Aircraft Spotting at Bedfordshire's Airfields and Airports
Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Bedfordshire. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
Spotting Info
Come off M1 at J13 or 14, head for Cranfield. Then follow signs for Cranfield Airport & University. Some aircraft can be viewed whilst driving around the perimeter, namely the road on the south side or the western edge of the field. At the main entrance, if the barrier is down you can either press the buzzer to call through to security, or park up and walk in to ask them. Just let them know you're visiting the airfield, flying clubs or the cafe and they'll let you in. There are numerous areas of parked aircraft so look everywhere. IAE are friendly but only open during the week - once at IAE hangar follow the signs for reception, ask for permission, and they should grant access to the hangar after a small donation. Then follow the outer red painted walkways. There are also usually a number of frames outside the IAE hangar at the furthest end from the cafe, but you won't see them until you get very close, as they're hidden by bushes. DO NOT visit IAE during the weekend, there is no one there and it will be locked up. You can try asking for access in the briefing room on the first floor of the control tower but due to recent events involving idiotic spotters wandering airside without permission and then getting abusive after being told to leave, it's likely to be denied. Cranfield Aerospace and Patriot Aviation hangars are out of bounds and Bonus Aviation hangar is only accessible from airside and therefore also out of bounds. To view the flying schools' aircraft the best place is from the car park at Cafe Pacific, accessed by heading towards the tower, take the 2nd right and it will be ahead of you. Also try the BHRA car park - head towards the Patriot apron entrance and just before turn left and follow the road to a large car park. Park near the two aircraft and you can see the taxiway up to the tower and if the doors are open, what is in the hangar. G-BMSG Lansen, XS458 Lightning and G-OHEA 125 are stored here, their positions are marked in the Spotting in the UK download for Google Earth and SatNavs. As is G-RAVL HP-137, which should be visible from up in the control tower parked outside Hangar 2.
Thunder and Lightnings' Cranfield Photography Guide
Last reported December 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
DUNSTABLE AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Head south out of Dunstable town on the B489 and turn left at the first crossroads (right is to Totternhoe and Church End), it's signposted. A once friendly gliding club has been ruined by (yet again) a few stupid spotters who saw fit to lift the covers of gliders for the registration, instead of looking under the wing or just leaving them for another day. This compromised the safety checks of the pilots waiting to fly them, which had to be redone. You can ask in the office for access - it will likely be denied, but you should be allowed to watch the activity from the apron as long as you don't wander off. You can see most from here but if they're launching from the other end of the airfield you may not be allowed to drive over there.
London Gliding Club
Last reported July 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
EATON BRAY-PARK FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Head south out of Billington village on the A4146 and just before you leave the village turn left onto Stanbridge Road. Just up the road here take the first right onto The Rye and after approximately a mile, turn right signposted Park Farm Fisheries. Take extra care as you drive down towards the strip - the road drives through the runway and taxiway so extreme caution and a good, constant lookout is required. Follow the road right round to the left for the hangars.
Last reported September 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
HATCH-ROTARY FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Access strictly by prior permission. Home of Skysport Engineering. Heading north on A1, just before you leave Beeston turn left (should be signed to Brook End). At T-junction in Brook End turn right. Take next left, signed Hatch and Thorncote Green. Go through Hatch and as you go through Thorncote Green, you pass Budna Road on the right. Strip is just on the left.
Skysport Engineering Aircraft Exhibits
Last reported . Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
HENLOW AIRFIELD (EGWE) - A/G 121.1
Spotting Info
Located on A6001 just north of village. The flying club is on an RAF airfield, therefore you need a valid access permit to visit. You can get them at the main gate, but all visitors are requested to telephone the club prior to arrival so the issuing officer at the main gate can be notified of your anticipated arrival. During office hours passes are issued by the Passes Office. At all other times passes will be issued by the Guardroom. I do not know if spotters are welcome. Continue east on the A6001 past the main entrance and on your left is gate guard WT612 Hunter.
