Plane Spotting / Viewing Guides at Manston & Biggin Hill Airports, Lydd & Headcorn Airfields, and other airports & airfields in Kent

Aircraft Spotting at Kent's Airfields and Airports

Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Kent. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more

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PRESERVED & STORED AIRCRAFT IN KENT - their locations are marked in the Spotting in the UK download

The replicas BAPC-291 Hurricane and BAPC-299 Spitfire are at the National Battle of Britain Memorial in Capel le Ferne. The memorial is accessible all year round and the aircraft are easily visible. Last reported April 2012

G-BADL PA34 fuselage is used as a horse jump at Hop Farm Family Park, Beltring and can be seen from the road

WG751 WS51 Dragonfly marked "GJ710" is preserved at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. It's easily seen and photographed though it's also visible from the other side of the River Medway. Last reported September 2012
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BADGER'S MOUNT STORED

Spotting Info
Head south out of Badger's Mount village on the A224, head straight over the roundabout and past the garden centre on the left. Ignoring the immediate right after the garden centre, the next right is the helicopter yard. Visible from the road are Wessexs XR502, XV722 and XV731. There are others stored here, those previously noted have included XX414 Gazelle and 9G-ADI Bo105, both of which were in the end shed used by the garage - if these aren't here any more then there could well be others instead. There was also a WG30 stored here, though to be VT-EKK with the boom of VT-EKG attached, and whilst this may have been roaded out, if it's still in situ, there is an external plate on the port side behind the cockpit door to confirm either way. Best to arrange a visit in advance though a polite request may get you shown round, they are friendly here but you must ask as it's the only way you'll see everything here.
Last reported February 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT (EKGB/BQH) - TWR 134.8, APP 129.4

Spotting Info
Just north of Biggin Hill town alongside the A233 and well signposted. No views at the passenger terminal so don't bother, follow the signs to the business park.

As you enter the park the immediate left leads to a car park. Most of the light aircraft here can be logged and reasonable views of some parked by the terminal but don't hang around here with your vehicle. You're welcome to park up elsewhere and walk back to log from the fence but if you stay here with your vehicle you could be moved on.

Further into the business park there is a security barrier blocking any access to the rest of the ramps and flying clubs. The security barrier is automatic and raises when you drive up to it, but signs clearly state that it is Private and for Business Only - not very welcoming to someone wanting to join a flying club. I don't know what their view is if you drive through and enquire about the flying clubs. Any spotters driving through the barrier and seen by the security patrols are immediately removed. Take the first left after the speed bump and go to the end where there is a car park. Pulling round to the right lets you check out what's near Jet Aviation and when you approach the car park you'll see some crash gates at the end. Don't block these when you park, you'll still be able to see across to the Tower apron. Don't get out of your car or stay here for any length of time otherwise you will get a visit from security.

You can park in the business park before the first barrier and then walk out of the park and turn right. Following the road down towards the F1 hangar will give you views across the field and on a nice day is a pleasant place to spend a few hours hassle free.

Pole mounted as gate guards of the RAF Memorial Chapel on the A233 between the passenger terminal entrance and the business park are replicas K9998 Spitfire and P2921 Hurricane.
Biggin Hill Airport Movements, Biggin Hill Email Group
Last reported November 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

BRENZETT AERONAUTICAL MUSEUM

Spotting Info
From the A259/A2070/B2080 roundabout just south of Brenzett village, head north on the A2070 towards Ashford. Turn right almost immediately onto Ivychurch Road and the Brenzett Aeronautical Museum is shortly on the left. From outside you can see WH657 Canberra with clipped wings and XK625 Vampire but the museum also contains the cockpits of G-AMSM DC3 and V7350 Hurricane, as well as other displays and artefacts, so it's worth entering, especially for just £3. Open weekends and Bank Holidays from April-October 1100-1730.
Last reported September 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

CHALLOCK AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head west out of Challock village on the A252 and after just over a mile turn left. It's signposted to the gliding club, just follow the road and the airfield's on your right. Friendly, ask for access.
Last reported April 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

