Random things that aren't there in Google Maps
Discussion
Anyone who has been to Heathrow regularly may know there's what looks like an old green aeroplane parked near the hangars at Hatton Cross.
It's actually a fire training fake plane which features design elements from several planes.
In the link below you can see it close up on Streetview, yet it is clearly absent when viewed from above. I'm pretty certain it hasn't moved in years, so someone has ensured it cannot be seen.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN3YEWiBCMvFKhR29
Even odder, if you pan out a bit, you'll see there is not a single plane at a gate in the whole of Heathrow, though a couple are taxiing. This seems a trifle.... unlikely... I assume again they've been deleted?
I can't for the life of me think why.
Can anyone else give any good examples of obvious things which have been removed from Google Maps for no obvious reason?
Mods: this isn't just a thread about planes, please don't put it in the planes, trains etc subforum.
It's actually a fire training fake plane which features design elements from several planes.
In the link below you can see it close up on Streetview, yet it is clearly absent when viewed from above. I'm pretty certain it hasn't moved in years, so someone has ensured it cannot be seen.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN3YEWiBCMvFKhR29
Even odder, if you pan out a bit, you'll see there is not a single plane at a gate in the whole of Heathrow, though a couple are taxiing. This seems a trifle.... unlikely... I assume again they've been deleted?
I can't for the life of me think why.
Can anyone else give any good examples of obvious things which have been removed from Google Maps for no obvious reason?
Mods: this isn't just a thread about planes, please don't put it in the planes, trains etc subforum.
Composite images, innit. Stitch a few together, keeping only the common items .. so since planes can move about a bit, they won't be in the same place in each image and will be removed. It's why you don't see millions of cars on the M25 for instance.
Doesn't necessarily explain the missing fire training plane though, although given how close it appears to be to the gate, maybe it actually has moved over the years?
ETA Bing doesn't care
Doesn't necessarily explain the missing fire training plane though, although given how close it appears to be to the gate, maybe it actually has moved over the years?
ETA Bing doesn't care
Edited by bigandclever on Monday 20th June 16:51
Not sure and clutching at straws, but if you look on the 2D and 3D satellite photos / imagery, you can see what looks like foam on the floor? I wonder if sod's law dictated that during the process of taking that specific set of imagery recently, there was a training exercise underway, and as such there were flames or smoke visible....hence they deliberately went out of their way to "repair" or "touch up" the image & remove the actual plane (including those associated flames and smoke), just for clarity?
In fact, on second thoughts, ALL planes have been removed from Heathrow airport on the aerial view (except Concorde).....i'm pretty sure this has NEVER actually occured at LHR in the last 50 years and so I guess this automatically done by the imaging software....hence the green training plane has gone also, as it fits that shape/profile. It must be to ensure an unobstructed satellite view when uploaded, although strangely there are lots of planes sat at LGW.
In fact, on second thoughts, ALL planes have been removed from Heathrow airport on the aerial view (except Concorde).....i'm pretty sure this has NEVER actually occured at LHR in the last 50 years and so I guess this automatically done by the imaging software....hence the green training plane has gone also, as it fits that shape/profile. It must be to ensure an unobstructed satellite view when uploaded, although strangely there are lots of planes sat at LGW.
Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 20th June 16:55
On a hill just on the outskirts of South Woodham Ferrers in Essex was / is a radar station. Clearly visible to passing traffic and lots of rumours about it but was in fact a testing facility for Marconi (https://marconiradarhistory.pbworks.com/f/secrets%20of%20Bushy.pdf). The footprint of the place is a reasonable size but for years didn't appear on any OS map (just indicated as a field) and only recently has it appeared on Google Earth having previously been air-brushed out. That said, there remain several strictures and what I assume are large covers that should be visible on GE but aren't there, a fact that keeps the local rumours burbling along!
Gareth79 said:
I don't think anything is manually edited, I think it's based on several aircraft passes from different directions and then anything which moves between the passes is removed as part of the algorithm.
Satellites, not aircraft.The South Woodham Example was definitely deliberate editing because older OS maps did not show the buildings, aerial OS shots that pre-date Google had it removed as did early passes of Google Earth. I can actually understand why given the sort of work Marconi did back in the day and can only assume such activity is more benign today given that it's now clearly in view.
Writhing said:
So secret I can't actually see any content on that website.Just adverts.
AL5026 said:
I learnt this week that you can request to have your house blurred out in Google Streetview. However, once it has been done, it can’t be undone. So if you move on, the new owners will not be able to view their house on Streetview.
My brother lives in Germany. Judging from the street view round where he lives this is very popular.The only one in our road used to belong to a man with David Icke stickers in his Land Rover, so no surprises there.
Getragdogleg said:
Writhing said:
So secret I can't actually see any content on that website.Just adverts.
bigandclever said:
Composite images, innit. Stitch a few together, keeping only the common items .. so since planes can move about a bit, they won't be in the same place in each image and will be removed. It's why you don't see millions of cars on the M25 for instance.
Interestingly (and PH-worthy), Brands Hatch has cars racing round it. 
StevieBee said:
Gareth79 said:
I don't think anything is manually edited, I think it's based on several aircraft passes from different directions and then anything which moves between the passes is removed as part of the algorithm.
Satellites, not aircraft.https://support.google.com/earth/answer/6327779?hl...
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