Spotting at ABE

[Chris102]

Has anyone here been to ABE recently? I've never been there before, but I wanted to take a trip down to get the Roush 727, which is on the ramp now. But I have no idea if it would be in a viewable location, or what time I should go to avoid arriving when it is backlit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[ANITIX87]

ABE is a tricky location. If the 727 is in front of Hangar 7, it will be tough to get a good shot of it, unless you stay on the road that goes past the terminal. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=17 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abe&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,90.615234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lehigh+Valley+Intl,+Allentown,+Lehigh,+Penns ylvania+18109&ll=40.649151,-75.436538&spn=0.005999,0.011061&t=h&z=17)). Shoot towards the West in the link there. But you'll get kicked out of there VERY quickly.

If it parks on the cargo ramp, you'll need either a VERY wide lens, or a VERY tall ladder, as I tried for 4 years to get shots of the FedEx 727s and A300s and was never able to. Go to the grassy knoll SW of the cargo ramp (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=17 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abe&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,90.615234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lehigh+Valley+Intl,+Allentown,+Lehigh,+Penns ylvania+18109&ll=40.643152,-75.451344&spn=0.006,0.011061&t=h&z=17)).

If it parks in front of the GA hangar right where the helipad is, you can park in the lot lot there. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 5&t=h&z=19 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abe&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,90.615234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lehigh+Valley+Intl,+Allentown,+Lehigh,+Penns ylvania+18109&ll=40.648936,-75.442343&spn=0.0015,0.002765&t=h&z=19)). For static aircraft, you'll again need a very wide lens. If the aircraft lands on 06/24, you can stand on the concrete foundations of the light poles (you can see the shadow of the light pole I use in that link). You'll have a great view from there, but make sure you go in the morning.

Lastly, if you must be there in the afternoon, you can get 06 departures or 24 arrivals from a small parking along E. Race Street to the North of the airport, but you'll be shooting through a fence (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=17 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abe&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,90.615234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lehigh+Valley+Intl,+Allentown,+Lehigh,+Penns ylvania+18109&ll=40.660254,-75.433695&spn=0.005998,0.011061&t=h&z=17)).

Lastly, for 24 arrivals or 06 departures, you can use the graveyard to the NE of the airport (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=18 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abe&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,90.615234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lehigh+Valley+Intl,+Allentown,+Lehigh,+Penns ylvania+18109&ll=40.659855,-75.426657&spn=0.002999,0.005531&t=h&z=18)), but people will approach you and be rather unfriendly.

ABE is a tough airport to get good shots at for anything other then 06/24 arrivals or departures in the morning, or some static aircraft JUST in front of the private aviation offices (to the SW corner of the airport).

Good luck!!! Check out airliners.net for my images.

TIS