Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum
General Aviation Discussion => Spotting Locations => Topic started by: DavidThompson on September 20, 2009, 02:19:47 AM
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Hey , Has anyone been to N/Ards for spotting if so would the flood gates be a good place to spot ?? or do they not use that runway anymore ??? Somehelp needed Please --
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I havn't been myself,but i thought there was a cafe now with a seating area.
I imagine you could see the active runways from there aswell.There are plenty of pics on abpic.co.uk taken at 'Ards.
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Go to the Ulster Flying Club and there are seats outside there where you will have good access to the hangars and the main runway.
The Cafe at the other side beside the helicopter hangars i'm not sure if that is open or not due to the demise of HTH, but it is really only good for helicopters anyway
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Newtownards is good for spotting.
Parkat the Flood Gates Car Park on the Portaferry Road and walk along the path at the shoreline. You are so close there are warning signs when you are at the end of the runway!
You also will see a few pillboxes which you can enter.
The old battle HQ has been demolished but it is a super walk.
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The flood gates or seated area at Ards are both excellent for viewing the airfield.
Runway 34/16 is used fairly often as there can be a North/South wind-main runway is 22/04 like BHD.
The approach to either 34 over the seawall or 16 over the Police station (avoiding the radio mast ;) ) is pretty tricky and the runway looks even shorter from the air.
If it`s very windy you will have zero flying at Ards,as it is light aircraft and Heli`s only.