Henlow Flying Club
Last reported January 2011. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
HULCOTE-BROOK FARM HELIPAD
Spotting Info
A fairly busy helicopter maintenance facility, there's usually something parked outside. Head southeast out of Salford on Salford road towards the M1 junction. Keep your eyes on the left for the strip at Hulcote Farm. Only one or two residents - they may be parked outside the hangar but it's rare. Shortly on the right is the helipad. There are a couple of locked gates providing vantage points but it's difficult as the helicopters park behind the buildings.
Last reported March 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
LUTON AIRPORT (EGGW/LTN) - TWR 132.55, APP 129.55
Spotting Info
Off M1 J10 and follow the signs. Being the busiest airport in the UK for bizjets, the authorities are very aware of our hobby, and are happy with us as long as we keep clear of restricted areas. Most can be logged from various places around the airport so there's no excuses.
Bizjets and Terminal Spotting Info
Approaching the airport along the A1081, you'll reach the Percival Way roundabout, take the third exit towards the terminal. Before you go under the bridge, turn right into the Mid Term Car Park. It's free parking for one hour, but if you go over the hour, you'll be charged the full one day rate of £17.50 so don't be late. However the hour is more than enough time to log the biz and the aircraft at the terminal. From the car park you may have views across to the south stands so log those, otherwise, cross the road and up the steps by the Holiday Inn. The apron here is 'The Pond' but you can also see across to the south stands, and keep an eye on the runway as movements can be logged from here. Follow the fence round to the right and keep looking through the gaps for the different angles. Once everything is logged head back to the left and if the Gulfstream hangar is open you may log one or two. Beyond the hangar is the 'NWC' (North West Corner) apron and Signature 'HoD' (Hangar of Doom due to the amount of biz crammed in there with little chance of reading them all off!). Again follow the fence towards the hangar, and also towards the security barrier but don't get too close to them and they aren't keen on you standing right next to the fencing either. You can also see some terminal stands from here. You can now walk back to the car and through the tunnel to the terminal if you wish. Walking through the drop off zone will give you views of these stands and of the Harrods ramp. Then back to the car - it's a fair bit of walking but as long as you keep an eye on the time you can do it in an hour. Alternatively, you can park at the Luton Airport Parkway Station car park for £6.20 a day, and for £2.50 return, the shuttle bus will take you to either the Holiday Inn or the terminal. Buses run from 0500-0000, every 10 minutes and takes less than that to drive between points.
Cargo & Harrods Spotting Info
Back to the Percival Way roundabout by the Holiday Inn and head up Percival Way, past all the bizjets. At the mini roundabout turn right, follow to the end and park sensibly on the yellow lines. You'll have to get out of the car to walk to the fence for views of cargo, Harrods, some terminal stands and the biz next to the HoD/NWC but you won't need to be there long. Some people stay there for a while but it's not great for runway movements and you may get moved on. Back to the mini roundabout and turn right. Keep looking right for aircraft between the gaps in the buildings. Just beyond the 90 degree right hand bend you can park up on the right for good views of cargo and any biz parked there, but again, you can't stay here long. Continue past the back of the Harrods hangar and there's a lay-by on the left before the car park entrance. Pull in here if there isn't any heavy machinery and you can walk through the car park right up to the Harrods ramp fence to read off any you may still be missing.
