Cranky Dorkfest 2025 turned Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) into plane spotters’ heaven over the weekend, with more than 500 aviation fans getting rare behind-the-scenes access to the airport’s ramp operations and aircraft displays.
The event, hosted by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), gave attendees a chance to get up close to commercial aircraft, explore aircraft interiors, chat with flight crews and watch LAX operations from vantage points usually off-limits to the public.
Static displays from Delta and American Airlines were set up at the LAX Flight Path Museum and Learning Center, where enthusiasts could climb aboard, take photos and ask questions about the aircraft.
“Cranky Dorkfest represents the very best of community engagement and aviation education,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs for LAWA. “This event allows us to share our passion for aviation with enthusiasts from around the world, while showcasing the incredible operations that make LAX one of the busiest origin and destination airports globally.”
After the morning tours, the group headed to the famous “LAX Airplane Landing Viewpoint” park near the In-N-Out Burger at the airport’s north end — a favourite spot for plane spotters thanks to its views of the north runways. There, the community portion of the event took place, with free plane spotting, giveaways from airlines and aviation brands, and plenty of networking among aviation enthusiasts.
Cranky Dorkfest has grown significantly from its early days as a casual meetup for bloggers and photographers, but organisers say it has kept its relaxed, community feel while adding more educational opportunities. The mix of ramp tours, static displays and park-side plane spotting made this year’s event a bucket-list moment for aviation fans.