DENTON-CLIPGATE FARM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head south on the A260 from the A2. Go past the golf course and just before you reach Denton village, turn right down Agester Lane signposted for Lodge Lees. Take the second right and after the sharp right bend the airfield is on the left. Friendly, ask for access.
Last reported April 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

DOVER-WALDERSHARE PARK AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
A glider site, home of the Channel Gliding Club with fixed wing based as well. Head east out of Eythorne and turn right just before you get to A256. Turn right again and the strip is on the left.
Channel Gliding Club
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FARTHING CORNER-STONEACRE FARM AIRFIELD (EGMF)

Spotting Info
Come off the M2 at J4 and head north on the A278. At the next roundabout turn right and right again at the mini roundabout onto Wigmore Road. Straight over the next mini roundabout and at the double mini roundabout junction, turn right at the first mini roundabout to go under the A278 and on to Maidstone Road. Head back over the M2 and take the first left onto Kemsley Street Road. The road winds around a bit, after a sharp left bend the road is then sheltered by trees. Follow the road round to the right and then fork right onto a track for the strip. Friendly, ask for access.
Last reported September 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

HAWKINGE-KENT BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUM

Spotting Info
Leave the A20 and head north towards Hawkinge on the A260. Ignoring the roundabouts you traverse as you exit the A20, turn left at the second roundabout and head straight over (2nd exit) the next roundabout. The museum is up on the left after several residential roads but it's well signposted from the A260. Entrance is £5, open April-October 1000-1600 but during the summer months it's open until 1700. Due to thefts and attempted thefts in the past, no cameras, video recorders or any other types of recording equipment, including notebooks, are allowed in the museum. Bear this in mind when you're visiting, whether to try and sneak a pad in in your pocket and try writing like that or trust your memory. Lots of replicas in the various buildings as well as a few authentic aircraft and many relics from many crashed aircraft. The 3 Hurricane replicas outside are BAPC-272, BAPC-273 and BAPC-278.
Kent Battle of Britain Museum
Last reported September 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

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HEADCORN AIRFIELD (EGKH) - TWR 122.0

Spotting Info
Head south down A274, once through the village, turn left at first turning (crossroads). Take the first left for parking. Practically all aircraft, hangared or not, can be seen. Ask at Tiger Club for access to hangar, if ok you'll be escorted round. If you visit on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, the Air Warfare Museum will give an escorted tour of the hangar residents for a donation of £2 (or more). Outside at the museum are 63938/11-EZ F-100F and 84/8-NF Mystere with the cockpit section of Lightning ZF587 behind some crates. G-AZVJ PA34 and G-BAKD PA34 are both stored on the dump beyond the main hangar. There are a few aircraft stored at the rear of the hangar in various states of repair, plus a few vintage gems and exhibits that the museum have no room for yet. They want to expand and hence the donation, with the approval of the airfields owner. G-ASKP DH82 is on rebuild in the portacabin next to the viewing area and is visible through the windows.
Tiger Club
Last reported March 2013. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

LADDINGFORD-FOWLE HALL FARM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Heading south through Laddingford village, turn right down Darman Lane, and it's about a mile on the right, over River Teise. If you get to a left turn (Pikefish Lane) you've gone too far. Gaps in hangars if they are locked. Friendly, ask for access.
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LYDD AIRPORT (EGMD/LYX) - TWR 128.525, APP 120.7

Spotting Info
East of Lydd town, entrance is off the B2075 just to the north on the way to New Romney and signposted from the A259. Most aircraft can be viewed from the car park, walking the fence and from inside terminal at Lydd Aero Club and if the hangar's open you can log a few more. There's also a restaurant and an outdoor table area. The flying club are very friendly. Contact them in advance to request a tour of their hangar, it's well worth it as there are lots in there and make sure you take a hi-viz jacket. You may also be asked for some form of ID. If you just ask on the day, there may not be someone available to take you round.
Last reported March 2013. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

MANSTON/KENT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (EGMH/MSE) - TWR 119.925, APP 132.450

Spotting Info
On A253 west of Ramsgate. All these viewing spots are marked in the Spotting in the UK download.

