London Heathrow for 18000 ft (new photos added)

[ZZ330]

A couple of Heathrow taken after routing straight down the River Thames on Thurs this week, flying in from Hannover:


London Heathrow Airport by ZZ330, on Flickr


London Heathrow Airport by ZZ330, on Flickr
Had to crop this one a little awkwardly as we were so close to the overhead... can you spot Concorde?

Does make you wonder where a third runway would actually go???

And one from slightly earlier that shows London City... bit higher here though...


Air-to-Ground of London and the Thames by ZZ330, on Flickr

... and this from Friday on the way home from Prestwick...


Birmingham Airport from the Air... by ZZ330, on Flickr

Didn't know where to post them, but thought they'd be of interest to someone???

All the best

ZZ330

[exbrat]

Excellent and interesting pics of LHR. I'm fairly sure that the original plan was for six, yes six runways. If you look carefully at the photo's you can make out where five would have gone. For certain there were three operational, but certainly only two now. Just to stir the pot why don't we hear more about Manston being developed, nice long runway.

Living as I did in the Medway Towns during and after the war ('39-'45) there was much talk, well in the local papers, about a flying boat base in the Thames Estuary, off Cliffe. Of course it never happened due to the demise of the flying boat, but Thames Estuary, Cliffe, nothing's new in this world, well the aviation section!

That's food for thought,

exbrat

[Mike]

Probably the best aerial shots of Heathrow that I've ever seen

exbrat, Heathrow was originally built with 6 runways and now the Government would like to build a 3rd runway.

Work that one out.

[ZZ330]

Thanks for the comments, I will sort out a wider shot tomorrow so you can see the surrounding area as well.

ZZ

[uppergreen1]

well done mate,last time i saw lhr like that i was passing over in a herk to lyneham,and yes it did have six runways to start with in a "star of david" pattern,wish it still was!!.cheers....... .

[ZZ330]

Cheers UG1... you can still see where they all were as well! I certainly remember the short one at the maintenance end being used in my youth.

As promised a few more shots:


Thames Estuary by ZZ330, on Flickr
Looking up the Thames Estuary as we approached London... we flew pretty well straight up it!


London Olympic Village from 18000 ft by ZZ330, on Flickr
The Olympic Village... wonder what Britain was winning at the time?


LHR and surrounds by ZZ330, on Flickr
A more general view of the land around Heathrow.

And finally one from the next day:


River Severn Estuary by ZZ330, on Flickr

All the best,

ZZ

[exbrat]

Thanks for those latest pics ZZ330. The one looking up the Thames, with Isle of Sheppey on the left, am I correct in thinking that the Borris Island airport is 'planned' to go on the reclaimed land below right and the Eastry airport on the Ilse of Grain on the left?

And thanks for confirming the six runways at LHR, the memory box hasn't siezed completely.

exbrat

[photojet]

A couple of Heathrow taken after routing straight down the River Thames on Thurs this week, flying in from Hannover:


London Heathrow Airport by ZZ330, on Flickr


London Heathrow Airport by ZZ330, on Flickr
Had to crop this one a little awkwardly as we were so close to the overhead... can you spot Concorde?

Does make you wonder where a third runway would actually go???

And one from slightly earlier that shows London City... bit higher here though...


Air-to-Ground of London and the Thames by ZZ330, on Flickr

... and this from Friday on the way home from Prestwick...


Birmingham Airport from the Air... by ZZ330, on Flickr

Didn't know where to post them, but thought they'd be of interest to someone???

All the best

ZZ330

your last picture is not prestwick all the same great shots from a great vantage point.

[ZZ330]

Thanks photojet, you post made me smile though as I never said it was Prestwick LOL... as per the title of the photo it is Birmingham, taken

on the way home from Prestwick

ZZ

[apgphoto]

Great pix, I well remember runway 23/05 operations always did look a tight squeeze for a 747 but they always made it down okay!

[photojet]

Thanks photojet, you post made me smile though as I never said it was Prestwick LOL... as per the title of the photo it is Birmingham, taken

on the way home from Prestwick

ZZ

I sent the last post without checking still its always good to see your big bus training at my local PIK.

[beech19a]

Incredible photos there. Always nice to see LHR from the air
I used to live in Southall up until I was 16 and remember runway 23 operations, such great memories!
My father still lives in Southall, not far from the gasworks which has LH titles on it

[tomcat14]

I remember landing on 23. In a BA 747 classic back from LA. I recall thinking at the time "oh that was interesting we've landed on the runway they don't use that often". Got down safely though without incident. This was back in 1981.

[noryport]

Yes I can see Concorde from the A30 Feltham end.Near to R27L piano keys...

[ZZ330]

Gosh... surprised to see this pop up again

Thanks for the further comments

ZZ

[beech19a]

I remember landing on 23. In a BA 747 classic back from LA. I recall thinking at the time "oh that was interesting we've landed on the runway they don't use that often". Got down safely though without incident. This was back in 1981.

I bet that was fun! The weather was always windy and turbulent when it was used! Great fun to watch them make their way down the approach.