Spotting opportunities at Newcastle Airport

[DavidW]

Hi All

I'm living in the Upper Hunter and will be making my way down to Newcastle for a bit of spotting one Friday soon.I seem to remember a good few years back watching military aircraft from the main road out there and they would virtually be coming in right over your head,so I guess that could be a starting point.Are there any other suitable viewing points around the airport? also is there good viewing from within the airport terminal itself?.My main interest lies in airlines.Any help you can give me I would be most grateful......Dave

[Brock Little]

I seem to remember a fence that runs next to the commercial aircraft apron that seems easily accessible...don't know if you can still get to it. It's next to the road to the commercial terminal.

Here's the view that you should get.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkn8uVc_cFg

[Tim Bowrey]

Hi David,

The best place is either FighterWorld museam's deck which is fantastic for when theyre using RWY30 also Medowie Road just along the fenceline. If theyre using RWY12 which is departing toward the beach, theres no other real option. FighterWorld is probably better as they are normally quite low departing past there.

Photo from Fighterworld:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Omega-Tanker/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-10-40/1688107/L/

Photo from Road:
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewqueued_b.php?id=3183675

Also, on Fridays they only fly from about 9am-12pm so you may only get limited movements. The Wedgetails usually fly once every 2 days or so, so you might get lucky.

I seem to remember a fence that runs next to the commercial aircraft apron that seems easily accessible...don't know if you can still get to it. It's next to the road to the commercial terminal.

Here's the view that you should get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkn8uVc_cFg

Brock thats just taken from the Hire Car Carpark. Parking is cheap if you want to park there and have a look around.


Hope that helps!

[Jeff N]

I used to fly in and out of Williamtown around 20-25 years ago (as a passenger), on small commercial aircraft to and from Sydney.

Back then they had around 3 or 4 x 12 seater type flights between the two places per day, as well as a couple of others from obscure locations.

How things have changed. I was on holidays at Port Stephens the past couple of weeks, and was amazed to see 737s and A320s every time I went past. I checked the internet for a list of flights and found that there are around 48 commercial aircraft movements per day!

[DavidW]

Thanks heaps for all of your inputs.Looking forward to heading down to check out the action.Thanks again from David