Movements Spotting Info
If you want to spend any length of time here, the best place is the south side crash gate, though it's not good for photos due to the fence. There are back roads that take you from cargo round the eastern perimeter but if you're not familiar with the area it's better to head back to the Percival Way/Holiday Inn roundabout and take the exit AFTER the A1081, which will take you down to the A505 roundabout. Straight over this one and the next, and left at the mini roundabout at the end. Straight over the next mini roundabout, and at the double roundabouts go straight over them both to head under the dual carriageway. This is the B653 and follows the railway line for some time. After a mile of so, turn left at the crossroads onto Chiltern Green Road and after a right hand bend take the next left. Follow this road straight and on a sharp right bend, fork left at the triangle junction. Follow to the end for the crash gate, but you'll most likely see lots of other vehicles there too, and not just from spotters. Just before the gate there are a few parking spaces if you nose on to the fence but the last two before the weeds are too high and are for 4x4 vehicles only, or you'll damage your car. If these are full you can park further down the lane away from the gate, but park as much on the verge as you can in case of emergencies. The runway is right in front of you and arrivals on 26 will touch down right in front of you too. You also have distant views of the biz aprons so keep an eye on them being towed out of hangars. It's still good for 08 movements but departures will probably be in the air by the time they reach you, so log them as they taxi out, and arrivals may turn off mid runway so don't get caught out.
Airside Spotting Info
Bar10 airside has good views. Usually a left side window seat will give you the best chance of logging as you taxi out. If you have to leave your car at the airport while you're away for a trip, you can find some good prices for parking at Luton airport if you go through the easyjet website.
Planespotting Hotels
The Holiday Inn overlooks The Pond apron and a couple of terminal stands so you can log from the rooms. After you make your reservation you can ring the hotel and request a north facing room, they are very accommodating and you can spot from the room with no problems. Room 541 is a good example. You can apply for a Holiday Inn Priority card and you get first choice of rooms. The cafe area also has windows and there's no problem spotting from there as long as you keep making purchases and don't make a lot of noise, no radios etc. In the unlikely event that you can't get a good enough room, there are windows halfway down the corridor, and at the ends and it's just a short walk outside. The local spotters have a good relationship with the hotel manager and staff, who understand our hobby, but recently some of the customers had complained to them that some spotters were using foul and abusive language. The fence around The Pond apron is the Holiday Inn car park and we are expected to act with respect at all times. If you hear or see any spotters, or anyone else for that matter, misbehaving in any way, please contact the hotel staff so they can deal with it.
The Ibis is down the hill from the Holiday Inn and therefore has no ramp views, but it's a 2 minute walk up the hill to get there. They have a balcony and if 08 is in use, it's a great place for a few drinks on a warm day.
Spotting Info
This is a private airfield and you must ask for permission before entering the active area. This is a friendly strip but permission must be requested and granted before entering. Head south out of Campton village and turn left at the T-junction onto Campton Road. The airfield is on the right shortly after the right hand bend. There is a hangar with the owner's house behind it. Visitors are not welcome on Sundays, please respect this.
Last reported November 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
OLD WARDEN AIRFIELD - TWR 123.05
Spotting Info
West of Biggleswade on B658. All based aircraft are stored in hangars so it is best to visit on one of their spectacular open days. Small fee to enter but access to hangars is free. The Po2 currently on rebuild in Hangar 1 is not easily seen, ask the guys in the hangar, they are friendly and if they have time they'll take you over to it.
Shuttleworth Collection
Last reported March 2008. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
Custom Search
RISELEY-SACKVILLE LODGE FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Brief directions from the website, please visit for more info. From the A6, head towards the village, signposted Riseley Road. Once in the village, go past the Fox & Hounds pub on your right and eventually you will come to a School on your right and a garage on your left. After the garage you will see a tree lined private road with a gatehouse. Turn left in here and follow the road along until you see a sign on the left 'Wilkinsons'. Turn here and follow the track along past Sackville Lodge and through the farmyard. After a short distance you will see the airfield on your left. Friendly, ask for access though you will need some form of aviation related ID. Various different buildings and barns house the residents.
Nene Valley Microlights
Last reported September 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
SANDY-LONGACRES FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
At the A1/B1042 roundabout, head west and take the first right on a left hand bend onto the A603. Ignore the first two right turns down tracks and take the third right. Then turn left for the car park. Ask for access but it will probably be denied unless you find a pilot to ask to escort you round instead.
Last reported June 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
or 
