Europe spotting and aviation shops.

[Tony G]

My partner and myself will spend a few weeks in europe in November/December. This is one of the few times i will encourage my partner to shop while I try and get to the airports and take a few photos.

I know that Frankfurt Main is spotter friendly and has a aviation shop next to a viewing platform which has some great aviation goodies. I also want to do the Airbus factory tour. I emailed them to see if it is possible ( still waiting for a reply). Visiting the a Herpa wings shop is another plan.

Does anyone know of any good spotting locations or aviation shops to see while in europe. Or even any museums.

Any posts will be much appreciated.

[Michael Arentz]

I'm heading to Germany in late November as well, I don't have much time to spare but I'm going to try make an effort to get to Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim, it's just outside Heidelberg which is about an hour by train from Frankfurt. The reason I am keen to get there is that they have a Concorde and a TU-144 (Concordski) on display, both are open for walkthrough. Don't know too much about what else is displayed there though.

See: http://en.sinsheim.technik-museum.de/highlights-auto-technik-museum-sinsheim

[Tony G]

I was there in 2003 Micheal. It is well worth the visit. You can get inside the TU-144 however the flight deck is perpexed off. there are some old types of eastern built aircraft there, racing cars, back to the future car any more more. It is a huge museum. I have a book I bought from there with many photos of their displays.

[Blake Riley]

Amsterdam is a must i was there in july, one of the most amazing places to go spotting at and the observation deck at amsterdam is huge
There is also a Aviation shop with the nose section of a KLM 737 that u can go inside.

Also Manchester is one of the best go on the Concorde tour and the DC-10 flightdeck i did as well and there aviation shop is one of the best, Its also a great place to go spotting

[Tony G]

Thanks for the info Blake. Manchester sounds good. I will try and get there

Airbus got back to me and I'm booked in for the factory tour, should be cool. It is 14euro and goes for 90mins.