Heathrow visitors

LMAO 🙂 Good One Mate!

Beleive me its sometimes difficult to get a space on the yellows, plenty of spaces in the official carpark though! Another good trick is noting when the attendant goes to lunch, you get a free hour until he comes back.

The best place for about a year(1999-2000) was what is now the site of the Virgin hangar by the fire ‘aircraft’. It was clear ground and gave good views of the runway. It was only known by locals but was hassle free even though it was next to a security post, even had a burger van! Of course the Virgin hangar changed all that.

Parkings free anywhere if you park on double yellows! LOL

Personally I like the visitor centre at LHR. I mainly visit in the winter(too many airshows to go to in the summer) and almost gave up going after many freezing days on the old terrace. As a reg spotter it gives me what I want, somewhere I can sit in the car,or the warm inside and spot, somewhere with toilets and tea. As a spotter its fine,obviously as a photographer its not. Parking is also free if you park on the double yellows on the entrance road. Only been moved one once and that was shortly after 9-11.
Although of course BAA could have spent the money on a decient place in the central area like the little used top of car park 3, where I also used to freeze to death!

Runway 34 at YYC is 12,675 ft. the last time I looked. 😉

There is indeed a great spot to watch the activity on 16/34. When it’s 34c and muggy, seeing the daily AC A340s to FRA and LHR as they struggle to get up and over McKnight Blvd is really something. There’s a golf course immediately south of the airfield, and I suspect more than once some poor duffer has had the crap scared out of him/her by the sudden appearance of an A340 wailing overhead. (KLM used to fly in with 747s – that was magnificent on a hot day!)

I don’t agree so much with the assessment of the terminal – the post-9/11 security walkway on the departures level obliterated the view from the newly-installed glass wall. Now you can watch airport employees watching planes. Kind of ironic… Some good viewing from the Spaceport (which alone is worth the trip. Really!) and the edge of the food fair seating area.

There’s also a low-cost carrier based in Calgary, who has recently built an impressive hangar/office complex along Rwy 28. The unnamed carrier’s complex features a huge car park with a commanding view of the runway, and southern cargo area. In a move of great charity, the lot has recently been fenced off from the public. Oh well…

Until the Airport Authority (“Dedicated to the removal of aviation enthusiasts”) manages to kill this one, there is a great spot on the top level of the new parkade – you can look down on the heavies landing on 16, as long as the sun is higher up. I’ll have to shoot some frames there while I can…

I know other people have said this before, but when are the airport officials of the world going to realize that people who come out to watch planes aren’t necessarily going to blow them up? Even at YYC (32 years without a hijacking!) when you’re out and about you’re subject to visit from the fellows in the red SUVs. I appreciate their need to maintain safety and order; but I don’t think many terrorists bring three-year-old boys on the job.

Maybe I did get up on the wrong side of the bed…

Cheers

Probably the best place for Civil – you’re well catered for and close to the action. There are good locations at all places though, like Stansted and Heathrow, just not specifically for the purpose for viewing and as such you don’t get the facilities.

Calgary sounds like a great place. Would you all agree that Manchester is the best spotting place in the UK? Youve got the viewing park with excellent facilities the pub the Car Park Roof as well as all different places around the airport.

See thats what is great about Calgary International. There is still a great set of viewing Areas available to the public.
The first area is set up on a small hill to overcome the fence of runway 34 (12000 m i think). This runway sees a good variety of aircraft and airlines. No passenger 747 though :< we only see the freighter series from Cargolux.

Next there is a nice quiet park adjacent to our other runway (can’t remeber the number, some pilot I am haha) which offers a large hill about 400 yards from the runway at a diagonal. This place is excellent because its green and offers a shot from about 300 feet below the aircraft! Its just to bad this runway rarely sees Jet Service except for the occasional 737.

Then the 3rd area is inside the terminal. Spaceport, a rather large 1st and 2nd level area, is free of charge offering a wide variety of services.

Here we have 2 full motion flight simulators. 10 computers offering various microsoft flight simulators. 1 full motion movie simulator in which you can hire 3 different movies including a flight on a 747 form the flightdeck and a trip to the international space station!

Next there are 2 spacecraft simulations in which you fly various missions into planets in other galaxys. There is also a space room offering you other assorted stations with various activities including controling a moon ranger in an exibit in another room!
Also on the first floor are various aircraft models.

Second Floor is much smaller but includes a bunch of binoculars, an un obstructed view of the main apron (great for photos) and a ton of aircraft history and airline history.

