Guide to Norwich Airport

This Spot corresponds to Point A on the map. You can easily park here for as long as you want. The 09 approach path is partly obscured by trees although some shots can be taken by standing on the low grass bank next to the allotment fence. However a better idea is to go through the obvious gap in the bushes which will put you on a footpath running along the southern edge of a large field. The approach lights are clearly visible and you have a clear view of the entire 09 approach. Good shots can be had from anywhere along this path but there is little point in walking more than about 30 meters from the lay-by. I reckon you need a 200mm lens to get a good shot of airliners on short finals and a 300mm would give a bit more flexibility. If you only have a small lens you can walk along the eastern edge of the field (parallel to the A140) towards the approach lights, this is also a good idea if you want to get shots of light aircraft. This is not a footpath so you need to be careful not to damage any standing crops. This said people often walk dogs along the edge of the field. Be warned that both field boundaries can be muddy. If the sun has moved so far round that you need to be North of the approach path you can walk right up the edge of the field through the approach lights to a point near the entrance to the Anglian Windows sports ground.

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Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N52° 40' 23" (N52° 40.389')
Longitude: E1° 15' 53" (E1° 15.888')

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Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N52° 40' 29" (N52° 40.48')
Longitude: E1° 15' 57" (E1° 15.95')

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Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N52° 40' 55" (N52° 40.915')
Longitude: E1° 15' 44" (E1° 15.736')

This Spot covers Points D and E on the map and is probably the best area for viewing and photigraphy at Norwich. Runway 27 is the more commonly used runway both because of prevailing wind direction but also because it has an ILS approach. (09 is NDB / DME).

From this area you have a totally clear view of the 27 approach and good shots should be no problem with a 200 mm lens. Take-off / climb out shots are also possible when runway 09 is in use but a 300mm or, preferably, a 400mm lens will be needed

Smaller Aircraft (up to F70 size) taxing out to 27 for take off come up a taxiway towards point D and head on shots are possible although a fairly long lens is needed and the (brief) use of steps to get the barbed wire out of the shot may be desirable. This said if you are going to use steps be very careful not to make it look like you are trying to climb over the fence. In any case a better bet is to get aircraft just as they are about to enter the runway. To do this all you need to do is put your camera lens through the space in the crash gate where the padlock is. It is plenty big enough even for a 400mm lens. The only problem is if there is more than one person trying the same trick at the same time ! This also works for large aircraft (757’s etc) that backtrack the runway and then turn round although heat haze can be a problem in the summer. If you want to get shots of the aircraft, especially airliners, a bit further out on the approach you can walk along the track across the road from the entrance to the cemetery. (Also interesting if you are a bird watcher – you sometimes see Little Owls in the trees next the track.

If lighting or parking are a problem at point D you can carry on for a short distance and find several good size lay-bys both sides of the approach path (point E) on the map. These provide opportunities for more head on approach shots and are also better for shooting GA subjects as you are closer to the aircraft. For airliners a 100 mm lens will be sufficient but for full frame GA shots a 300mm lens is ideal. You can also park at point E and easily walk back to point D at the crash gate. Recently the vegetation has been cut back next to several of the lay-bys at point E and you can stand on the bank next the fence to get runway / taxiway shots.


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Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N52° 40' 24" (N52° 40.393')
Longitude: E1° 17' 57" (E1° 17.943')

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Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)

Latitude: N52° 40' 34" (N52° 40.56')
Longitude: E1° 18' 1" (E1° 18.012')

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