Ever since I was young, I’ve loved airplanes. Back in 2016, when I was just six years old, I built my very first model airport using toy planes and anything I could find around the house. I didn’t know much about real airports, but I had a huge imagination and loved creating my own little aviation world. As I got older, I moved on to other things—but that passion never really left me. In 2022, I got back into it.

On May 15, 2022, I bought my first detailed model airplane—a Boeing 777 from American Airlines—after flying with them and wanting something to remember the experience. Shortly after, I saw a TikTok video of someone showing off their model airport, and I was instantly inspired to start building again. This time, I went all in. I used cardboard boxes covered in paper to create buildings and recycled materials from around the house to make terminals, hangars, and other airport features.

Once I added a Southwest 737 to my airport, I began posting videos on my TikTok account, @albanyplanespotter. The response was amazing—I quickly gained followers and became hooked on the hobby. Over time, I collected model planes from all major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Hawaiian. I started by buying models from Amazon, but later switched to GeminiJets for their more detailed and realistic aircraft.

As my airport grew, I made creative upgrades to make it more realistic. I added LED lights, built a parking garage from a cereal box, and designed a cargo hangar for UPS using a shoebox. I designed and built everything myself, and it’s been amazing to watch it all come together. People began reaching out to me saying they were inspired by my videos, and I helped them start their own model airports by sharing tips and recommending where to buy their first models.

Today, I still collect model airplanes and continue building and improving my airport. What started as a fun setup when I was six—and something I got back into years later—has grown into a creative passion that connects me with aviation lovers all over the world.