Aircraft Illustrated magazine has a neat little feature in the August edition, detailing the UK’s best airports for spotting and snapping in a top ten rundown format. It grades the airports in terms of variety of traffic, facilities or places for spotting and photography and also (peculiarly) places to have a nice soothing pint whilst you log those reg’s.
Here is the rundown as compiled by Derek Pedley…
10: Edinburgh
9: Southampton
8: Luton
7: Bournemouth
6: Glasgow
5: Stansted
4: Birmingham
3: Heathrow
2: Gatwick
1: Manchester
By: Ren Frew - 18th July 2004 at 10:37
Nice police. In Glasgow, they just threaten arrest! 😮
Dog handlers do, real police don’t. :p
By: green320 - 18th July 2004 at 08:23
Why not LGW get a better one (if it is still open that one?)?? Or LHR get that viewing area open again??
By: airband1 - 18th July 2004 at 08:14
I agree with that list in that Manchester is top!! So many vantage points and 3 dedicated viewing areas as well!!
I just wish more airports would take a leaf out on Manchesters book and either build a viewing area or open up existing ones even if they made a charge of a few pounds entry fee
By: T5 - 15th July 2004 at 21:18
More often than not the police tell you how to get on the other side of the airport…
Nice police. In Glasgow, they just threaten arrest! 😮
By: kurmitz28 - 15th July 2004 at 20:55
Im very surprised Bristol (Lusgate) dint make it, It has a road running 100 yards away along half the length and you can sit underneath the flightpath on both ends, although the police tend to move you away from the busy A38 road end. More often than not the police tell you how to get on the other side of the airport where you have a stunning view of the runway.
This photo was taken with an ordinary camera without too much zoom
By: Grey Area - 15th July 2004 at 08:34
See – we were bound to agree on something, Bmused.
Don’t think he’s a Manc, though…………
By: Bmused55 - 15th July 2004 at 08:15
This list is obviously constructed out of pure favouratism for this blokes favourite airports and no doubt his home airport.
I do not see this list as in anyway accurate.
By: Grey Area - 15th July 2004 at 07:53
I wonder whether the gentleman in question was granted access to parts of some of these airports that ordinary punters seldom reach?
By: paulc - 15th July 2004 at 07:19
How did SOU get on that list ?? – the car park is a non starter as anybody up there is in full view of the tower & terminal and will soon get chased off. The viewing area inside is small and shooting through tinted glass is always tricky. The range of companies / aircraft is not exactly vast either.
By: Ren Frew - 14th July 2004 at 16:14
PS: I was SERIOUSLY annoyed Derek didn’t include East Midlands in the AI article seeing as unsurprisingly I have taken a few pictures at that airport!
Maybe it didn’t have a decent boozer at hand ? 😀
By: Skymonster - 14th July 2004 at 16:08
Ha ha, very nice pics you take too Andy. 😀
Thanks… Photo-ing was always my number one thing from the days of having a Praktica MTL-3 – still, even that took some nice Kodachromes that are probably worth a bob or two today! Now its mostly digital, and things like collecting GeminiJets and Aeroclassics 1:400 scale models has got in the way too, as well as flying the local club’s PA-28s from time to time!!!
Andy
PS: I was SERIOUSLY annoyed Derek didn’t include East Midlands in the AI article seeing as unsurprisingly I have taken a few pictures at that airport!
By: bmi-star - 14th July 2004 at 15:50
MAN at No.1, wot a shock:D
By: Ren Frew - 14th July 2004 at 12:45
Perrish the thought… I wouldn’t know anything about that!!! 😀
Andy
Ha ha, very nice pics you take too Andy. 😀
By: Skymonster - 14th July 2004 at 12:16
Lutons only good for static a/c or if their taxiing to and from runway
You what??? You need to get out around the outside a bit more. Check a.net for recent pics from LTN if you don’t believe me.
A
By: dcfly - 14th July 2004 at 12:00
Here’s a couple of pics taken at LGW last week.
This is about the best spot there is right now, these pics were taken with full 210mm zoom so that tells you just how hard it is to get any decent pics there.
Dont entirely agree about LHR being no good for spotting and photos, there’s quitte a few vantage points around the airport besides the Visitors Centre.
Lutons only good for static a/c or if their taxiing to and from runway.
Havent been to STN for some time so cant comment.
BHX is ok just so long as you can get outside and above the perimeter fence.
MAN has got to be tops for spotting, photos and facilities.
By: Mark L - 13th July 2004 at 22:48
I think that list is generally representative of what I have experienced, having been to all except Bournemouth. Based on facilities, LHR and LGW would not be on there, but based on the other criteria Ren mentioned LHRfits in well.
LGW and STN don’t though, as you can’t see anything from anywhere there, and I must admit on my many flights from LTN I have never seen anywhere accessible to spotters, although the large prescence there indicated by anet obviously says otherwise!
By: Skymonster - 13th July 2004 at 22:39
Derek Pedley is somewhat protective of his airteam images.com members I gather ? (lol) 😀
Perrish the thought… I wouldn’t know anything about that!!! 😀
Andy
By: Pablo - 13th July 2004 at 22:10
LOL. Did see a Wizzair overhead just taken off from LTN while driving on the M1 motorway this evening.
Guessing it was WZZ204 to BUD.
By: green320 - 13th July 2004 at 22:05
Don’t forget Easyjets, Pablo!!
By: Pablo - 13th July 2004 at 21:56
I thought STN,LTN and LGW were meant to be pretty crappy spotting wise?
I don’t rate LGW highly at all. The vantage points are poor and the attitude of BAA staff isn’t too friendly. Ok so there’s a good variety of aircraft and airlines but spotting at LGW isn’t easy compared to somewhere like MAN (where I was on Sunday 😀 ) Should have some MAN photos online soon!!
LTN has good vantage points but not a lot to see aside from bizjets.
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July 13, 2004 at 8:05 pm