Small + busy airport for aviation photography?
Discussion
As per title - I want to try some aviation photography, and would like to start at a reasonably busy but small airfield. Somewhere where it's possible to get reasonably close and also to find an unhampered view, while I mess around swearing at the tripod and faffing over shutter speeds, AF settings, etc. A mix of aircraft types would be great.
I'm in Cambridge, but Marshalls doesn't have very many flights. The thought of standing in the Stansted Services car park catching lots of Ryan Air flights does not appeal.
But there are lots of airfields and small airports in East Anglia. Any suggestions?
I'm in Cambridge, but Marshalls doesn't have very many flights. The thought of standing in the Stansted Services car park catching lots of Ryan Air flights does not appeal.
But there are lots of airfields and small airports in East Anglia. Any suggestions?
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Not an airport, but I really enjoy watching the Typhoons etc at Coningsby. If you go to the end of Old Boston Road you can almost see the whites of the pilots' eyes.
Aha - I presume they are what I saw over Kings Lynn a couple of weeks ago. A pair that were doing some kind of tight-turn exercise just under the cloud cover. Quite literally doing tight circles around each other - looked like a dance. Alas I had my little pocket camera and could not get them.Thanks for the link. Follow-up Q: is it that busy? I don't suppose that they publishe a timetable of flights - just for us spotters'!
djc206 said:
If you’re interested in the helicopters then maybe Norwich? Lots of offshore stuff and they don’t tend to move as fast which might be helpful?
Could be. I know that there's some sort of issue with 'bent' helicopter rotors due to some shutter/scanning interaction. Many years ago - Zenith E era - I managed to get just about focus on Chinooks in the Falklands. Maybe I can keep up with a modern AF-C camera, despite the passage of time. Do you know any decent spotting spots? (I presume the rotor stuff lands some way from the runways.)
Escapegoat said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Not an airport, but I really enjoy watching the Typhoons etc at Coningsby. If you go to the end of Old Boston Road you can almost see the whites of the pilots' eyes.
Aha - I presume they are what I saw over Kings Lynn a couple of weeks ago. A pair that were doing some kind of tight-turn exercise just under the cloud cover. Quite literally doing tight circles around each other - looked like a dance. Alas I had my little pocket camera and could not get them.Thanks for the link. Follow-up Q: is it that busy? I don't suppose that they publishe a timetable of flights - just for us spotters'!
Mind, it's only an hour for me, nearer two for you.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/r...
Best to avoid the night flying dates (if you go in the day) as flights are sparse then. See dates on the attached link.
Best to avoid the night flying dates (if you go in the day) as flights are sparse then. See dates on the attached link.
Escapegoat said:
Could be. I know that there's some sort of issue with 'bent' helicopter rotors due to some shutter/scanning interaction. Many years ago - Zenith E era - I managed to get just about focus on Chinooks in the Falklands. Maybe I can keep up with a modern AF-C camera, despite the passage of time.
Do you know any decent spotting spots? (I presume the rotor stuff lands some way from the runways.)
When I last flew out of Norwich on a chopper (2-3 years ago) they used the runway for landing and takeoff. On landing we always seemed to come in from the east and head straight to the Bristow building. Other heli-operators may be different, there's CHC and saxon there too. I always thought that was wierd but maybe something to do with lanes and ATC?Do you know any decent spotting spots? (I presume the rotor stuff lands some way from the runways.)
Thanks all. I like the idea of Coningsby, but it's a long way to go in case of low/no activity. During day-time operations, how many flights would there typically be? I'm guessing perhaps a pair of Typhoons per hour, or something like that. As I'll be trying to get the hang of it, I need as many chances as possible.
I presume smaller airfields on GA days are best on Sat/Sundays with clear weather (when weekend pilots are more likely to want to go up)? This weekend's weather forecast looks helpful.
Southend is also an option, and with mixed traffic, but the scheduled timetable is fairly sparse.
I presume smaller airfields on GA days are best on Sat/Sundays with clear weather (when weekend pilots are more likely to want to go up)? This weekend's weather forecast looks helpful.
Southend is also an option, and with mixed traffic, but the scheduled timetable is fairly sparse.
Escapegoat said:
Thanks all. I like the idea of Coningsby, but it's a long way to go in case of low/no activity. During day-time operations, how many flights would there typically be? I'm guessing perhaps a pair of Typhoons per hour, or something like that. As I'll be trying to get the hang of it, I need as many chances as possible.
I presume smaller airfields on GA days are best on Sat/Sundays with clear weather (when weekend pilots are more likely to want to go up)? This weekend's weather forecast looks helpful.
Southend is also an option, and with mixed traffic, but the scheduled timetable is fairly sparse.
London City would be a good bet.I presume smaller airfields on GA days are best on Sat/Sundays with clear weather (when weekend pilots are more likely to want to go up)? This weekend's weather forecast looks helpful.
Southend is also an option, and with mixed traffic, but the scheduled timetable is fairly sparse.
MB140 said:
PM me a few days before going if your planing to go to Conningsby. I can at least tell you if your wasting your time. ;-)
Cool. I looked at 'Barrel's link with the night-flight diary for mid-month (when Ms Goat is away), and there's a chance I can get up there early one of the other periods. I'll see when weather looks clear and drop you a PM. Thanks.Edited by MB140 on Friday 6th December 18:28
Meanwhile, I'm going to try to get to Southend Airport for at least part of tomorrow, as the weather's good and there's a known schedule.
