Plane Viewing at heathrow airport (london)

Plane Viewing at heathrow airport (london)

Author
Discussion

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

175 months

Saturday 15th August 2009
quotequote all
Hi all do you know where is a good place to view planes at heathrow airpot

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Saturday 15th August 2009
quotequote all
It's hetting harder and harder to find any viewing areas where you won't get moved on.
All the terminal area viewing facilities have been closed for a number of years.
There was a set-aside area on the Northern Perimieter road at the Heathrow Visitor's Centre but the centre is now closed too. I haven't tried viewing from that location since that time so it may still be possible to park in the hotel car-park and view legitimately without being hassled. Any parking in these areas will require a ticket.

There is a good spot near Hatton Cross tube station (just off the A30). There are some residential roads where you can park for free and it is just a short walk to the perimeter road. The best spot is a green area just off Myrtle Avenue - close to a pub called The Green Man. It is a favourite location for "spotter types" and you get an excellent view of landing aircraft using 27 Left.

Semi hemi

1,795 posts

197 months

Saturday 15th August 2009
quotequote all
tkdsteve08 said:
Hi all do you know where is a good place to view planes at heathrow airpot
You havn't time for that, get on with cleaning your EGR

M-J-B

14,980 posts

249 months

Sunday 16th August 2009
quotequote all
I had a few spare minutes the other day and found a good secluded private road near Gatwick which is right on the flight path.

Basically go from the large Shell station in Horley and travel as if going towards East Grinstead. After half a mile or so you pass under the main dual carriage way which takes you into Gatwick and slightly further on there is a road on the left leading to a some houses and a small industrial estate.

You then sit about 100 yards off the flight path and the aircraft are 10/15 seconds or so from touchdown, so I guess a few hundred feet if that.

croyde

22,701 posts

229 months

Sunday 16th August 2009
quotequote all
Just brought back found memories of my dad taken us to Heathrow at the weekends to watch planes from the terminal. We kids were so excited when we saw our first 747.

Shame you can't do that anymore, thank you terrorists, as my boys would love that.

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

233 months

Sunday 16th August 2009
quotequote all
Although not on the airport, if you can get permission then the Dingy Club at QM reservoir on Horton Road Colnbrook is a good place. You're up high on the banks of the reservoir and they come in right overhead. And you can see for miles if its clear so plenty of warning what is coming next.

theboymoon

2,699 posts

259 months

Sunday 16th August 2009
quotequote all
croyde said:
Just brought back found memories of my dad taken us to Heathrow at the weekends to watch planes from the terminal. We kids were so excited when we saw our first 747.

Shame you can't do that anymore, thank you terrorists, as my boys would love that.
yeah i remember as a little lad from Inverness when my Dad took me for my first trip to London when we landed at Heathrow we went up to a viewing terrace to watch the 747's land and see a concorde take off.....

Real shame that these kind of things are no-longer allowed. The modern world, such progress huh?

I think it was the Queen's building or King's building or something like that - sure someone will know.

Groovydale

56 posts

214 months

Sunday 16th August 2009
quotequote all
Went down to heathrow a few weeks before Concorde finished flying, and parked up on the southern perimiter road by a fast food/ filling station. There were about a dozen or so other spotters ther all waiting for the evening NY depature. For some reason or other the flight was delayed for and hour or so. and at the time of take off was getting dusk. Concorde had taken off and was visble over the perimiter fence by the time it had reached the point where we were watching. The lit up afterburning engines clearly visible, and the noise cloud9
Well worth the 500mile round trip on the old Thundercat

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Other UK airports have a more enlightened view regarding allowing enthusiasts to observe activity at their airports. Manchester (which is very conscious of PR matters) has a dedicated viewing area. It's the BAA who seem to want to discourage non-travellers from the vicinity of their airports.
In reality, although the police do patrol the perimeter, they are actually not happy with the situation as they felt that "normal" spotters (possibly an oxymoron smile) are useful sources of intelligence for observing and reporting suspicious behaviour.
They even went to the trouble of issuing leaflets to spotters and setting up a hot line fotr them to use if they noticed unusual activity in or around the airport.

forsure

2,118 posts

267 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Terminal 5 top floor (departures). At the northern end of the drop-off zone there's a pretty good view down the northern runway. Inside the building there's a Caffe Nero at that end, and floor-to-ceiling glass - so good views of the western end of the runway, and some BA 'gates' below.

philwhite

256 posts

180 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
croyde said:
Just brought back found memories of my dad taken us to Heathrow at the weekends to watch planes from the terminal. We kids were so excited when we saw our first 747.

Shame you can't do that anymore, thank you terrorists, as my boys would love that.
I used to do the same with my Dad, we’d park on the top of the multi-story for a few hours to watch the planes land, we never once got hassled and there we’re always friendly enthusiasts to chat to. Afterwards we’d go to a model shop that used to be in one of the hotels on the perimeter road, and I’d be treated to a model of one of the planes I’d seen that day, good days, and sadly impossible today.

This was back in the early 90’s and Heathrow used to be visited by a wide variety of aircraft types back then, I remember seeing oddities such as an MEA 707, AA 747SP and an Aeroflot Il-62. What a geek I was!!

There was a program on BBC a few weeks ago, The Secret life of the Airport I think, during the 60’s Heathrow used to actually employ an announcer in the viewing area, explaining aircraft activity and such!

I don’t think it’s a localised thing; we had a delay at Boston a few years back so I asked one of the airport employees if there was anywhere to go and watch the planes, his replied with “Why the hell would you want to do that?”


Edited by philwhite on Monday 17th August 10:49

john_p

7,073 posts

249 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Good viewpoint if aircraft are landing on 27

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&amp...

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Because air travel has become such a routine and rather mundane activity, the excitement associated with seeing aeroplanes going about their business has waned as far as the general public is concerned.
In past times, "air mindedness" was actively encouraged by the aviation industry and even by governments. It was thought that generating an interest in aviation amongst the general public was a "good thing" as it was from the general population, especially youngsters, that future generations of air travellers and aviation employees would come.

In the modern world, everyone flies anyway so there is no overiding urgency by the aviation insustry to get the general public involved.

It's a bit sad really but they were probably victims of their own success.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 17th August 10:57

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
john_p said:
Good viewpoint if aircraft are landing on 27

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&amp...
That's very close to the Myrtle Avenue location I mentioned above.

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

175 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
wow loads of feedback cheers guys anymore idears welcome

Nic jones

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
When the A380 left Heathrow on its first ever visit a group of us were on the top deck of one of the car parks (facing the southern runway, I forget the number) for about 3 hours stood right under the signs telling us that plane spotting there was illegal and the SS would be along soon to move us along.

Nobody bothered us the whole time we were there, but then I guess if you've made the effort to get to an airport at 5am it's unlikely you'll try anything silly!

The best place I've ever found for watching planes land is on the little lane directly outside the perimeter fence at Luton on the end of the runway in between the landing lights. The planes pass so low you could hit it with a well aimed tennis ball if necessary!

Shame all that lands there are Easyjet and Ryanair 737's/A320's and private jets!

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Ryanair don't have A320s smile

Nic jones

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Ryanair don't have A320s smile
Everyday's a schoolday! smile Must have been Sleazyjet who had the cattlewagon aka the A320 then!

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
I flew in some Easyjet A319s last April (to and from Majorca).

Ryanair have standardised completely on the Boeing 737-800.

B16JUS

2,385 posts

236 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
i cant remember the road or vllage, but there is a big macdonalds drive through on a roundabout and you see them comming in right next to you.