Aircraft Spotting at Lancashire's Airfields and Airports
Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Lancashire. 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
XM173 Lightning and XT469 Wessex are in Newton with Scales on the A583, stored in the Submarine Manufacturing & Products yard, behind the Texaco garage. You need to go down the left hand side of the garage to see it but if it's locked you can see both from the car park. Last reported March 2010
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BLACKPOOL AIRPORT - TWR 118.4, APP 119.95
Spotting Info
To the south of Blackpool city and well signposted.
1) Northside hangar row - Enter the main airport entrance and follow the one-way road past the hotel and car park. When the road bends right, head straight on signed Westair and Long Stay car park, into the entrance for the long stay car park. At the barrier, push the lit button and take a ticket. Keep the ticket to exit, staying in the car park is free. The furthest hangar, i.e. right by Morrison's is Heli 2000/Brian Seedle Helicopters - access doubtful, best to ring beforehand but if you can't, ask just in case. Next door is Goldstar/Helivation, access will probably be denied. Westair - ask for access at reception just inside hangar if it's a weekday, at weekends ask in the hangar to the Club, which is on left of hangar. They are friendly. There are then 3 more hangars, the first two I don't think you can get access at any of these but the third is Helicentre and they are friendly. Again, ask for access.
2) Blackpool Air Centre - From the hangar row above, drive past the terminal and instead of turning right at the end to exit the airport, turn left. Park up on the left at Blackpool Air Centre car park. Access is allowed for a donation of £3. If no one is at the reception desk when you walk in, either ring the bell or head up the stairs, you'll usually find the owner up there. Once paid you are free to walk round the hangar logging. Ask them if you can look in Hangar 42 as well but its up to them if they go and unlock it for you. Once back at the car you can follow the fence line back towards the terminal logging any parked outside this hangar and on the other aprons that you couldn't identify elsewhere.
3) ANT - Turn left out of the Blackpool Air Centre car park above and head through the barrier. Park up at ANT and ask for access. They are a bit wary as it means going airside but generally no problem. Ask in clubhouse.
You can pre-arrange access with Air Navigation, Fight Acadamy and Westair. They are all very friendly and allow full access to their hangars so it's well worth it.
Off-Airport Spotting Info
Off the airport but right alongside the northeastern perimeter fence is Morrison's supermarket. Exit the airport and turn right. Turn right again at the lights, then right at the mini roundabout. Head towards Morrisons building and then round to the right, keeping the supermarket on your left. You'll see the airport in front of you. Park up and follow the fence line. It gives you views across the aprons to log those you can't see anywhere else and see inside a hangar or two if they're open. Then head back to the main roundabout and turn right to carry on through the industrial estate. The road bends round to the left and after it straightens out, turn right and follow to the end. This is the final approach for runway 25 so is excellent for photos and if you look to the right you may see some aircraft outside this hangar, and into it if it's open.
Blackpool Spotters Email Group
For airport parking visit
Last reported January 2011. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CAPERNWRAY DIVING CENTRE STORED
Spotting Info
Head north out of Over Kellett village on Capernwray Road and it's on the right and signposted. Submerged at Capernwray Diving Centre, and therefore not visible from the edge or from flying over it, are G-BFWL C150, G-BVOV Avro 748 fuselage, WP503 Dragonfly and XS491 Wessex. If you want to see them, you're going to have to be a registered diver with them, and you're going to have to get wet! Their site shows where the two helicopters are located, and whilst it probably hasn't been updated yet to include the 748, it makes no mention of the C150 so maybe this has gone somewhere else?
Last reported March 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CHIPPING AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
West of Chipping village, heading south along Fish House Lane turn right onto Fiddler's Lane and the airfield is on the left. Very friendly and very helpful, ask for access and they'll show you round.
Bowland Forest Gliding Club
Last reported April 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
COCKERHAM-BANK END FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Home of Black Knight Parachute Centre. Head north out of town on A588 towards Lancaster and turn left after no more than a mile just after the Texaco petrol station, down Hillam Lane. Follow the road to the end, signed Drop Zone. Ask for access, there is an aircraft stored in the hangar which you will need to be escorted to in order to see it. They are happy to do this, as long as they aren't too busy.
Last reported April 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
COCKERHAM-ROSSALLFIELD AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
From Cockerham, head west on A588 and take second turn on left Crimbles Lane (first leads to houses) - note there is an aircraft sign on the corner of Crimbles Lane. Follow this road and take first right signed Gulf Lane. Continue round several sharp bends and on a sharp right bend take the left fork (straight ahead) along a stone track. Follow around the right side of the house and farm buildings to the car park. Permission given in portacabin, though do not post your logs on the internet or in publications - the owner specifically requests this. Three hangars and check the two sheds behind the car park and portacabin near the farmhouse for a couple more.
The Bay Flying Club
Last reported April 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CROFT-OVEN BANK FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Come off the M6 at J22 and head north on A579 towards Lowton. The strip is just up on the right, opposite a track on the left, Barrow Lane. One hangar housing the residents. Ask for access, though they are cautious.
Last reported August 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
HOGHTON-HIGHER BARN FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Exit M6 at J31, head east on A59 towards Blackburn and get in right hand lane for the first right turn in under half a mile. Follow the road signed Roach Bridge under the opposite lane of the duel carriageway, through the crossroads onto Roach Road and through Roach Bridge. On other side of the village the road goes uphill, when near the top the farm is down a track on the right. Ask in the farmhouse for permission, though reports have stated access is no longer possible here due to thefts.
Last reported September 2009. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
PILLING-BROOK FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Heading south through Pilling village on A588, turn left down Bradshaw Lane on sharp right bend signed to Great Eccleston. After around a quarter of a mile turn right signed to Hambledon. Head over the river and round several sharp bends. After 1-2 miles on a long straight stretch of road, go past right turning (Union Lane) for Hambledon and take next right for strip. Very friendly, ask for access to the hangars.
Last reported April 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
St. MICHAEL'S ON WYRE-MYRESCOUGH LODGE AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Head north out of Barton on A6 and just before next village of Billsborrow, take left turn signed to Myresclough agricultural college. Go over bridge, past college entrance until you get to two small bridges partially overgrown with vegetation so don't miss them! Microlight sign on left before the second bridge - turn left here, go down the stone track, follow all the way round, park near the caravans and ask for permission from clubhouse. They are friendly but you must get permission, DO NOT go wandering around on the grass. Best to visit when there's a lot of flying as there are many individual hangars housing the residents with no gaps to peer through if locked up.
Last reported April 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
WARTON AIRPORT - TWR 130.8, APP 124.45
Spotting Info
Alongside A584 in Warton town. Heading west out of town with the airport on your left, take the third left turn, Bank Lane, which runs down the western edge of airfield. On the left shortly after a left bend is the nose of Canberra WT520 at 967 Squadron ATC. You can only see over the fence at the apron but the aircraft may be nose/tail on. For views of landings/take-offs on 26, try Naze Lane East which is in Freckleton and signposted. It takes you under the approach of 26 and you eventually get to Flight sheds and southern entrance/gate house. On your way round you'll see a mound. It's the best place for photographs providing you have a tall enough ladder to get above the fence, and you'll often find photographers already there.
Last reported November 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
