Planespotting at Manchester Ringway Airport (MAN), UK, 3 january 2008 - Manchester - TravBuddy

Thanks to a friend, who is working as a manager at VLM Airlines, we had the opportunity to fly for only €50 to Manchester Ringway Airport, the European walhalla for planespotters. The surrounding area is facilitated with a real planespotters park, next to the runway. Over ther you can make some pictures next to one of the British Airways Concordes. For lovers of civil planes, this is the place to be. Apart from an Airbus A380 and A340, we captured almost every common civil jet. (Airbus A318-319-320-321-330; Boeing 737-747-757-767-777; Embraer ERJ 135/140-170/175-190/195; several De Havilland Dash; Fokker 50-70-100; ...) We took the trip in a blue Fokker 50 (see on the 2nd picture)...

Thanks to a friend I obtained some cheap tickets for a day "bird spotting" at Manchester airport (Ringway). I highly recommend such a trip as an alternative intermezzo instead of a day at the beach or something.

Near the runway, at about 30 minutes of walking from the airport (otherwise there are some busses, ask for it) there is a special "aviation park" where spotters of around the world stick together. In the neighbourhood there are some pubs, but in the park itself you'll find a snackbar and a souvenir store. The ideal gift for somebody at home :-)

After a day of spotting in the cold, it's perfect possible to take an easy seat between pier 3 and 2, where a large window offers the greatest views over the airport. Food in the airport and England are tasty (fish n chips) but not too healthy I suppose.

Go and watch that airliners!