apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2553 times:
Hi,
Next Saturday June 19th I have planned my first trip to LHR in almost five years. I'm flying into LHR on BA0389 BRU-LHR and I'll head back to Belgium on BA0404 LHR-BRU the same day.
In the past few years I have noticed that not only the airport itself has evolved quite a bit (T5 for instance), but also the scheduled traffic at LHR (eg A380's).
To make sure I make the most out of my day at LHR I have done some homework, looked up historic data of the last few weeks and months and I have tried to come up with some sort of 'spotting schedule'.
For me it appears to be interesting to photography arrivals in the morning (especially the AF A380!), try to catch some departures around noon (eg QF 744, AF A380, ...) and then head back to the arrivals.
Currently I have the following scenarios, depending on the runway usage:
Although the Esso station is nice for 27L departures, I don't see much interesting traffic departing 27L in the early afternoon, and for me arriving traffic seems to be more interesting after 3pm
Now I still have some questions:
* Is there a location to photograph 27R departures around noon (so best south of the RWY), apart from the spots at the perimeter road (facing south ). If not, I would have to make use of the perimeter road photo location and eg walk from Hatton Cross to the 27R perimeter road photography spot. Is it still possible to walk through the mx hangars between 27L and 27R?
* Does anybody know by heart the buses I should take from T5 to Hatton Cross? I think it should be either 482 or 490. In case of 09L/09R, I think I can first walk from T5 to the 09L arrivals spot, but then I'll have to walk back to T5 and take the bus to Hatton Cross (and back, in the afternoon).
Taking some posts on this forum in the past, I don't think it's an option to try to take some photos from Feltham Park.
* Is there a website with a general timetable of scheduled traffic into/out of LHR?
All advice, tips and hints are much appreciated. Thanks in advance! And feel free to pray for some decent weather.
Flyingfox27 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2007, 405 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2521 times:
You could get the Train to Clapham Junction and change there for a train to Feltham Park, i usually walk from T5 to the 09L field (15 minute walk) and Esso Garage 27L takeoffs (30 minute walk)
For the 27s arrivals i walk 10 minutes to Myrtle Avenue or Bedfont Football Ground and for 27R i walk for 15 minutes around the hangars and stop on the northeast corner of LHR.
EMA747 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2006, 1163 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2468 times:
Can someone say exactly how to get from T5 to the 09L field? I looked at it before but on google earth it just looks like a mass of busy main roads witout any real obvious way to get to the field.
Failing doesn’t make you a failure. Giving up and refusing to try again does!
apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
Hi,
Quoting Flyingfox27 (Reply 1): You could get the Train to Clapham Junction and change there for a train to Feltham Park, i usually walk from T5 to the 09L field (15 minute walk) and Esso Garage 27L takeoffs (30 minute walk)
For the 27s arrivals i walk 10 minutes to Myrtle Avenue or Bedfont Football Ground and for 27R i walk for 15 minutes around the hangars and stop on the northeast corner of LHR.
Thanks for the useful information. As it appears that heat haze can be an issue this time of the year, I don't think I'll head to Feltham Park. I'd better keep that spot for another trip during late autumn or winter.
LHRSIMON From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2002, 1342 posts, RR: 25 Reply 7, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
09L arrivals.
The field / embankment is infact across the 2 roads to the left of the first cross on Louis goolemap image. On the bottom left of the image is the main motorway.Before the bridge is IMHO best spot. The embankment. This spot is good until 16.30-17.00. The sun then move round and you will need to walk to cross 2 on the map. This spot is best from 18.00 until 21.00 hrs (at the moment).
Also note "sometimes" aircraft still land on 09R even when 09L is the main arrival runway.
Important note : While shooting from the embankment make sure you do not sit on the motorway barrier. And try to stay 1 meter away from the motorway. It will not effect your photos at all if you do this !! The police have requested this. And warned that if this rule is not self policed , and people keep sitting on the barrier they will make the area off limits.
Its a pity i will no be at LHR this Saturday. I will be atthe Air Britain fly-in which is on at North weald.
