Brize Norton (RAF)

1Runway 26

The rather busy road past the threshold of runway 26 offers good possibilities for landing shots. Problem is to get rid of your car! Locals park their car while staying clear of the two exits of the crash gate. When this is full, you can drive a bit further to the south, park your car out of everybody's way and walk back. Nowadays, a wooden fence is placed behind the normal fence, restricting the view onto the airport.Standing on the small grass area between the road and the shrubberies will give you a elevated view onto the aprons. During landings the traffic is stopped.

2Viscount Court

Continuing on foot following the fence around the corner will offer a view on part of the ramps.

3Lower Haddon Farm

After the small bridge, take the next right with your car and drive on until the path ends as it is private property ahead, and continue on foot on the bridle way. Some fire training airframes used to be visible here. The place is vacated now. It offers some distant views.

4A4095

If you take the A4095 road and head east with the airfield in your back you will gradually gain height. There are some parking spots available, the ideal spot being outside an old farm storage building but this tends to be occupied by lorries/vans at lunchtimes during the week. The larger aircraft can be photographed from a distance while approaching. Bring a long lens!

5Burford Road

To take in some serials of the based Hercules fleet, follow the signposts to Black Bourton, make a left and keep following the signs to Black Bourton village. Take this road, Burford Road, up until the crash gate. You will now have a first view at the Hercules ramps. There are some large iron boxes here blocking the entrance to the industrial complex and these gice you the possibility to photograph aircraft on the ramps. This spot is also the starting point for a short walk, refer spot 6.

6Thames Water

From the aforementioned crash gate you can walk into a small road. Follow this road and you will be able to read off some of the VC-10s parked in this area. You have to try out a bit and walk on to get them all.

7Runway 08

When driving into Carterton from the west, take the first right, Corbett Road. From this road, take the right at the end which is a dead-end street called The Crescent. Leave your car and walk to the threshold of runway 8. You can also reach this spot by walking all along the perimeter fence from spot 6. Obviously, this works the other way around as well. By car you will have to follow the road from Black Bourton to Alvescot and Carterton.

8Farmland

One of the good number spots requires entering a patch of farmland. Follow the sand track behind the gate and then walk along the edge of the pasture until you reach the fence of the air base. The undergrowth will in time obscure your view, but from this spot you will be able to read off aircraft that are parked too deep to read from spot 1 and 2.

9Carterton Road

The northeast side in Carterton is useful for numbers too. From spot 1, drive into Brize Norton and take a left onto Carterton Road. When you see the airport at your left, after leaving the small town, there is a curved RAF road on your right. Park your car here to see the aircraft on the aprons here. Cross the street and walk along the fence and prickly bushesto have some more views.