LHR spotting

[jerslice]

Question for those who've spotted LHR before...which set of runways do they typically use...where does most of the action happen?

[Iberia A340-600]

It depends on the time and the day. One runway is used for take offs and the other for landings from airport opening until 3pm when they alternate. If you google search LHR runway schedule you should be able to find a published list of days and runway configurations.

[727C47]

used to spot from the roof of my flat when i lived there briefly in the 80s,that was the Maidavale neighborhood, on the Bakerloo tube line,Viscounts,Tridents, the VC10,and Concorde along with all the usual suspects,great city,great country,great airport !!!

[Ychocky]

Plane Mad's guide here (http://www.plane-mad.com/airport-spotting-guides/united-kingdom/london-heathrow-lhr-egll.html) has runway allocations. Today per traffic on http://www.fr24.com they are on 09L for arrivals and 09L for departures.

Put simply, one runway is used for arrivals and one for departures, if using the 27's it switches at 3PM to give the locals a rest from the noise.

If 09's are in use everything will arrive 09L. For this I can recommend this spot D on the Plane Mad link. A good map showing the lay of the land and some A.net accepted shots is here (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/aviation_photography/read.main/362271).

My shameless plug of my own work from this spot:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6776173822_5471fdc441_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10035383@N00/sets/72157629204379629/)

If on the 09's Departures will use 09R exclusively. For this you can setup at spot C or from a Tesco off ***g's Road, or even from the Bedfont Recreation grounds. I have not used these spots but scouted them on my last visit, they are viable even on foot (with a stop for a pint). Might need a local to show you around.

For the 27's refer to the runway allocation.

If on 27L the famous Myrtle Avenue is a great spot. Spot A in the Plane Mad link. This is where an abundance of LHR shots are from:

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/4/8/8/8/61032_1355957888_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7512047)

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/4/8/1/8/39729_1359404818_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7551623)

Thumbnails created by the JetPhotos.net BBCode Generator (http://caryliao.com/jetphotos.php)

If the sun has moved around or the conditions permit you can also use the footbridge at Hatton Cross to gain an elevated vantage point.

When 27R is in use you can use spot Q, set up on the grass on the southwest side of the roundabout: The only down side is the aircraft pass a little overhead for my liking:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7598832052_daa55a340e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10035383@N00/7598832052/in/set-72157630640471158/)

Here is the spot:
http://www.jetphotos.net/img/4/6/5/4/64373_1350666456_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7471875)

Thumbnails created by the JetPhotos.net BBCode Generator (http://caryliao.com/jetphotos.php)

If the sun is has moved around you can move further down the perimeter road to the north side of 27R and the next roundabout:

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/4/6/6/8/69481_1316862866_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7212206)

Thumbnails created by the JetPhotos.net BBCode Generator (http://caryliao.com/jetphotos.php)

Further down is Spot O, at what the locals call "Heathrow Academy" did not get a chance here, don't know what the spot even looks like!

But here is a shot showing the lovely view!

2138520
Created by Airliners.net BBCode Generator (http://mannyphoto.com/airliners.php)

For 27L departures, the Esso station on the southern perimeter road is a great spot. Walkable from T5. Spot F:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8024829744_56afb559f0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10035383@N00/8024829744/in/set-72157630640471158)

Location:

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/6/6/3/81837_1254831366_tb.jpg (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6686353)

Thumbnails created by the JetPhotos.net BBCode Generator (http://caryliao.com/jetphotos.php)

Speaking of T5, you can walk to either end of the top level (departure drop-off) and get arrivals or departures. Spot P:

27L
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4090/5487741944_95ac42b2f9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10035383@N00/5487741944/in/set-72157626170904198)

27R
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/AqEk16ECMAEfwM0.jpg:med

Hope that made sense. When are you headed to blighty? Can I recommend hitting up MAN ;)
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/10035383@N00/sets/72157629204379629/)

[727C47]

outstanding!, flew into Heathrow under my own steam for the first time last fall carrying an engine for a broken 767, we landed round 8am, flying over the good city on finals, spent a day and a night there,and loved it .

[jerslice]

Hope that made sense. When are you headed to blighty? Can I recommend hitting up MAN ;)

Awesome set! - very helpful. I'll be there 3/21-3/23...though I'll be spending at least one day in the city itself. Crossing my fingers the weather will hold out.

[Ychocky]

Awesome set! - very helpful. I'll be there 3/21-3/23...though I'll be spending at least one day in the city itself. Crossing my fingers the weather will hold out.

Hope you have a good time, weather wise you can get lucky this time of year :)

Get a Oyster (http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/) card if you are planning on using the Underground a lot. Travel between terminals is free if you have one. Otherwise you have to buy tickets. Also it makes any journey simpler, and look less like a tourist with expensive camera gear. Fumbling for change next to a ticket machine is just bad form! ;)

Already looking forward to seeing your shots!

[jerslice]

My wife has an oyster card from her work trip last year :-)


Also it makes any journey simpler, and look less like a tourist with expensive camera gear. Fumbling for change next to a ticket machine is just bad form! ;)



Having lived in a number of cities with large subways/transit systems, there's very few things that irritated me more than lines being held up for someone checking a pocket book for that dime or dollar. I try hard not to be that guy!

[Ychocky]

Bored at work, I found a map showing the free travel area at LHR, complete with bus numbers.

http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF/travel_around_Heathrow.pdf

Will save some time when the runways switch, or you want departures instead of arrivals or vice versa.