Planes

[WBA1955]

On YouTube you can visit airports around the world, including Birmingham Manchester and Heathrow, there's commentary too telling you what you are watching. On clear days I go on flight radar and pick up these planes, it gives the make, company, speed, altitude and ETA. I get the old field glasses out and watch them come over. Sometimes I take photos using my telephoto lens. Never had so much fun since I have finished work. My neighbour keeps cutting his lawn three times a week to keep himself occupied. We have landscaping, no need to make life difficult.
Back to the plane's and it's amazing how they become airborne let alone fly. They are huge, especially the Jumbo's and A380's, they are made of metal and weigh tons. I have always wondered about this but try not to think about it too much when I am on one.
They have changed the design of the wings now, some are more bird like than the old ones for presumably better aerodynamics, it took them long enough to figure this out.

Hey did any of you have a Sunday afternoon at the old Elmdon Airport? We used to go in the sixties, flown from there as well, you had to walk across the tarmac and climb up the steps. It's much busier than ever now though, but the last time we flew from Birmingham International they used the old embarking method as they had the builders in.

Check out YouTube folks, better than watching the Albion.

[phild]

As a kid I lived in Kingswinford and from the back garden I would watch the many air displays at Halfpenny Green airport. I would see Lightnings breaking the sound barrier, Hawkers, Bi planes and a spitfire and Hurricaine. There would also be parachute displays and air races and I would witness all this for free. Sadly the air displays at this airport have now long gone.

[WBA1955]

As a kid I lived in Kingswinford and from the back garden I would watch the many air displays at Halfpenny Green airport. I would see Lightnings breaking the sound barrier, Hawkers, Bi planes and a spitfire and Hurricaine. There would also be parachute displays and air races and I would witness all this for free. Sadly the air displays at this airport have now long gone.

We live quite near to it Phil, a lot of light aircraft and helicopters come over especially at weekends.
They still have WW2 planes and other rare aircraft visiting. You can drive in for free, there's a cafe and an antiques shop.

[DaveP67 is back!]

I am lucky enough to live about a mile from Shuttleworth airfield, basically every couple of weeks over the summer they have a vintage air display which we get to see from our garden, if you are into aircraft it’s worth a visit even if not on a flying day as you can walk through the hangers which are chock full of amazing planes, engines and ephemera.

[westcountryvillain]

'55 like you I am in awe of how these huge machines can fly and I think we are very lucky to have lived through this period of history - I remember driving along the M4 when a 747 looked like it was suspended in mid air it seemed to be moving so slow - incredible.

Just up the road from me is Kemble airfield where aircraft are broken up for parts, the BA 747's came in there when the fleet was retired and were parked in a line along the roadside for a while, looked bostin!

[Epsombaggie]

I was brought up about a mile away from Elmdon Airport. Spent a lot of time there as a kid, with my mates, watching the planes. I remember the viscounts which barely seemed to clear our roof, as they came into land; totally scrambled the tv reception, mainly when I was trying to watch Top of the Pops!

[baggieal]

Loved planes too! When working for Horizon Holidays in Fuerteventura - I used to look after our airline that came in - Orion Airways - and walked backwards and forwards to the aircraft on arrival/departure across the runway. This Airbus was a monster and gave me a real buzz when on the ground and also taking care of the Orion crew. The orange and brown livery and brand was second to none!

[Dubbag]

This one was a bit lower then usual.... https://news.sky.com/story/tourists-...athos-12670641

[kettering_baggie]

Sewell aerodrome is just a few miles up the road from me; a nice place to go and get a beer, sit and watch all the comings and goings. All sorts of light aircraft and micro lights. There’s a flying school there for fixed wing and helicopters, a very good aerobatic team is based there and also a Spitfire and a WWII P51 Mustang. Always plenty to watch, nice bar, cafe and restaurant, too!