Visited Heathrow again on Tuesday with a couple of mates. They were using 09 l/r for operations due to the wind direction, so we parked ourselves on Myrtle Avenue ‘pitch’ for the aircraft climbing out over us. We saw an A340 climb out (a Turkish airline I think) that didn’t retract its undercarriage for the entire time that the aircraft was visible. All the other aircraft that had taken off had retracted or were retracting their landing gear by the time they flew over us. This A340 didn’t retract its undercarriage at all.
Later, we headed off to find a spot nicknamed ‘Hilton Hill’. Photo opportunities weren’t that good, and we needed water, so we trekked off to T4. not knowing the way by foot, we ended up walking down the central reservations of the carriageways, and running across roundabouts.
Eventually got to T4, bought our water, and then got a taxi. We wanted to get to the northeast corner of the airport, but couldn’t say to the cab driver drop us off under the approach lights to 9L, and the only place we knew on the northern perimeter road was the Renaissance Hotel. We walked the rest of the way – a LONG walk. We walked about 2/3s the length of 9L/27R – which just happens to be the longest runway in the UK – so it was a very long way, made all the more interesting by the lack of pedestrian friendly paths.
Along the way, we stopped by the fence to get shots of aircraft as they landed. Along came a police car, which thankfully contained a considerate bobby, who directed us to the field at the end of the rwy where we could take shots without security getting annoyed. Nice guy.
Spent a couple of hours at the 9L end, and at about 5:30, we decided to go back. So, we did the walk all over again. As we went back over the ‘Concorde roundabout’, we saw 5 fire engines race over the roundabout and through the tunnel. Would have like to have known what exactly they went for. Long shot, but does anyone know what may have happened?
This time we walked slightly further as we were looking for a bus stop to take us back to the eastern maintenance area or somewhere selling water. Found both, and eventually walked through the maintenance area. We wanted to find the Concorde that had been parked up in the area (moved off the crosswind runway a little while ago).
Finally, at about 8pm we got back to Hatton Cross. ‘Half dead’ couldn’t describe how we felt.
Advice to you all: Don’t walk all the around Heathrow Airport when its pretty damn hot. It’ll kill you. You’ve got to be bonkers to do it.
advantage was that we saw a hell of a lot of the airport, and lighting conditions were great, so here are the photos:
notice that you can see right through the engines:
By: adamdowley - 20th July 2006 at 21:00
thanks for the comments guys! 🙂
Very nice pics, would love to know the directions to that field under 09L where the planes where approaching over.
I’ve seen this at nearly every big airport i’ve been to. I was on a Lufthansa A300 a few years ago when it happened to us, you could tell because I heard the big bump when the gear was retracted, we had all flaps up by this time and were quite high up, about 6000ft. This is all done for cooling the breaks down after all the heat during the day and the friction done when taxing and taking off.
Nick 🙂
thanks for the info Nick!
the field (we actually stood by the side of the road – didnt go onto the field) sits bythe A3044. if you are in a car come along it in the direction of Longford. just before the lights for 9L, there will be (if 9L is in use) a number of cars parked by the side of the road – fellow spotters. park with them, and either stand on the pavement or venture into the field.
if you are on foot, and coming along the northern perimeter road heading towards the 9L end, walk along the perimeter road, past all the ‘business’ and staff car parks on your left and right, past construction works on your right, and as the road begins to bend around there will eventually be a set of traffic lights. near the traffic lights you’ll see a bridge to your right that crosses some sort of water course with a load of nets over it – something to do with T5 i think. the bridge will have a sign up saying ‘T5 personnel only’. ha. be naughty and take no notice (the bridge is totally open anyway and really doesnt seem to be anything to do with t5 and certainly doesnt seem to warrant a sign saying that its for t5 personnel only), and cross it. that will bring you out onto a roundabout. turn left, cross the A3044 and walk along the pavement until u come to the 9L approach lights and find a spot.
i hope that helps
By: Future Pilot - 20th July 2006 at 20:09
Fantastic and varied selection Adam :).
By: G-CDFF - 20th July 2006 at 19:34
Excellent variety of shots there! 😀
By: vrocking - 20th July 2006 at 18:53
Very nice pics, would love to know the directions to that field under 09L where the planes where approaching over.
We saw an A340 climb out (a Turkish airline I think) that didn’t retract its undercarriage for the entire time that the aircraft was visible. All the other aircraft that had taken off had retracted or were retracting their landing gear by the time they flew over us. This A340 didn’t retract its undercarriage at all.[/IMG]
I’ve seen this at nearly every big airport i’ve been to. I was on a Lufthansa A300 a few years ago when it happened to us, you could tell because I heard the big bump when the gear was retracted, we had all flaps up by this time and were quite high up, about 6000ft. This is all done for cooling the breaks down after all the heat during the day and the friction done when taxing and taking off.
Nick 🙂
By: tomfellows - 20th July 2006 at 17:17
Some interesting angles there – very good shots.
By: BHXlocal - 20th July 2006 at 16:47
Super super pics! Love the A340 sun shot 🙂
By: Manston Airport - 20th July 2006 at 16:35
Nice shots there off Adam are lovely 3rd busiest airport in the world LHR 😀
James
By: 007peter - 20th July 2006 at 16:08
nice work there adam love those under belly shots
peter
By: dizzy - 20th July 2006 at 13:52
them pics are brilliant
By: Deano - 20th July 2006 at 12:45
Great shots Adam, love them
By: bmi-star - 20th July 2006 at 12:25
Crackin shots there Adam! I like the one of G-VBIG!
By: A330-300 - 20th July 2006 at 12:01
Really fantastic pictures! 😀 Nice to see that old Concorde display!
By: adamdowley - 20th July 2006 at 11:58
the guy kneeling by the right engine of this 777 looks like he’s crying, lol
thats all folks! 🙂
By: philgatwick05 - 20th July 2006 at 11:42
Nice shots Adam!
By: adamdowley - 20th July 2006 at 11:41
part two:
from ‘Hilton Hill’:
during the infamous trek to the north east corner. notice the holes towards the bottom of the glass wall where the airbridges will be installed. the satelite concourse already has some of its airbridge walkways installed
9L arrivals:
just one shot of Concorde
three more on their way
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July 20, 2006 at 11:35 am