Birmingham: (BHX) - Spotting & Photography Locations

[Hassaan]

It would be nice if there were to be some wider holes along the fence to allow a lens to fit through but I seriously doubt it.

Keep trying to squeeze the lens through the hole in the fence and you'll get there. :crazy:

 

[Aviador]

If you can manually focus on the subject the fence should dissappear out of focus.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've always relied on auto focus, I'll give manual a try :good:

 

[Aviador]

It can be trial and error but it definitely works. I took this picture through the mesh fencing at LBA.

 

[Hassaan]

It's probably a bit more difficult when the fence is dark green though. As for indoor spotting areas, I wonder if they've ever considered re-opening the Aviation Experience elsewhere, such as near the old Elmdon terminal.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've updated the first page of this thread to include long stay 1 and the pending viewing area.

 

[Hassaan]

That spot on Bannerley Road - would that be good for capturing crosswind landings on RWY33? I think far back you'd get a good view of the runway but based on your post on the first page, you're zoomed in fully? So it probably wouldn't be so good. I could always go back further away from the path in Sheldon Country Park as presumably it slopes up a little.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Bannerley Road is pretty far away, that picture was with a 300mm lens zoomed in fully so unless you've got a special bit of kit then I'd probably say it's not that great, unless it's something you're specifically after. I think for cross wind landings the top of the Elmdon car park seems to be a popular spot for people filming, especially if there are a couple of go arounds which can produce some nice footage. Depending on you camera zoom there is also Sheldon Country Park for RWY15 arrivals or the field in Bickenhill for RWY33 arrivals.

 

[Hassaan]

The Elmdon car park - is that by the railway station? Or is that the car park that is situated right at the back of the field, at Sheldon Country Park (behind the approach lights)? I think somewhere around there would be good for the crosswind landings as the fence wouldn't get in the way so much.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Elmdon car park is the multi storey on the Elmdon site, just off the Coventry Road. I've not taken videos myself but have seen many people doing so from up there and it's a great spot to film if there is a go around. The car park at the back of Sheldon Country Park is for the staff of the Goodrich Engine Control Systems plant so I'm not sure if there would be access.

 

[Hassaan]

Is there a good spot on the other side of the airport (behind RWY 33) where the approach lights don't come in the way and one can get a good view of the runway (which would be useful for filming crosswind landings for example)? flugsnug has filmed from there but that was usually before those lights were fitted in and he wasn't directly in front of the runway.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've never been there myself but it's a fairly popular area and others I've spoken too have said its good if you have a decent zoom. I think it's best accessed from a public footpath off Catherine-de-Barnes lane just up from the social club. If you're slightly offset from the runway centre line the lights hopefully won't get in the way.

 

[Ray Finkle]

If anyone else on here is a user of the Elmdon MSCP have they noticed what a mess it has become lately? There is litter strewn all over the place and on my last visit there were empty cans of Tennents Super and spirit bottles, which is not nice when there are families with young children watching the planes of an afternoon. I realise the bin is woefully inadequate and rarely emptied but most people there are in a car so would it hurt for them to take the rubbish home to dispose of? I also don't think I need to mention the stench of urine on the stairs. One of the NCP staff told me there is on occasions undesirables frequenting the car park late at night and I've seen cars full of people drinking and smoking what appeared to be joints, if the police are quick enough to ask people to leave as an RAF C17 is due in then it would be nice if they could add a couple of patrols late at night to put these people off. My worry is eventually NCP will just get fed up and shut the top level altogether and we'll lose a very good viewing area, it would be a real shame if a few morons spoilt it for everyone.

Someone else shares this view and has posted a couple of pictures on Flickr :s_no

 

[Hassaan]

It's not a popular spot as far as I am aware, and I think I can see why. The Sheldon Country Park tomorrow morning though will be quite busy I think.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Elmdon MSCP is a very popular spot, it's rare that I'm up there alone and of a weekend there are many people about videoing, photographing or just watching, if something special is due in then it's pretty much full. It really is one of the best spots we have and it concerns me that we could lose it simply because people are dumping their rubbish on the floor rather than taking it home.

 

[Hassaan]

I will be trying to go there this weekend. I've seen some videos from there - some where the hangar obstructs the view of the runway and others where it doesn't, so I'll just have to find a good spot.

 

[aulty87]

Hi Everyone
My 2 year old son has started getting into planes. So yesterday as it was nice I thought I would take him over Sheldon country park to have a look. For the 30mins we was there he really enjoyed it. The only downside was they was taking off and landing from runway 15? Hope im right with that, so they was taking off and coming over our heads.
Its a shame they got rid of the viewing area within the airport, as a kid I used to love going there.

Stephen

 

[Ray Finkle]

Yeah I think they need to be landing overhead for Sheldon Country Park to have the greatest effect. Still a good spot either way though and my kids love it too :smile:

I think all of us of a certain vintage look back at that grassed viewing area with great fondness. It sure did used to get busy on a summers days with picnic blankets everywhere. Have you tried the new viewing are yet? It's alot smaller than what it used to be and there's no grass, just some benches, but it sure is in a great spot, especially if they're taxing past you.

 

[aulty87]

What I found was when they landed they was turning off before the end of the runway. So my little boy didn't see them as close as I wanted him too. But saying that he still enjoyed his time there.

Is the new area on one of the long stay car parks? I may try that next time as I have free travel on the trains so easy to walk to from station.

 

[jfy1999]

The new area is in one of the long stay car parks. It is located right next to Taxiway Sierra, which is the new taxiway built for the runway extension.
It's quite a way to walk but it's not excessive. You can walk right past the planes parked up at the Eurohub, but if you've got small children it's probably better to use one of the free shuttle buses.
The only other issue with this viewing area is the really tall wire fence which does funny things to your eyes when you're looking through it 🙂