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Sydney Airport: Difference between revisions
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{{infobox|fullname=Sydney<br />Kingsford Smith International Airport| | {{infobox|fullname=Sydney<br />Kingsford Smith International Airport| | ||
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The 16L Mound is a small hill located directly under the 16L approach. The view from this spot is similar to Qantas Drive in that aircraft pass dizzyingly low overhead, however the 16L Mound is less exciting than Qantas Drive because the aircraft involved are much smaller (16L is normally only used for A330-size aircraft or smaller). Still, the 16L Mound offers the best view of 16L/34R operations, and it is the place to come to see the bulk of 'smaller' movements. | The 16L Mound is a small hill located directly under the 16L approach. The view from this spot is similar to Qantas Drive in that aircraft pass dizzyingly low overhead, however the 16L Mound is less exciting than Qantas Drive because the aircraft involved are much smaller (16L is normally only used for A330-size aircraft or smaller). Still, the 16L Mound offers the best view of 16L/34R operations, and it is the place to come to see the bulk of 'smaller' movements. | ||
To get to the 16L Mound from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L | To get to the 16L Mound from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L threshold) and then walk up onto the grass hill. This is the 16L Mound. Make sure you park away from the 16L threshold, as airport security can be picky as to where you park. | ||
You can photograph from directly under the 16L approach, or from west of it to get a side view of the approaches. Also to the west of the approach path, there is an unobstructed view over the runway (16L/34R) which allows you to photograph 16L touchdowns, 34R touchdowns a bit further away, 16L and 34R departures, and taxiway movements. Photography is best in the afternoon. Approximate required lens focal length is 18mm or thereabouts for photographing aircraft overhead, and about 70 to 400mm for all other shots. | You can photograph from directly under the 16L approach, or from west of it to get a side view of the approaches. Also to the west of the approach path, there is an unobstructed view over the runway (16L/34R) which allows you to photograph 16L touchdowns, 34R touchdowns a bit further away, 16L and 34R departures, and taxiway movements. Photography is best in the afternoon. Approximate required lens focal length is 18mm or thereabouts for photographing aircraft overhead, and about 70 to 400mm for all other shots. | ||
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===The Beach=== | ===The Beach=== | ||
The Beach is a favourite spot for both photography and viewing. The Southern end of 16R/34L is visible, with 16R and 34L rotations often | The Beach is a favourite spot for both photography and viewing. The Southern end of 16R/34L is visible, with 16R and 34L rotations often occurring in front of either Sydney ATC Tower or the city skyline. 34L landings can also be observed in the distance, as well as 16L arrivals behind the tower. Aircraft taxiing along taxiway Alpha are always crowd-pleasers, with wingtips passing just meters from the fenceline - don't forget to wave to the pilots! Other taxi movements can been seen across the runway, with smaller aircraft frequently taxiing to or from 16L/34R. The gates to the carpark at The Beach are locked at around 7 or 8PM. | ||
To get to The Beach travelling west on General Holmes Drive (from the east side of the airport), continue along until you pass through the tunnel under 16R/34L. Exiting the tunnel, stay in the lane in which you can either go left (for the M5) or straight (for General Holmes Drive). Go straight, and immediately after the M5 entrances branches off to the left there is a small left turn lane which leads into an Airservices Australia facility. Turn left into there, then turn right around the buildings in front of you, then left (continuing around the buildings) and then left again. There should be a carpark straight ahead of you, in which you park. For carpark spotting (see photography info below), stay put. Otherwise, head towards the bushes at the far end of the carpark and follow the fenceline there until you reach a cleared area and another fence preventing further forward progress - this is The Beach fenceline area. To get to The Beach travelling east on General Holmes Drive, look for a small turnoff to your left after passing over the Endeavour Bridge. This leads to the Airservices Australia area, at which point you can skirt around the buildings to the carpark following the directions outlined above. There is no way to get to The Beach going east on the M5, so you need to pass through the tunnel under the runway, turn around, and following the directions for travelling west on General Holmes Drive. | To get to The Beach travelling west on General Holmes Drive (from the east side of the airport), continue along until you pass through the tunnel under 16R/34L. Exiting the tunnel, stay in the lane in which you can either go left (for the M5) or straight (for General Holmes Drive). Go straight, and immediately after the M5 entrances branches off to the left there is a small left turn lane which leads into an Airservices Australia facility. Turn left into there, then turn right around the buildings in front of you, then left (continuing around the buildings) and then left again. There should be a carpark straight ahead of you, in which you park. For carpark spotting (see photography info below), stay put. Otherwise, head towards the bushes at the far end of the carpark and follow the fenceline there until you reach a cleared area and another fence preventing further forward progress - this is The Beach fenceline area. To get to The Beach travelling east on General Holmes Drive, look for a small turnoff to your left after passing over the Endeavour Bridge. This leads to the Airservices Australia area, at which point you can skirt around the buildings to the carpark following the directions outlined above. There is no way to get to The Beach going east on the M5, so you need to pass through the tunnel under the runway, turn around, and following the directions for travelling west on General Holmes Drive. | ||
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The Radar Field contains a large mound of gravelly construction material which gives you an excellent, elevated view of 16R/34L and the taxiways on either side (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie). The visible action is similar to that which can be seen from Shep's Hill, however the Radar Field affords an added view of 34L touchdowns which is relatively unique compared to all of the other spots. Note that, because the mound at the Radar Field is on a construction site, access may be limited at times - weekends are your best bet. Also, you may find that the size of the mound changes from one visit to the next, as the material that it is made up of is used for the construction. | The Radar Field contains a large mound of gravelly construction material which gives you an excellent, elevated view of 16R/34L and the taxiways on either side (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie). The visible action is similar to that which can be seen from Shep's Hill, however the Radar Field affords an added view of 34L touchdowns which is relatively unique compared to all of the other spots. Note that, because the mound at the Radar Field is on a construction site, access may be limited at times - weekends are your best bet. Also, you may find that the size of the mound changes from one visit to the next, as the material that it is made up of is used for the construction. | ||
To get to the Radar Field from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L | To get to the Radar Field from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L threshold) and then walk up onto the grass hill (the 16L Mound - see above) and straight towards the 16R/34L fenceline across a somewhat big field (at which point you'll see the large mound that you stand on). Make sure you park away from the 16L threshold, as airport security can be picky as to where you park. | ||
The main photographic attraction of the Radar Field is the view it gives you of 34L touchdowns and late 16R rotations and departures. You also have a similar view of side-ons as at Shep's Hill, as well as taxiway movements. Lighting is best for photography in the morning. The approximate required focal length is about 300 to 400mm for 34L touchdowns, and about 50 to 400mm for most other shots. | The main photographic attraction of the Radar Field is the view it gives you of 34L touchdowns and late 16R rotations and departures. You also have a similar view of side-ons as at Shep's Hill, as well as taxiway movements. Lighting is best for photography in the morning. The approximate required focal length is about 300 to 400mm for 34L touchdowns, and about 50 to 400mm for most other shots. | ||