Canon 1D Mk III,Canon 20D+17-40 L f4.0,70-200 L IS USM f2.8,400 L USM f5.6,135 mm L f2.0, 50 mm f1.8,1.4 x II extender
I remember you from a day on 09L, May 22, 2004. I Think there were a load of us there!
Hey James,
Yeah, that's very well possible. Those days I really visited LHR quite a few times, often for more than one day. My last LHR spotting trip was in 2005. Since then I've bought a house, got married and became a father. Apparantly some aircraft geeks actually appear to attract the opposite sex
It would be nice to meet again this Saturday. Feel free to drop by!
apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2319 times:
Hi,
I've been doing a bit more research tonight, and I couldn't find any info on ground-to-air photo locations for 27R departures.
Would a spot somewhere along the walk from T5 to the 09L arrivals location be any good for 27R takeoffs (especially for traffic that climbs out slowly)?
trackcharlie From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2008, 76 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2282 times:
From the 09L field just walk down the road (A3044 Stanwell Moor Road) under the bridge about 100m there is a gate. About here is OK for heavies but other stuff will be too high for decent shots. I took this from this spot with a 70-200mm.
apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2262 times:
Quoting trackcharlie (Reply 10): From the 09L field just walk down the road (A3044 Stanwell Moor Road) under the bridge about 100m there is a gate. About here is OK for heavies but other stuff will be too high for decent shots. I took this from this spot with a 70-200mm.
Hi,
Thanks for the additional comments. That's very helpful indeed. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, it probably won't matter tomorrow as winds will blow from the east/northeast.
Taking into account the chance of 09L/09R situation tomorrow I'll probably start with arrivals at 09L, then take the bus/tube from T5 to Hatton Cross for some noon departures from Myrtle Avenue and then head back to 09L for the afternoon/evening arrivals on 09L (especially the Asian traffic).
Apparently some traffic tends to land on 09R these days, certainly if they must park at T4. Does anybody know if there is traffic that always lands on 09R, or is it dependant on ATC and/or other conditions during the day?
apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 2208 times:
Quoting LHRSIMON (Reply 12): No fixed rule at all. Apart from the fact it mainly only happens if its a T4 carrier , cargo or biz Jet. Its 100% down to ATC
LHRSIMON From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2002, 1342 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
Air Britain flyin was the same. Cloud from 09.30 onwards. Though we did have 2 sunny spells for 15 minutes , which allowed me to run about and get all the static aircraft. So at least the day wasnt a complete washout.
Canon 1D Mk III,Canon 20D+17-40 L f4.0,70-200 L IS USM f2.8,400 L USM f5.6,135 mm L f2.0, 50 mm f1.8,1.4 x II extender
apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2079 times:
Quoting hotplane (Reply 14): Waste of time wasn't it? Cloudy from about 10.00 onwards then a runway change at 13.00.
Hey,
Yeah, it sure was. I flew in at 7:15AM with almost clear skies. As soon as I arrived at 09L some clouds already appeared on the horizon and by 9:30 most of the sun was obscured As I noticed an AF Airbus landing on 09R I decided it wouldn't be worth to wait at 09L for the AF A380. So I headed for Hatton Cross, only to see the AF A380 land at ...09L ...
By the time the SQ A380 and QF 744's would depart, ATC decided to switch to the 27's Just not my day I guess...
The RWY change and bad weather got me in such a bad mood that I got to the tube and headed for downtown London. But as it appeared that sales had started it quite hectic over there, so soon I headed back for LHR's T5 and ended up taking shots of 27L departures from the departure level. At least I got the Biman 777.
That's the gamble of having to fly to LHR for a spotting day: sometimes the weather's perfect, sometimes it's as bad as last Saturday
Thanks to all that helped me prepare my trip, and I hope to make it back to LHR soon!
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From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, 
). If not, I would have to make use of the perimeter road photo location and eg walk from Hatton Cross to the 27R perimeter road photography spot. Is it still possible to walk through the mx hangars between 27L and 27R?
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