Escapegoat said:
Could be. I know that there's some sort of issue with 'bent' helicopter rotors due to some shutter/scanning interaction. Many years ago - Zenith E era - I managed to get just about focus on Chinooks in the Falklands. Maybe I can keep up with a modern AF-C camera, despite the passage of time.
Do you know any decent spotting spots? (I presume the rotor stuff lands some way from the runways.)
Honestly no. I have a couple of friends who used to work Anglia Radar and saw you were in that vague area so thought it might be worth a punt. I’m sure there are aerosexual forums such as PPRUNE etc that could point you in the right direction.Do you know any decent spotting spots? (I presume the rotor stuff lands some way from the runways.)
OP
you wrote
I'm in Cambridge, but Marshalls doesn't have very many flights. The thought of standing in the Stansoted Services car park catching lots of Ryan Air flights does not appeal.
Back in the mid '60s as a callow youth of 17 summers, i too, wanted to get into the Aviation Photgraphy business. The only way i could see it happening was to do, as you have intimated, go to local private airfields get pics of the light aircraft, and the airliners at Heathrow and send them off to Ian Allan for possible publication in the annual Civil Aircraft Marking book ( you got your name underneath the pic)
One day i had pencilled in Cambridge airfield and drove in, as i did at most of them, look for someone important and get permission to wander around, which was normally given. Only at the small hangers there wasn't anyone abut, so i reversed to procedure , took pictures and waited around.for a retrospective OK.
Suddenly a Land Rover in drab green sped up two heavies got out and told me to follow them, which i did in my 100E Anglia.
,I was close marched into a small office and stood in front a rather officious looking chap. Still had no idea what this was all about ,and then i was questioned, very forcibly , about my reasons for being there. Explained it all and the two heavies were ordered to put me 'next door' They pushed me int the next room ,and told to stay there. There were two guys huddled over some plans and i heard ,'mumble mumble bombs, mumble mumble reaease eqpt, mumble mumble aiming gear'. They then left and i saw that they had been pouring over plans that even from where i was standing had HIghly Classified and Secret in bright red across them.
I went out of that door in an instant, Sh!t, i was in it deep already and to be in that roomn my wn, didn't look too good , as i exited, i looked up and i was standing under a Vulcan Bomber
Said heavies then took me back to officious bloke, who had my camera in his hand and proceeded to take out the film and then unravel it, and then threw it in the bucket.
Gave me back my kit and told Bodie and Doyle to ' See me off the premises'
Now there were another three Land rovers surrounding my car and it was obvious it had been given the once over.
Told to get in it and follow them, Well it was more.like go where they went, as i had one each side and front and back VERY close and if they turned so did i.
Went along the runway at a speed i have never got out of the old girl before or since, and as an exit loomed in the distance, the gateopened, the front one peeled off, the pax in the one on my right hand side, just pointed forward and told me to Get hence, or words to that effect. I must have got back on the highway at about 75!!
So I wouldn't recommend Marshalls. you might be staying a while!!
Never heard another thing, i think it was the pee dribbling down my leg that might have convinced them i wasn't working for the russians
you wrote
I'm in Cambridge, but Marshalls doesn't have very many flights. The thought of standing in the Stansoted Services car park catching lots of Ryan Air flights does not appeal.
Back in the mid '60s as a callow youth of 17 summers, i too, wanted to get into the Aviation Photgraphy business. The only way i could see it happening was to do, as you have intimated, go to local private airfields get pics of the light aircraft, and the airliners at Heathrow and send them off to Ian Allan for possible publication in the annual Civil Aircraft Marking book ( you got your name underneath the pic)
One day i had pencilled in Cambridge airfield and drove in, as i did at most of them, look for someone important and get permission to wander around, which was normally given. Only at the small hangers there wasn't anyone abut, so i reversed to procedure , took pictures and waited around.for a retrospective OK.
Suddenly a Land Rover in drab green sped up two heavies got out and told me to follow them, which i did in my 100E Anglia.
,I was close marched into a small office and stood in front a rather officious looking chap. Still had no idea what this was all about ,and then i was questioned, very forcibly , about my reasons for being there. Explained it all and the two heavies were ordered to put me 'next door' They pushed me int the next room ,and told to stay there. There were two guys huddled over some plans and i heard ,'mumble mumble bombs, mumble mumble reaease eqpt, mumble mumble aiming gear'. They then left and i saw that they had been pouring over plans that even from where i was standing had HIghly Classified and Secret in bright red across them.
I went out of that door in an instant, Sh!t, i was in it deep already and to be in that roomn my wn, didn't look too good , as i exited, i looked up and i was standing under a Vulcan Bomber
Said heavies then took me back to officious bloke, who had my camera in his hand and proceeded to take out the film and then unravel it, and then threw it in the bucket.
Gave me back my kit and told Bodie and Doyle to ' See me off the premises'
Now there were another three Land rovers surrounding my car and it was obvious it had been given the once over.
Told to get in it and follow them, Well it was more.like go where they went, as i had one each side and front and back VERY close and if they turned so did i.
Went along the runway at a speed i have never got out of the old girl before or since, and as an exit loomed in the distance, the gateopened, the front one peeled off, the pax in the one on my right hand side, just pointed forward and told me to Get hence, or words to that effect. I must have got back on the highway at about 75!!
So I wouldn't recommend Marshalls. you might be staying a while!!
Never heard another thing, i think it was the pee dribbling down my leg that might have convinced them i wasn't working for the russians
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