.
Just be safe, keep your equipment/ropes/low-oxygen detectors sure and waders patched…also keep plenty photo-cards on hand…
Urbex not only has been an education for myself… The stories and photography have opened up a great desire and realisation for and in the study of history/archaeology…and all things buried…thanx.
Fare all ye urbex well…
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I would just like to know HOW you got on top of a 747 to take the first picture!
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ok i would love to know where all the ones you visit in Scotland or UK in general as my urban exploration was more urban climbing. and would love ops like tht
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I’ve heard similar whiners complaining about shots taken around railroad tracks. F-’em. Excellent images!
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Why would anyone get pissed off about people trespassing a boneyard, of all places? Seriously, people can be so amazing at times.
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airline.net - jealousy is a wasted emotion.
Amazing pictures guys.
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Since I am a massive airplane fanatic, I find these photos very awesome. I am quite surprised on the amount of death threats you got, particularly from Airliners.net, a website I visit quite regularly. Personally, I don’t see the harm in what you’re doing. All you’re doing is looking around and taking photos. It’s not like you wanted to damage any of the planes, right?
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I really enjoyed these, thanks so much for posting! I’d sneak into a boneyard in a second if I could figure out how to go about it. And both one of the “airliners.net” types and a pilot, I’ll be the first to tell you not to listen to death threats from sniveling nerds. Funny how they’re so big and tough on the computer, but take away the keyboard and you probably will find a 28 year old, 400 pound male who hasn’t showered since he skipped his highschool graduation to play Starcraft. Don’t let them get to you, most of us aviation fans greatly appreciate this, and even wish we could join you!
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Typo, I meant to say “As both” not “And both” in the 3rd sentence.
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people who say things like you described are very immature, its just like on terrastories when people were bawwing about the fact that the guy and his friend snuck onboard the USS Iowa for 5 minutes. you ruin it for others because then people get discouraged from posting these and then they dont get to see them ever and you end up with walled paranoid communities like uer.
My message to those people is uhhhh*gets irritated*shut up…huuhuuh.
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thanks for sharing good sir
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Yes, I am a member of airliners.net.
No, I do not hate your, your fellows, your family or anyone else around you.
And I have to say I love your photos and your way to take them. I wish that I could do this myself.
I have no problem with what you are doing because nobody gets harmed because of it.
So please don’t stop doing this and provide more of those fantastic plane pictures.
Kindest regards from Germany
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Great photos. Keep up the great work. Love the site.
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I really like your site and what you guys do - it’s really fascinating and something I’d do myself if I were as able-bodied as I once was! I’ve spent a fair bit of time on the airliners.net forums and I can’t really see what their issue would be. Maybe it is simply that those involved in the aviation business are trained to have rule-compliant mindset (understandably)?
@John Smuts wishes these facilities were open for public viewing, but would you guys be doing this kind of thing if they were publically accessible? How about if someone offered you free-reign of somewhere interesting, provided you wore safety gear? Just curious how much the non-conformist element is in your enjoyment of these experiences.
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Just wanted to say good work mate, I am in full support of what you guys do and you are a great inspiration. Keep going strong. and big up!
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Your photos are brilliant and you are clearly a talented photographer. I have not bothered to read any of the hate mail of which you speak but am sure that the majority of airliner.net members would not condone such mail.
With regards to your having to trespass to obtain these wonderful images it is a shame that the facilities are not opened to the public under a controlled circumstances to allow access for the aviation enthusiasts. I would be first in line.
Please keep sharing your photography and if you have to jump a fence to do it then so be it, there are way more serious things in life to worry about. than trespass in a boneyard
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I really enjoyed this picture set, and the last one too. I can’t understand how this angers people. It boggles the mind that people can say such things to you, and it makes me ashamed to be a member of the airliners.net community, in a way. I guess it’s dangerous, but people do dangerous things at their own risk every day.
I wish I could have been there to see those old birds, particularly the interiors. The cockpit and cabin photos are simply amazing, and the cargo holds. These are parts of planes that most passengers will never get to see, least of all in this state.
In short, I applaud you!
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Staunch!
Had a read through the internet hate the other night, some seriously unusual individuals out there, then again, they are Americans.
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I read the thread about your pictures on Airliners.net (which was also how I found them) and I was simply baffled by the hatred that the members of A.net seemed to throw at you. I enjoyed seeing the pictures very much, given the fact that it gives us an insight into something not a lot of people get to see.
@major _tom: if you mean the 4th one in the article, it’s a DC-10, if it’s the 4th one in the thumbnails, then it’s a DC-10
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whoops, meant a DC-8 for the 4th one in the thumbnails. Looks like I wasn’t paying attention to what I was typing.
also, who put the 747′s throttles at full power? :p
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Good response and great imagery. The only people more obsessive than bus people are train people, and the only people more obsessive than train people are airline buffs!!
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People take the internet waaaaaay too seriously these days. It’s ridiculous.
Just wanted to say i loved the Victorville set as well as this. Keep up the fucking excellent work!
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Dont let the bastards get you down. Pictures are fantastic and i am so green with envy. I would love to visit any of the aircraft boneyards from around the world. Give us more ……………..
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Seriously beautiful photos. I wish we had places like this in Australia. They’re looking to open one near Alice Springs but they said it’s going to also be storage for planes not in use so i’d expect security will be a lot higher… Plus Alice Springs is way too difficult for me to get to. oh well.
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I really don’t get people who get so pissy! If you’d shit on their doorstep or actually done anything to them physically perhaps I could understand it. I just can’t stand keyboard warriors.
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Sorry you got to see the worst of people in the feedback on this original story. I think the photos are beautiful and the story exhilarating. It introduced me to your site, and I spent hours after reading about your other UE exploits. Very nice work, and stunning photography. Keep up the good work, and ignore the obese airplane-loving couch potatoes.
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Well done, I have been enjoying each of your photographic posts since discovering your website. Keep it up - safely
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Another marvellous set of photos, a job well done!
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amazing that people would get so worked up about this. like most things, if it doesn’t directly impact you, you have the right to change the channel/switch off/surf away.
personally, i quite admire what you do - i’m a curious guy, i like old junk and abandoned places, but i lack the stones to do what you do. keep it up - i need this blog to live vicariously through!
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Love your work I work in the rail industry as my normal job and l Really enjoy your underground tours keep it up
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Wow, they need to get over it, life is way too short to fuss about someone else’s silly internet hobby.
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Haters gonna hate, don’t let the trolls break your stride. Personally I think this is pretty damn fantastic, I’d love to get up close and personal with some hardware like that.
Also, I don’t recognize that jet in #4…Convair maybe?
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The jet in #4 is a 39 year old cargo DC-10 that was operated by DAS Cargo
http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/McDonnell-Douglas/DC-10/47906,5X-JOE-DAS-Air-Cargo.php
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