Hey Seattle, the mountain is out—in a very cool livestream that we can’t stop watching. Rainier Aviation is a 24/7 livestream that allows viewers to watch in real-time as planes take off from Seattle-Tacoma Airport—and on a clear day, you can see Mount Rainier looming in the background of the livestream. The livestream describes itself as “relaxing background aviation.”
Read on for all the details!
The owner of the Rainier Aviation livestream is Mitch Sutton. His house in Burien, WA has a clear view of Sea-Tac Airport and Mount Rainier. Sutton was always been interested in planes and aviation but his new view inspired him to set up the livestream.
His equipment includes two cameras with 600mm zoom and night vision mounted on a stabilized rooftop mast. He also pairs the livestream with audio of real-time flight traffic control. Soon he’ll be adding auto-tracking and ATC overlay.
His channel now has over 1,000 subscribers.
Sutton works on “striking the right balance between detailed plane spotting and the wide, scenic shots of Sea-Tac and Mount Rainier that people find peaceful and calming,” according to his livestream’s about blurb on YouTube. The view may feel slightly less calming when you remember that Mount Rainier (also known as Tahoma) is an active volcano—but locals accept this omnipresent threat as part of the area’s natural beauty.
In the live chat, aviation enthusiasts and casual viewers comment on the view, the weather, and the specific planes. One person even left a comment while sitting in one of the planes seen sitting on the runway in the livestream.
Sutton also takes requests for specific shots, if the weather permits. He manages the livestream in addition to his full-time job.
You can watch the livestream on YouTube.