Unless they've built a new one since I did my ADC/GMC endorsement in 1972, the present Glasgow Tower is the original one from RNAS Abbotsinch; with a new roof (at least once )!!

Teesside i believe make judicious use of CCTV to view those "hard to see" areas. Also the tower complex there dates back to the 40's, although may have been updated when MME (or Middleton St George as was) became a lightning / V-force dispersal field. Interestingly enough, you can (or could as of the early 2000's) still see the ground connections on the V-bomber Runway Readiness apron at the end of the runway. These had a direct, secure phone line to the Bomber controller for use in case of war.

Cranfield has a great tower, was nice and warm and welcoming on a snowy day two years ago when a CPL nav trip went wrong due to snow.

Aren't all MoD airfield buildings designed to a common set of plans, which evolves over time?

The tower at ABZ is, aesthetically, a horrible monstrosity, like some sort of concrete Mayan temple. Will it come down in 2012? Is there any access to the Balconys for controllers with a spotting hobby?

Finally, I can't say for Heathrow, but the Post Office Tower in London is apparantly good up to 170kt winds. I would imagine that the Heathrow tower is certified up to a similar standard (even if it will get a bit... sway-ey)

TTR

(p.s. apologies for the scattergun approach - haven't had much sleep recently!)

Yeah, we have access to the balconies at ABZ, very pleasant during the summer for breaks :ok:

Luton tower has (or at least had) a warning system to advise when it was swaying too much in the wind; a part filled milk bottle on the window sill; if it overflowed, get out!!

I believe the term for the design of Aberdeen Tower is a 'Ziggurat'.
The 'tower' where I provide ATC is a small ten feet cubic box with a radar bolted on top. It is known locally as 'The Tardis'.

.........and ISTR the escape options for the new Heathrow CTB at the time of design were:

1. Special high-speed lift.
2. Flash Gordon type shuttle capsule on a guy-wire.
3. Individual inertia-reel escape harnesses which were to stop 6' from the concrete.

Sadly I got flushed out of the old CTB across the M4 by the 'Thames Flood' of July 2003 and never got to experience the wonders of the new CTB. Maybe someone could fix it for HD and me....

Vintage Tower
 

EGPF building does indeed date from HMS Sanderling days so is at least 1940s vintage. It has been revamped and the radar suite added on the ground floor but the VCR is the original. EGPK's 'new' tower building was constructed in early 60s and became operational in , I believe, 1964 when the parallel taxiway, runway extension and new terminal were opened. The previous one was a 'greenhouse' on top of Orangefield House Hotel which was demolished to allow construction of the said taxiway.
Goodness - I is getting auld!

Minor nitpick. EGPD tower is a "Staggered Ziggurat." The original ziggurats being ancient babylonian stepped pyramids. Rumour at the time of its construction was that it would also be a stepped pyramid shape until someone noticed that it would infringe the runway sideslopes, hence the stagger.

Talkdown, PM me if you want to have a look.:ok:

HD et al... You could definitely feel the gusts of 50+ knots in the new tower yesterday. Standing up or sitting down didnt make much difference either, pretty sure Gonzo will second that thought.

Still, rather be inside than cleaning the windows :}

AJ7, maybe you'd been on the disaronno / strongbow mix again......

At PD, as glamdring says, the balconies are great for breaks in the summer, every "stagger" is effectively a balcony all the way round, with aircraft 360 degrees around too. The staggers also catch enough snow to make snowmen that can be rolled to a position outside the "red floor" offices :O

AJ7.. Sounds dead scary. And no BBQs up there either!!!!

Interesting comments about the tower at Cranfield....ah happy days!

The description of the very steep spiral staircase at the rear of the VCR are true. They were so steep I had to carry my dog down after each stint in the seat! Going up was fine, he just froze at the top when it was time to go down the 'Dak for refreshments.

:ok:

RD.. Did you know Lee Grant or Sid Young perchance?

Heard the stories of Saturday afternoon barbeques in previous times, wouldnt have fancied one yesterday though!

simfly, i might have had a tonic having gotten home and finished the cycle, that mix mentioned wasn't on the list though ;)

At least we werent hit by lightning yesterday...

You had to be very versatile back in the old days.. Here I am combining the tasks of Approach Supervisor and Head Chef:
Bren-chef.jpg :: Aviation Pics :: Fotopic.Net

HD, I hope that you had a 'hot-work permit'........
Or were you 'Chef De Quart'?

Not while the train was standing in the station.

On the whole question of control towers, there is a very interesting site here:
UK Control Tower & airfield photographs of WW2

I tried to submit several piccies to the site but received no response but the stuff on there is quite interesting.

Slight thread drift here folks so please bear with me. EGNM/LBA seems (from my point of view anyway) to be having a little trouble with the radar frequency, 125.575. This frequency was adopted during the summer to replace 123.75 and since that time the old ground-plane TX aerials on the roof of the tower have also been replaced. I'd expect the latter as the aerials are specifically made for individual frequencies. However, reception quality has definitely deteriorated. On a couple of occasions recently, 125.575 has been NOTAMed as U/S for work in progress with no noticeable improvement afterwards. On some days, reception is reasonably good. On others, there is a lot of white noise accompanying each transmission and the signal barely breaks through the squelch. The tower frequency, 120.3, is received far more strongly which doesn't make sense to me as it uses a lower power transmitter than 125.575. Also the standby radar frequency, 133.125, far "out-receives" 125.575.

For info, I use at home an ICOM desktop receiver with a loft mounted dipole aerial. I don't know if there if have been any pilot reports about questionable reception.

Anyone have any clues as to what the problem may be ? Ta.

MC

Same here - I once had to carry my first Doberman down the stairs from the LL VCR.

Did my back a world of good:hmm: