LHR best spotting day/time

[MerNion]

If you had only 4-5 hours for spotting at LHR (anytime of the day..) what would be the best day/time to go..?
(concerning rare planes, A380's, etc)
I am aware of the spotting points thanks to various sites but i couldn't find any site with such information..

Thanks a lot!

[pumaknight]

Best time of the day for heavies in cluding a few A380s is the early shift :-)

Get down to Heathrow before 6am and you will see quite a few wides coming into land over the next few hours. Sing and Qantas have their A380 first thing, and I think Emerites has theirs in a bit later in the morning (11am). Plus if you get bored with the landings , at about 9am the heavies start to departing, including the A380s (around 10-11am).

Have fun.

[MerNion]

Thanks for the info pumaknight..
Anyone else knows if and when they come any "special-rare" (once a week african companies for example, etc) flights thougout the week?

[MAN777]

In my opinion the best time at LHR is late afternoon when the indian / asian carriers start to arrive, the morning is quite monotonous being dominated by North American arrivals.

[Skipness One Echo]

The once a week flights are Saturday and Sunday afternoons in off peak slots. I agree that on a sunny morning starting before 6am, it's extraordainary.....

[Tom the Tenor]

The Myrtle Avenue area is often mentioned as a place from which to look at the aeroplanes. Never been there myself and apart from a BD flight to Madrid in 2001 and much more recently the pleasure of a first and very enjoyable QF flight to Australia via Singapore it has been a long time since I could take in the atomostphere of some Heathrow spotting so is this Myrtle Avenue place safe for spotters and is it tolerated by PC Plod and his pals and just notice how I haven't even asked if the spot is any good!

[bizchaser]

Tom

Myrtle Avenue is a very good spot for photos of aircraft on short finals to 27L - its a field and is tolerated by both police and residents (if you park sensibly that is) although there are no facilities

bizchaser

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I find a much better and quieter place than Myrtle Avenue is the entrance to the cemetary at approx TQ 10168 74637, which provides an unimpeded view of the approach. At that point, aircraft are high enough to be above any obstructions but will allow for excellent pics with a 100mm lens.

[Michael EGLL]

What about the parking lot of Premier Inn hotel? There's a slightly elevated area next to it, with pick nick tables. I have shot some lovely pictures there, but i would not recommend it for morning shots as the sun is directly opposite to the photographer's position.

[Tom the Tenor]

Thanks for the info about the best spotting locations. I have left instructions with She Whom Must Be Obeyed for some time that if I kick the bucket first that I want to be put to rest in the Family Plot facing east in the direction of the 17 approach at Cork rather facing in the other direction where you will see naff all.

I just have got to get in a visit to that cemetry spot near LHR. If the aeroplanes ever got boring think of the fun you would have reading the headstones. That'd be a gas day out!

[Avman]

Tom, you haven´t been taking your medication again ;)

[Martin the Martian]

The Premier Inn car park is very good for early mornings, until the sun begins to move around.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Here's a typical pic from Myrtle Avenue; note the "QRM":
RA-78842 Ilyushin IL-76 Russian Air Force. Heathrow Airport 29 Sep 2005 :: RA78842.jpg :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p25505723.html)

And from the cemetary:
F-WWDD Airbus A380. Approach to Heathrow Airport 18 May 2006. Canon EOS20D + Tamron 90mm :: FWWDD1.jpg :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p29422304.html)

[Tom the Tenor]

Both great shots. Thank you. Though the A380 photo reminds me of the skies in Hong Kong a few weeks ago I think I'd still prefer it over Myrtle Ave - you can only take so many BA A319/A320s inbounds and with all those interesting headstone inscriptions to read off I would be there for hours before ever losing interest. Now, if BA ever returned to Cork with the odd A319 - it'd be a different matter all together. The campaign for the restoration of the Albion 670/1 to Cork starts here! It was total lunacy BA ever quitting Cork.

[kevrockjockuk01]

Where is the cemetery ?

I`m used to sitting at Mrytle and getting 3/4 shots would be nice to get side shots :cool:

Kev from Lincoln

[Tom the Tenor]

Is there somewhere to sit at Myrtle Avenue, then? I have terrible arthritis in one of my feet (My Left Foot!) and once at Schipol they wanted to call an amublance for me I became so immobile with the inflamation. Was laid up in the breakfest room at the Ibis for the second day. Luckily, that runway stayed active for the duration so I got away with it again! I will go down some day though somewhere - bound to happen.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

As I mentioned earlier, the cemetary is at approx grid ref TQ 10168 74637. Alternatively, cut and paste this into Google Earth and it will show you the precise parking area I'm referring to - 51 27.677N 0 25.025W

From Hatton Cross head down the lane past the Green Man pub to the traffic lights and turn right on the dual carriageway. The entrance to the cemetary is just along on the right... just past there it's possible to turn right, back on yourself at a gap in the central reservation.... then first left into the entrance. Drive about 100 yards over some speed bumps and park on the right.

Beauty of this place is you can snap away from the comfort of your car - just park at an angle and shoot out of the window. My wife is disabled and has great trouble standing for long so this place suits her..

[kevrockjockuk01]

There is no facilities at Myrtle at all , so if you need to sit I would take your own chair.
The nearest public loo is about 10 mins walk away at the garage.
Remember its not an official spotting location is just good to use

Cheers for the location of the cemetery will go there next time to get side shots ... I love Myrtle but they all seem to be 3/4 shots of biggie's (A330 / 340 / 380`s / B747 / 777 / 767 ,so this will be ideal

Kev

[JETSET115]

Hi gus i am paying a visit to Heathrow on sunday Myrtle ave locations is mention alot can anyone give me directions and if the are landing the other way is there any good positions and the premier inn has been mentioned do you get moved on if you park there

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

Hope this might help.

09L
To photograph at 09L, Bulk of day.(Landings)
On A3044 Stanwell Moor Rd.
Going north on this road, as you go under the Overpass to T5.
50yrds is field on Left side, OK to park on verge.
Into field gives a good view for most of day.

For when Sun/best light, is against you,(Early Morn/Eve.) leave car and walk past the lights to the big Roundabout. Works for me!!

09R
Hatton Cross end for Take Off shots.
Hatton Road, go PAST Myrtle Ave, second road on right, CAINS LANE.
Half way down Cains La. on Right side is a large open Public area.
Very good spot for "Lift off" Pics.



Runway 09L, Bulk of Day.(3 Pics.)
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/109L31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/209L31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/309L31stMay.jpg



Runway 09L Early morn/Evening .on Roudabout north of Runway. (2 Pics.)
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/A09LEvening31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/B09LEvening31stMay.jpg




Runway 09R, Hatton Cross end, Lift off Pics. (5 Pics.)
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/e09R31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/d09R31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/c09R31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/b09R31stMay.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/a09R3othMay.jpg


OPF

[CDG1]

Great pictures!

I used to love going to LHR chasing after Concorde especially the evening takeoffs with the afterburners on, they were awesome.

One good place to stay is the Renaissance Hotel you can request a room with a runway view. I was there not long ago and treated myself to some very early morning in-room spotting.

The Renaissance even has a Plane spotters package where they guarantee you a room with the best possible runway view + buffet breakfast and other treats.

The first BA 747-400 landed really early, way before the first SIA 380.

Also I am surprised that no one mentioned the Green Man (Pub) with its wonderful beer garden. This is a place of choice for spotting. It used to be our Concorde spotters hangout. Good food there too, a lot of BA staff goes there at lunch time.

In the afternoons (weather depending) you see the planes landing so close, sometimes it looks like they are right above the trees!

[CDG1]

The Green Man is located within a short walking distance from Hatton Cross Tube station.

More details here:

Green Man, Bedfont, Middlesex, TW14 0PZ - pub details # beerintheevening.com (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/54/5422/Green_Man/Bedfont)