25+ years spotting - but first visit to Warton

Location : Harrogate Spotter Watch Member : No

A bit of a confession but I started out at Binbrook, living only 8 miles away and was a crash gate 3 regular from 1980 to closure. Although I've carried on with aviation photography since then I have never been to Warton (!) So a couple of questions for you regulars: Will a 3 step step-ladder get me over the fence for shots? Whereabouts is the sun during the day in relation to the spot where most of the posted pictures come from? - ie am I going to have better lighting in the morning or afternoon?

Finally, it can be hard to tell what an 'average day' at Warton is like for movements? (I'm spoilt at my current local for volume (Linton on Ouse) - but not quality, unless you are really into Tucano's - looks like Warton is the opposite - less movements, more interesting stuff)

Comments welcome, I'll be the guy in the red mini looking a bit lost. Cheers

Subject: Re: 25+ years spotting - but first visit to Warton 2009-04-03, 14:02

Jamie

Best place to spot for approaches to runway 26 is spot 1 on the viewing guide, sun is behind you all day and you will need a 5 step, step ladder to see over the fence (about 8ft high)
If traffic is departing and approaching runway 08 then you need to go round further than point 3 on the viewing guide. There is a path leading to a public footpath down to Crash gate 6. Be careful at this end as straying from the footpath will get you removed by either base security or the farmer who owns the field.

Stick to the mound at point 1 for the best departure and approach shots, you are a long away from the ramps so its tricky to see whats going on. Take a scanner, its good to listen in to approach and operations and the local chaps who frquent Warton (myself included) always welcome new spotters. Ask for Repoman, Bryan Trembler, Mickey, Frank, Chris or neil, normally one of us is there. A bit further down from the mound is the corner, great for photos but can get busy on Sunny days due to lack of parking spaces.

As you stated it can be very quiet at Warton with no two days the same. There is a lot of Typhoon testing to come and the Tornado fleet is still very busy at present. Its just luck to what you get, my advice choose a Sunny day and just pitch up. Nothing normally starts before 10am and like most private companies it goes quiet at lunch time. Busiest times seem to be between 3 and 5pm with lots of RTB's. There are also quite a few corperate movements, with flights between Warton and Boscome/Farnborough.

Hope ive covered a few bits for you, feel free to let us know when your coming over and i will let you know if any of us are there. Always good to hear stories from different bases

Bryan

Location : Mid Cheshire Spotter Watch Member : Yes

Helped me there Trembler , Ta.
I too have never been , but living over this side as I do now , it's only an hour up the road , so I do intend to give a go sometime in the not too distant future.

Location : Harrogate Spotter Watch Member : No

Thanks for the advice - really appreciated