Heathrow - 2000 Years of History
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Yes, I've seen a planned layout which I think had another Star of David runway pattern north of the initial runway pattern.
Here is the 9 runway plan.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Wind Direction & Heathrow runways
I have been researching wind direction for south west England re Heathrow. This shows that wind is currently predominantly from the south west. Has the wind direction changed over the years or was it, in earlier days [1929 onwards], predominantly from the west to cause the two surviving runways to be sited east/west [09/27] rather than with the prevailing wind being from the south west?
I very much doubt that the wind direction has changed significantly - Google Met Office Historical records.
I think they were laid out that way due to space considerations - with the two main roads (at the time) to the west out of London where they are they'd have had to juggle things quite a bit to fit in NE-SW runways of any length
I think they were laid out that way due to space considerations - with the two main roads (at the time) to the west out of London where they are they'd have had to juggle things quite a bit to fit in NE-SW runways of any length
Pretty well from the start, the two E-W runways were longer than the other 4 (5) and were the only pair that it was relatively easy to extend further (in a westerly direction) in stages because of the open countryside in that direction.
Here are three early pictures from 44-46 - one shows the second E_W runway under construction. You can see that there is almost nothing in the way to the west whereas to the east there are roads, villages and factories.
he old sewage works (front in second picture) - now the location of T5 (I say nothing) - was a major driver as the Council wanted a very significant amount of cash to move it elsewhere - which wasn't forthcoming until the 1980's
he old sewage works (front in second picture) - now the location of T5 (I say nothing) - was a major driver as the Council wanted a very significant amount of cash to move it elsewhere - which wasn't forthcoming until the 1980's
Oddly enough they were planning to build N of the Batch Road (the proposed location for R3) as early as 1944. In all the discussions it seems that the old A4 road was sacrosanct - I can't find any discussion of rerouting it or putting it in a tunnel,
thanks Dave
Of course, in amongst all of this, the Fairey Aviation Company was very shoddily treated. They had their factory aerodrome nicely sited close to their factory at Hayes and 'someone' (I've never heard exactly who) decided that Fairey were to be turfed out to make way for a, ahem, much needed RAF aerodrome. I've read that it took until the 1960s for the Company to get compensation.
Of course, in amongst all of this, the Fairey Aviation Company was very shoddily treated. They had their factory aerodrome nicely sited close to their factory at Hayes and 'someone' (I've never heard exactly who) decided that Fairey were to be turfed out to make way for a, ahem, much needed RAF aerodrome. I've read that it took until the 1960s for the Company to get compensation.
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I have a book at home “Heathrow through the ages” (can’t remember off hand the author) which suggests the area was once the stomping ground of Dick Turpin.
Nice to see his tradition lives on today in some of the shops in the terminals!
Nice to see his tradition lives on today in some of the shops in the terminals!
LHR is apparently he biggest source of Business Rates in the UK - and LGW is 2nd
"On Hounslow Heath as I rode o'er
I spied a lawyer riding before
Kind Sir says he Aren't you afraid
Of Turpin, that mischievous blade"
et seq
