Few things can bring a crowd of aviation enthusiasts to Los Angeles International Airport faster than the prospect of watching jets overhead while eating an In-N-Out burger.
That was the scene Saturday at Cranky Dorkfest, the annual freewheeling gathering that brings aviation fans, photographers and industry insiders to the edge of LAX for an afternoon of planes, people-watching and fast food.
The informal meetup has grown considerably since 2011, when it started as a small get-together for aviation photographers and bloggers.
Today, the event draws a far larger group of self-described aviation obsessives, many of whom are perfectly happy to spend a Saturday watching commercial jets thunder overhead while eating Double-Doubles.
The turnout has become so large that even the organizers appear slightly uneasy about the event’s growing popularity.
“Even with a 50% no-show rate, we’ll be on track for a record year, which is only slightly terrifying to imagine,” the Cranky Flier said.
The main gathering took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park across the street south of the In-N-Out at 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd. The location gave attendees an ideal spot for watching aircraft, discussing airplanes and grabbing food from the burger chain just steps away.
Held each September on the second or third weekend of the month, the Los Angeles event coincides with NYC Aviation’s SpotLAX. Together, the gatherings give aviation fans an excuse to turn the weekend into an extended celebration of all things airborne.
For some attendees, pairing airplane watching with In-N-Out is already a familiar tradition.
“When I was flying for Delta, I’d occasionally stop on my way home for Double Double Animal Style and to watch the jets,” Buzz Patterson wrote on X.
That comment captures the essence of the Dorkfest experience: aircraft overhead, burgers in hand and a crowd of fellow enthusiasts who understand exactly why the view is worth stopping for.
Even people unfamiliar with the gathering seemed amused by its boldly self-deprecating name.
“I don’t know what a ‘Cranky Dorkfest’ is, but it’s one of the best terms I’ve encountered in a long while!”
