LHR2013 wrote:Nice. was the 747 taken from the mound or further up the runway? thanks
All except the Asiana 747 were taken from the mound.
Just before I went home I walked down towards the 22 threshold beyond the crash gate to see if I could find anywhere elevated enough to get shots of the approach using my small steps - I could get approach shots but nothing turning onto the runway, the ground drops away too much and was wet, my steps started to sink into the ground! I might have been okay with my taller ones though on a dry spot. I took the Asiana from the crash gate end of the bank about 50m from the gate going west - the top of the fence got in the way as it was level with me though, my taller steps would just about have made a difference, I've used them there before.
for the benefit of anyone who uses the mound without steps and relies on the pallets, they have totally disintegrated since I was last there, in the autumn they were looking well past their sell by date and certainly not likely to gain a £5 deposit back if returning them to a depot, SO if you want to use the mound, steps are necessary to gain that extra 2 or 3 feet of height to keep the fence out of photos - take them if you have them but remember DO NOT use steps anywhere within 3m of the fence line the airport police turn up very quickly if you do.
Two of my pics (The Pegasus and Air Berlin) still have fence tops just visible so that gives an idea of the difference that steps will make, my small ones gain 0.5m which is just about enough height gain - my taller ones are better but harder to balance on when panning with a camera!
