Manchester Airport Viewing Park
 

I wonder if anyone can help a friend of ours recently took his son to the Manchester Airport viewing park and visited the shop that sells allsorts for aircraft spotters.
In the shop there was an HP laptop on the counter with a live program running which was showing aircraft movements around the area.Does anyone know of a similar program which would be available to download on a similar basis to this.
Thanks.

The laptop in question was running a Kinetic SBS virtual radar box, the hardware comes in a modem sized box connected by USB to any windows computer, it costs about £400.

Alternatively you can download this software called planeplotter, it allows access to a website which hosts uploaded sbs data from users around the world

PlanePlotter from COAA

The drawback to this software is that it will only show aircraft that are plotting full information, a very large portion of aircraft (military, biz jets, emb types) dont transpond lat long info so will not plot. The SBS box receives these aircraft and displays in list form.

Manchester airport viewing park
 

I think that the viewing park entrance fee is discraceful, the owners must be making a lot of money with all the tours with concorde and other events, the place needs a good tidying up and all of the areas that are stoned should be tarmac, the tax payers have paid for concorde and the viewing park.

I for one feel proud to be paying for the ludicrous white tent whilst getting covered in red crap from the car park. :D

Give me back the grass field and a couple of grass mounds

There now seems to be a lot of MAG suits racing round looking important

Stopped going to the viewing park years ago.

For REAL spotters/enthusiasts go over to the end of R23L on a small hill overlooking the runways.

You go through the tunnel then at the roundabout take the first left and park by the fence.

Then walk upto the mound in 10 minutes.

Car is safe, Had no problems been going for years.

Easy as the grass mound at the end of the runways might be, we still prefer the sausage, chips n curry sauce at the AVP.

But would still prefer if the Powers That Be would spend some more money providing cover from the elements for its loyal spotters who are the backbone of the place after all.

For all the income Concorde generates with all its Corporate visits etc, I wonder how long the AVP would stay open if all us spotters upped and shifted to the "alternative AVP" mentioned above!!!

There's only so long you can stay in the Shop or in the cafe without missing the action so how about a three sided cover for the main mound say?

And also a few more seats as well would be nice.

What do you all think?

Donnlass:hmm:

Viewing park
 

I think that i might give the humps a try it sounds easier and a lot cheaper, they could do with a lot more seats, how much is a 6 month pass these days last time i got one it was £60. The people that work there are miserable too.

Get real ! It was 100% more than most airports have these days. I agree it could be improved but I have little sympathy for those who do nought but moan.

Anyway i ain't going there anymore cos its just a rip off.....

I went today and I couldn't believe the £5.00 entrance fee. Full of screaming kids as well. I forgot it was the school holidays.

Also had the shock of my life when I ordered a cup of tea and the girl said

'That will be £1 please!!'

Going to go south side next time. Anyway it is a very pleasant walk.

Slow Progress

The spectator facilities at Manchester are second to none and we should be thankful we have them at all. Most airports do not have any comparable facilities but the increase does seem excessive and I think they may be cashing in on the popularity of the venue.
If can I'll sometimes go to the southside but parking is a problem and the fact that the adjacent runway is sometimes closed.

Really? What a strange thing to say. The thousands that were at the AVP on 14th May last year or Champions league final day in 2003 weren't REAL spotters then I suppose.:rolleyes:

Absolutely agree. Went down there last Friday and got the shock of a quid price hike for car + driver (now £5), AND if you have passengers they get charged too. :D Considering a high percentage of visitors are just down for an hour or so to occupy the kids I hope people will vote with their feet, especially in this economic climate. And how do they think the price reflects the changes - it hasn't changed that much.
I was sadly that insensed that I emailed MAN to see what they say.

If people vote with their feet, the airport will get what it wants - closure of the AVP and the loss of a great facility.

Exactly why I emailed them..... I love the place, just not at £5 a go. And granted as mentioned earlier, it is one of the best in the UK and a rarity, but everything has it's price and mine is £4 as my missus will testify. :)

Ive got a great idea

to help to fill the Mag coffers why not create a first floor refreshments area with a full glass wall and excellent views over the stands in T1 ,


this would attract the punters and make extra money in the car parks......................


Oh wait think ive got that wrong :D


I would love to know how much ancillary revenues are down since alienating the non-flying public

As far as photography (on a sunny Manchester day :eek:) is concerned, the mount(s) on the south side are good in the morning. The AVP is good in the evening during the months of May/June/July.

I didn't realise they'd put the price up to £5. That is pure greed and utterly disgraceful.

Ah not meanin to moan just expressing the desire for more shelter and seats especially as my partner is disabled but also keen with the camera so being able to sit down more would be great.

Still love the place and will no doubt be there on Sunday, weather permitting, battling the crowds and since we bus and walk in two quid aint too bad.

So long as it stays there:ok::D

Happy Spotting

Donnlass

I went to the AVP yesterday for the first time in a couple of years, presumably the price increase is to pay for the shiny new hangar and shop etc.

This has also resulted in the mound nearest the hangar being increased in size presumably this all had to be paid for. Judging by the full car park the price doesn't seem to have put off too many people.

email response
 

Here's the response from MAN to the email I sent. I think I'm aloud to post this.

<snip>

Hi Nige

Sorry you feel this way. We hope that you will see the results of the £1.4M recently spent to improve all facilities at the park including parking, new toilets and visitors centre. We have also introduced a new family ticket and free entry to selected exhibits at weekends. We hope these will improve yours and your families enjoyment in the future.

Concorde Booking Office
The Aviation Viewing Park,
Sunbank Lane,
Altrincham,
WA15 8XQ.

<snip>

Ok so they had the courtesyto reply but I didn't see any new toilets, anything about family discounts, new parking or anything of note apart fom the new shop.
Maybe I'm just getting an old moaner, but I do plan to be there quite a bit in the future.

The problem is that there are two types of visitor but only one price on the day !

Most of the regulars down there just want to call in for an hour or two, watch some movements, have a cup of tea, a chat and then go home , quite frankly they are not interested in the new infrastructure eg Concorde Tours etc.

The new facilities and improvements are aimed at the family day day tripper, the idly curious who think "lets go to Chester Zoo or Oulton Towers" and on "that" comparison it' is a cheap day out !

If they kept season tickets at reasonable prices (£60) that would solve the problem, but sadly rumours suggest these may be hiked by £30!

Rumours suggest that when the snack bar closes it will re-open in the cafe adjacent to Concorde but I guess realistically food prices will again need to go up again to meets costs of this as well.