Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

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fedeleal
Topic Author
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:38 pm

Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:56 pm

Good morning guys!

I will be travelling on vacations to Europe with my wife and will be using my new Canon 70-300 L series lens for the first time! So excited!

To be honest, this is my second plane spotting after MIA a couple of years ago, so I was wondering if you can give me places around airports where I can go and spot for a few hours ( gotta do it pretty quickly since my wife is not an aviation fun   ).

These are the cities I will be visiting:

- Berlin
- London
- Amsterdam
- Copenhagen

If you have any other suggestions, such us the best time of the day where I can spot wide body planes, that will be even greater!

Looking forward to hearing from you guys and let me thank you so much in advance for all your help!

Fred
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drew1997
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:15 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:23 pm

Hello!
Im afraid I cant help with the other 3, however I can give you some ideas about London.

London has 4 main airports, the biggest being Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) in west London. Gatwick (EGKK/LGW) south of London. Stansted (EGSS/STN) in north east London and Luton (EGGW/LTN) in north west London.

Heathrow is by far the most busy however Gatwick though not very spotter friendly and Stansted have very nice movements and Luton is the place for business jets. Apart from Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and Stansted are very photographer and spotter friendly!

Before I go into serious detail, what sort of aircraft, airlines ect are you looking for?

Andrew  
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whisperjet
Posts: 504
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:27 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:10 pm

In Berlin and Amsterdam you can use the observation decks. Check the airport websites for further information.
Another good source for planespotting tips for European airports is spottinglinks.de.

Stefan
Nobody is perfect - not even a perfect fool.
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fedeleal
Topic Author
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:38 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:42 am

Thank you guys!

I would love to spot 777 and 747 for the most part!

Can I get some of those in Berlin Thegel and Heathrow?

Based on these type of aircrafts, any recommended spots around those airports?

Thanks one more time!
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Murcielago4me
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:27 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:51 am

Quoting fedeleal (Reply 3):
I would love to spot 777 and 747 for the most part!

Can I get some of those in Berlin Thegel and Heathrow?

Your best bet to get 777s and 747s for sure is Amsterdam and London - Heathrow.

No clue about AMS but at London-Heathrow,

for 27R you have Enfield Roundabout
for 27L you have Myrtle Avenue
09R departures can be shot from Feltham Park (longer lens will be required)
09L arrivals can be shot from a mound near the terminals (I am not entirely sure of this location as I have only been there once. Wait for others to reply to this thread)

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

[Edited 2013-06-23 20:54:46]
"Caution, Wake Turbulence"
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LifelinerOne
Posts: 1624
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:30 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:06 am

Hi,

have a look at http://www.scramblemagazine.nl/airfield-guide or http://www.plane-mad.com

Both sites have a lot of spotting guides for the airports you mentioned.

Have fun!

Cheers!   
Only Those Who Sleep Don't Make Mistakes
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drew1997
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:15 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:55 am

London: Of course you can get 777/200/300ER and 747! You have British airways 744, *at the moment* Thai 744 and Cathay 744 and VS virgin 744. The list of 777's is huge for example : BA, EVA, AIR CHINA, ASIANA, KOREAN/CARGO 77F AND 77W, AIR INDIA, JET, AMERICAN, UNITED, PAKISTAN, KUWAIT, TAM, KENYAN, ELAL, SAUDI, QATAR, ANA, JAL, BRUNEI, AIR NEW ZEALAND, BIMAN, ETIHAD, SINGAPORE, AIR CANADA, CATHAY!

That's your aircraft types passenger: Stansted gets 747-800! panalpina and ba cargo. MD11 FEDEX and MARTINAIR!

