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Manchester Airport: Difference between revisions
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At the food court which is between Terminals 1 and 3 there are a lot of large windows overlooking a few gates, also recently added are some Talking Telescopes which talk in 5 different languages. Pictures can be had here from planes taxiing in the distance, as well as aircraft parked nearby. Food is readily available but by far the cheapest is by getting a Meal Deal from Boots, WH Smiths or by going to Spar which is open 24 hours a day (near Terminal 3) who do a selection of Hot and Cold Sandwiches, Hot & Cold drinks, varying on the time of day. Spotters are not normally moved from this location as they bring a lot of business to the food outlets. '''From Summer 2008 this area will become Airside, therefore additional places to view the aircraft in poor weather will need to be sourced. Rumour has it that the lower part only is to become airside, the main part of the food court is to remain Landsisde with access via Terminal 3 near Spar, so really the only thing to do is to wait and see what happens, changes are already taking place.'''{{jplink|5636028}} | At the food court which is between Terminals 1 and 3 there are a lot of large windows overlooking a few gates, also recently added are some Talking Telescopes which talk in 5 different languages. Pictures can be had here from planes taxiing in the distance, as well as aircraft parked nearby. Food is readily available but by far the cheapest is by getting a Meal Deal from Boots, WH Smiths or by going to Spar which is open 24 hours a day (near Terminal 3) who do a selection of Hot and Cold Sandwiches, Hot & Cold drinks, varying on the time of day. Spotters are not normally moved from this location as they bring a lot of business to the food outlets. '''From Summer 2008 this area will become Airside, therefore additional places to view the aircraft in poor weather will need to be sourced. Rumour has it that the lower part only is to become airside, the main part of the food court is to remain Landsisde with access via Terminal 3 near Spar, so really the only thing to do is to wait and see what happens, changes are already taking place.'''{{jplink|5636028}} | ||
=== South Side (Runway2) === | === '''South Side (Runway2)''' === | ||
A disadvantage of the official Aviation Viewing Park (AVP) is that it faces into the sun until late in the day, making photography more difficult. Better photography is often offered by heading around to Runway 2 on the South side of the airport. Going there is easy by car. By public transport is possible too, but a bit of a handful. | A disadvantage of the official Aviation Viewing Park (AVP) is that it faces into the sun until late in the day, making photography more difficult. Better photography is often offered by heading around to Runway 2 on the South side of the airport. Going there is easy by car. By public transport is possible too, but a bit of a handful. | ||
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By car, from the Junction 6 Roundabout off the M56, follow signs for Wilmslow along the A538. Approximately 1 mile along this road you will drive under the 2 runway tunnels. As you exit the 2nd tunnel you will come to a roundabout. Turn left at this roundabout and then turn immediately right before the gate - Then park up on the left before the bridge, as this road becomes the Moat House hotel car park beyond the bridge. Do try to tuck your car into the hedge, as the hotel mini-bus screams up and down here every half-hour or so and its a narrow road!! | By car, from the Junction 6 Roundabout off the M56, follow signs for Wilmslow along the A538. Approximately 1 mile along this road you will drive under the 2 runway tunnels. As you exit the 2nd tunnel you will come to a roundabout. Turn left at this roundabout and then turn immediately right before the gate - Then park up on the left before the bridge, as this road becomes the Moat House hotel car park beyond the bridge. Do try to tuck your car into the hedge, as the hotel mini-bus screams up and down here every half-hour or so and its a narrow road!! | ||
DO NOT park anywhere between the roundabout and the gate - you '''WILL''' get a ticket or a | '''DO NOT''' park anywhere between the roundabout and the gate - you '''WILL''' get a ticket or a '''TOW''' - even on the grass verge. | ||
Once you have reach the Hotel, you have two options. There are raised viewing mounds running the length of runway 23L. These are segregated by the road tunnels which allow the A538 to go under the runways. So your choice is to cross the road and go left and past the new fire station to get to the mid point and beyond of runway | Once you have reach the Hotel, you have two options. There are raised viewing mounds running the length of runway 23L. These are segregated by the road tunnels which allow the A538 to go under the runways. So your choice is to cross the road and go left and past the new fire station to get to the mid point and beyond of runway 23L for views of aircraft rotating and taking-off OR go right to the start of runway 23L for close-up taxiing and line-up views of aircraft. | ||
====Runway 23L - taxi and line-up==== | ===='''Runway 23L - taxi and line-up'''==== | ||
From the Hotel entrance, turn right and walk through the car park, over the small stone bridge and up to the top of this road. On the right is a black cattle gate. Walk through the gate and follow this footpath for approx half-a-mile. The path finishes at the runway security fence and you will see long earth mounds either side of you which offer superb elevated views of the first 1/3 of runway 2.Further around to the right is an elevated mound which is directly in front of the link taxi-way between runway 1 and 2 - you can practically count the rivets on the aircraft as they line-up !!! | From the Hotel entrance, turn right and walk through the car park, over the small stone bridge and up to the top of this road. On the right is a black cattle gate. Walk through the gate and follow this footpath for approx half-a-mile. The path finishes at the runway security fence and you will see long earth mounds either side of you which offer superb elevated views of the first 1/3 of runway 2.Further around to the right is an elevated mound which is directly in front of the link taxi-way between runway 1 and 2 - you can practically count the rivets on the aircraft as they line-up !!! | ||
====Runway 23L - rotation and take-off==== | ===='''Runway 23L - rotation and take-off'''==== | ||
The second option is to walk from the hotel back to the roundabout. On the other side of the road you just came in on, you will see a footpath of steep steps rising to the top of the hill. Follow this path for roughly 15 minutes past the side of the new fire station and up to the runway security fence. | The second option is to walk from the hotel back to the roundabout. On the other side of the road you just came in on, you will see a footpath of steep steps rising to the top of the hill. Follow this path for roughly 15 minutes past the side of the new fire station and up to the runway security fence. | ||