Clearly this airport didn’t see the need to change there viewing facilitys after 9/11. Other airports need to do the same and offer photographers a chance to get a decent shot in!

Jeff

Its ok inside the centre, history of the airport, model of T5 and cafe type place and it offers views over the airport… kinda, but as said before for pictures, its not a great view.

Also they have a very big wide range of models for sale.

They are also doing a 100 years of flight exhibition there at the mo too.:

http://www.raes.org.uk/public2003/Pages/EVENTS/events_heathrow.htm

Thank you both. I may take my boys there for a day out.

Its right next door to the Renaissance Hotel Wys.

On the Northern Perimiter Road, next to the Renaissance Hotel.

Where is the visitors center?

I agree that it doesn’t cater for the enthusiast, and that nowhere at Heathrow does, the provided terrace is/was crap anyway. Maybe they could have given an area, but they didn’t, and your time is better spent at other well known locations, which no doubt would still be more popular than if there was a terrace by the visitors centre anyway.

Peter.

Being on crutches or in a wheelchair I can drive to the visitor centre facilities. I’d probably get killed trying to cross the main road to the garage.

Michael.

Something we agree on at last. In the morning as well it was so bright you struggled to see anything anyway. Like your Virgin photo, really moody.

Andy.

The barrier. Yes, I have to agree it does serve its purpose. The seats against the window seem useful as it appears you can only sit on them comfortably with your back to the window. Yes, the models. (Andy had to drag me away as the prices were in danger of giving me heart failure.)

LN Strike Eagle.

I take your point but it really hasn’t got that much for the enthusiast. Given the admitted restrictions on space, might they not have been able to incorporate some kind of elevated terrace into the desigh enabling those wishing to take photographs to at least have some kind of chance? I agree, Manchester is the exception. If the threat of a missile attack is a reason why aorport operators are trying to deny spectators elevated access then surely they should think again? Any terrorist planning to use a shoulder launched missile would have a far greater chance of success operating in a built up area on the approach or departure flightpath.

Regards,

kev35

Originally posted by kev35
I will use the visitor centre again, but only for the toilets or if I’m desperate for a drink.

You go all the way there for a drink/leak? What I used to do is going to the gas station (BP isn’t it?) opposite Hatton Cross. Saves me a long walk/drive! Sure the prizes may be rather steep, but then again, so are the prizes at the visitor centre!

You can see what kind of pics you’ll get from the visitors centre without having to take your camera out of it’s bag, it’s pointless taking them to be honest. If you want pics from there – walk to the fence and shoot through the fence, otherwise, go somewhere else for the pics.

As far as the visitors centre itself, there’s nothing wrong with it? It has things to look at and do, and provides toilets and refeshments? I wouldn’t expect them to design a visitors centre around photographers or enthusiasts. Its not like Manchester where there’s a load of open space to be utilised – its got a permiter road all the way around, with buildings, rather than vast open spaces and trees!

Originally posted by kev35
Ah, the visitor’s centre. Fantastic building which will seat about thirty.

Are you sure? There were only a few tables and chairs when we were in there Kev… others used the stairs to sit on. 😀

Windows that distort the view and high priced drinks.

And Models!

Out side on the car park the strategicaly placed traffic barrier along the fence obscures some of the views.

The Barrier is there for a reason though. Yes its an annoying feature to the airport, but it does its job well.

No seating and no shade, which on the 9th of August was a killer.

Yes a few trees wouldn’t go a-miss!

The Heathrow visitor centre is extremely poor in my opinion and I would be far happier to pay five pounds a day to park on Hatton Cross where the view is superb.

Ditto, though I think im done with Hatton cross for a while… Myrtle Av, just kicks hatton ass! :D:p

These are the photos I took, posted them a couple of months ago.

The first is a Virgin 747-400 outside Hatton Cross. Taken through the windscreen which was getting wet from the rain.

Secondly, the Visitors Centre photograph. This one shows an A321 of Iberia. The fences and the trees completely destroy the image.

I know how you feel about the Visitor’s Centre. I was there on a rather wet and windy 8th June with my camera. I had started at Hatton Cross and worked my way round to the centre itself.

I tend not to go into the centre anymore, because it is so repetitive. Very little changes in that place.

I posted some photographs like your Syrian 747SP one, being partially covered by the fence. A bit of a blow I guess. If it’s not a fence in the way, it’s those damn trees!