Aircraft types into lhr: a318/19/20/21 a300/F A310F a330/200/300 a340/300/500/600 A380 737/300/500/700/800/900 747/400/F 757/200/300 767/200/300/400 777/200/300er 787 md80 Fokker 70

Aircraft types in stn: A319/320/321 737/300/800 747/400F/800F 757/200 MD11 767/300F EMB190 DASH8 *sometimes* 777F

Aircraft types into ltn: (note these are common but not always) B737/800/300/400/500 A319/20/21 757/200 B767/200/300 A300F GLF550 GLF5 GL4 GL450 GLF650 FALCON 50/900/7X ECT BBJ Hawker jets ect!
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whisperjet
Posts: 504
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:27 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:05 pm

No regular 747 or 777 flights in TXL. The biggest regular aircraft in Berlin are Air Berlin's A330s.

Stefan
Nobody is perfect - not even a perfect fool.
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fedeleal
Topic Author
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:38 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:35 pm

Thank you guys so much for all the recommendations!

I will then probably focus on Heathrow. Based on your experience, do you know of any particular time in the day for spotting 777 and 747 landings or takes off?

That way, I can coordinate my visit and take full advantage of the limited time I will have!

Thanks so much!


Fred
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drew1997
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:15 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:18 pm

Okay, for heathrow:

THAI 744: ARR LHR FRM BKK 18:55
EVA 77W: ARR LHR FRM BKK/TPE 19:15
JAL 77W ARR LHR FRM NRT 16:20
ANA 77W ARR LHR FRM NRT 16:00
PIA 772/3ER ARR LHR FRM ISB 15:00/30
AI 77W ARR LHR FRM BOM 11:30
AI 77W ARR LHR FRM DEL 19:00 *or around that
KOREAN 77W ARR LHR FRM ICN 17:25
KOREAN 77F ARR LHR FRM ICN 17:00-18:00
SAUDIA 772 ARR LHR FRM JED 16:50
SAUDIA 77W ARR LHR FRM RUH 18:05
RBA 772 ARR LHR FRM DXB 05:55 (departs around 11am but not sure)
AMERICAN 77W DEP LHR TO DFW 09:30

That's just a few, feel free to contact me!
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drew1997
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:15 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:42 pm

Sorry for double posting I cant seem to edit the post but here a few more:

ASIANA 772 ARR LHR FRM ICN 18:50
QR 773ER ARR LHR FRM DOH 13:15
ELAL 744/772 ARR LHR FRM TLV 13:35
ETIHAD 773/A346/5 ARR LHR FRM AUH 13:15

Some others if interested:

a380s:

EK7 A388 ARR LHR FRM DXB 07:00
EK1 A388 ARR LHR FRM DXB 12:15
S8308 A388 ARR LHR FRM SIN 16:05
SQ318 A388 ARR LHR FRM SIN 19:10
EK29 A388 ARR LHR FRM DXB 14:20
EK30 A388 DEP LHR TO DXB 17:00
MAS4 A388 ARR LHR FRM KUL 16:20
MAS3 A388 DEP LHR TO KUL 12:00
Qantas a380's are very late in the day around 9/10pm and early arriving around 5am.

a330s:

CHINA SOUTHERN CZ303 A332 ARR LHR 15:25
CHINA EASTERN MU551 A332 ARR LHR 18:40
EGYPTAIR MS777 A333 ARR LHR 14:15
OMANAIR WY101 A333 ARR LHR 19:05
SRILANKAN UL503 ARR LHR 20:05
GULFAIR GF3 A332 ARR LHR 15:20
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fedeleal
Topic Author
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:38 pm

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:59 pm

Thanks so much drew! I deeply appreciate the guidance!
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drew1997
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:15 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:24 pm

No problem, when will you be at heathrow?
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Doona
Posts: 3382
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:43 am

RE: Europe - Places To Spot Airplanes - Help

Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:16 pm

Copenhagen Airport has Flyvergrillen, which is a small fast-food place, situated out by 22R/04R on Amager Landevej. Great views of the runway, and can be reached from the airport on foot easily enough. Or you could just take a cab, it isn't far at all.

Cheers
Mats
Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.
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