please empty your brain below
Fondly remember summer evenings sitting outside the Green Man pub in Hatton - is that the one closest to Heathrow? - in the mid-1960s, enjoying the thrill of landing aircraft. The noise seemed to tear the sky apart. Pollution of all kinds, but a real spectacle in the days before air travel for the masses.

Waterhouse | 03.02.20 - 7:09 a.m. | #

This stirred a half-forgotten memory from the late '60s when my dad - with whom I did very little outside of home - would suddenly say on a Sunday afternoon "I'm going for a drive. You coming?" After what seemed a long time, we often ended up atop one of the terminal buildings at Heathrow watching distant planes arriving and leaving. What fascinated me most were the people with radios listening to the crackly plane/tower exchanges. At the time this seemed like a glimpse into a magic future.

Frank F | 03.02.20 - 7:53 a.m. | #

On leaving the Fleet Air Arm, my father got a job flying for Loganair in Glasgow. He drew the flight paths on a street map before house-hunting, to ensure we would not have aircraft overhead.

Now in SW London, I can see con-trails out of the window as I type this. Luckily, Kingston rarely has planes directly above.

RosemaryT | 03.02.20 - 7:58 a.m. | #

I often cycle across that small field on my way to Hatton Cross tube.
I do not stop for the planes.

John | 03.02.20 - 8:48 a.m. | #

I wasn't wondering /whether/ most spotters are male, but /why/. Answer came there none.

Malcolm | 03.02.20 - 9:13 a.m. | #

In the seventies when I was at college in Reading if we knew someone with a car we would go to the airport car park roofs to watch the planes.
Now I live underneath a flight path further away. At night we can see them circling in a holding pattern.

Cornish Monkey | 03.02.20 - 9:30 a.m. | #

Hope the tube replacement bus was running ok.

ap | 03.02.20 - 9:35 a.m. | #

This is certainly hallowed ground amongst those with a penchant for the aeroplane, a world class spotting patch, perhaps as famous as the park next to a cult burger joint outside Los Angeles International.

With regard to the good burghers of Myrtle Avenue, I admire their patience but my unreserved pity goes to the residents of Heathrow Close (and vicinity) with none of the view, all of the noise and to add insult to injury an eponymous punning TfL bus stop.

Michael T | 03.02.20 - 9:38 a.m. | #

A suggested reason why more males than females are engrossed with hobbies which involve collecting, listing, systematising (lists of planes, trains, cars, birds, birds eggs, butterflies, stamps, vinyl or CDs, sports statistics, etc) can be found in the work of Simon Baron-Cohen on autism and the differences between male and female brains.

Not that his work is entirely accepted. Perhaps it is social or cultural rather than neurological.

Andrew | 03.02.20 - 10:50 a.m. | #

My mum’s cousin used to live in the big house with all the extensions, overlooking the field and the runways.

I remember as a child in the late 70s and early 80s, sitting at the upstairs landing window watching the aircraft. Back then, I lived only a mile away, in flats near the Jolly Waggoner pub but although the roar of engines was equal there, viewing was much better in Myrtle Avenue!

One particular day, I was in the field, just where you were. I was walking mum’s cousin’s dog when it started pulling on its lead, as if dragging me towards the A30 main road. A minute later, Concorde was at almost touching distance above our heads, merely metres from landing across the road. A sight and sound I’ll never forget!

Nowadays, when I’m in the area watching football at the other end of Myrtle Avenue, it’s a regular occurrence to watch players and visitors glance skyward when certain aircraft come in to land. Our match day photographer often frames an action photo with an A380 or similar, casually swanning past!

Rob Healy | Homepage | 03.02.20 - 11:12 a.m. | #

I've fond memories of my late father pulling up a dead end road just outside of YYZ to watch the jets (and occasional prop, in those days) come in to land. It was near to the old AVRO factory, which had some interesting things on plinths outside.

In truth, I was bored out of my mind. But it was time spent and I didn't begrudge it. (My parents split when I was 4) I was more enthused by the streetcar museum.

Chz | 03.02.20 - 11:21 a.m. | #

Slightly disappointed you referred to them as spotters and not Men Who Like Planes!

Dave | 03.02.20 - 11:44 a.m. | #

The number 1 chosen activity for the vast majority of females is talking. Thus, if you can't talk, you read a book which is the next best thing.

B | 03.02.20 - 11:44 a.m. | #

I doubt that anyone would build houses unintentionally.

kev | 03.02.20 - 11:49 a.m. | #

I’m guessing Myrtle Avenue has some of the cheapest rents in London. Also triple glazing is all very well, but doesn't solve the problem of having the window open at night in the summer to keep the heat down.

I remember the viewing platform at Heathrow in the years before it was closed down.

Adrian | 03.02.20 - 2:16 p.m. | #

There's something reassuring in watching the planes coming in to land at Heathrow on a dark cold morning from the warmth of your kitchen. At least you know life is going on as normal in the skies over Teddington in West London

Tones | 03.02.20 - 3:39 p.m. | #

I lived a bit further out in Hounslow during my student/early career days and loved looking out the window to see where all the planes had (presumably) come from.
I still crane my neck during that section of the M25 - as a passenger, I hasten to add.

Cornish Cockney | 03.02.20 - 4:18 p.m. | #

I can remember taking the young DG to the viewing areas on top of the Heathrow buldings to watch the planes go by.

DGD | 03.02.20 - 4:23 p.m. | #

Wow, I have the honour of being papped by DG - I was there and can see myself in one of your pictures! If I’d known I was standing not 10m away I would have come over to say hello :)

Myrtle Avenue is a great place for us Men Who Like Planes. There is an official viewing platform over on the northern side of the airport by the old Heathrow visitors centre, but it’s not great for photography. Still seems to attract a good crowd whenever I’m there.

To bring this back on theme, as a Man Who Likes Buses too one of the reasons I went out to Heathrow on Saturday was to try the novelty of the express coach rail replacement service from Hammersmith. One of the few times I think a rail replacement was quicker than the train it replaced!

James | 03.02.20 - 7:43 p.m. | #

Hereabouts is the most exciting (or awful depending on your point of view) section of the London Loop. A one mile trudge down one side of the A30 and back on the other side with the roar of jets to keep you company. I found it rather scary with them seemingly just a few feet above my head. One part of the loop I probably won't be repeating...

davews | 03.02.20 - 9:26 p.m. | #

davews - most definitely one of my favourites, but not so for the group I was walking with!

Cornish Cockney | 04.02.20 - 11:31 a.m. | #

When taking off to the East some gather in Blenheim Park, Feltham.

John | 07.02.20 - 1:20 p.m. | #

Someone's doing a YouTube live stream from there today - so you can stay warm and dry while watching large aircraft make somewhat hairy landings (and occasional go-arounds).

martin | 09.02.20 - 2:34 p.m. | #

after a decade and a half living beneath the 27L approach, thankfully a few miles east, I finally visited Mirtle Avenue last February… Seemingly the day before DG! Somehow I missed his post though.

Robert | 04.01.21 - 5:25 p.m. | #











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