Starting from the far west end - north of the western threshold, off the airfield on an industrial estate, is a hangar with helicopters - The Helicopter Centre. There are usually a couple parked outside. Permission at the helipad is normally granted to look but not touch. Head upstairs to reception and ask, access usually only granted if an engineer is available to escort you round. It's best to contact them in advance.

The B2190 road, Spitfire Way, runs parallel to the north side of the runway for a long way. It ultimately comes to a group of ex-RAF hangars, which now serve as freight sheds. On the apron in front of these you may find one or two stored airliners, and often one or two DC8s or B747Fs handling cargo on a more or less daily timetable. These can be read off from the lay-by and crash gate before you get to the aircraft or from the museums described below near the staggered crossroads.

After the freight, you come to a staggered crossroads. Just before, on the right, is Polar Helicopters. They are very friendly, ask for access to their hangar. If you go straight on here, on the right on the crossroads is the RAF Manston History Museum. Several aircraft are on display here for a small admission fee and displayed outside are Jaguar XZ106 and unmarked Whirlwind XN380. Just beyond this museum is the RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum. This is open daily, is free but donations are very welcome and are clearly put to good use so it's highly recommended, and contains a Spitfire and Hurricane, restored to a high standard, and some WWII memorabilia. It also has the Merlin Cafe. Between the two museums is a car park which I believe serves both museums.

Continuing northwards from the museums, the road goes impressively close past an area used for long-term parking, and the scrapping of, airliners. Current stored aircraft include 9G-MKA DC8, LV-AZF B742F, N309TD B742F, N707BN B707 and TF-AMC B742F, though their parking locations can change. There are a couple of gates on the right if you want to stop briefly. On the opposite side of the road here is the Ministry of Defence Defence Fire Training and Development Centre - training ground for the RAF fire-school. The frames present are WK124 Canberra, XR503 Wessex, XS714 125 Dominie, XV229 Nimrod, XV411 Phantom, XV725 Wessex, XV864 Buccaneer, XW768 Harrier, XW870 Gazelle, XW922 Harrier upside down, XX116 Jaguar, XZ966 Harrier and ZE360 Phantom - most locations are plotted in the Spotting in the UK Download and all will be plotted once a more recent image is available. There are 3 crash gates on this side which may give you a distant view but you'll need to gain some height due to the grass mound. Just XR503 Wessex, XS714 Dominie and ZE360 Phantom are visible from the road. You can also try entering the main entrance and turn left before the barrier. This will then take you round and back out but may give you a view of some of the frames. You can gain access to view and photograph the aircraft but your visit must be prearranged via their website above and a donation to the CO's fund is expected.

Returning to the crossroads again and turning left/east, the road continues alongside a chain-link fence, the first section of which is removable to allow the aircraft to be towed to and from the airport. At the far end it comes to the airport terminal. Just before the turning to the terminal there is a small spectator car park on the north side of the road. This gives a view of things parked on the central long-term parking area and the apron outside the terminal, also sometimes aircraft being worked on in the Modern Jet Support company hangar. You should also be able to see the forward fuselage of long-term resident N707QJ B707, the rest of which was finally, and very sadly, scrapped having been resident here for many years. You can also walk along the road to get a better angle if required. Turning right, you can use the free car park by the terminal, which includes a cafe (not always open) and toilets. At the far end of this side-road, you come to the TG Aviation flying club. Park on the left, either in the area beside the hangar or, if dry, on the grass just before you get to this bit. On the grass here and fenced off is the cockpit of a long-since scrapped B747. The hangar contains the resident light aircraft. It is difficult to see much into the hangar from the fence but ask for access, it is sometimes given. Again there is a view across to any airliners you may have not read off from other viewpoints. Also walking to the end of the road to the gate, you can see any light aircraft parked in front of the clubhouse. Permission may be given to go in to the hangar if an escort is available.

Manston Movements, London Manston Email Group
Last reported March 2013. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

MAYPOLE AIRFIELD (EGHB) - TWR 119.20

Spotting Info
As you head south through Maypole village on Maypole Road, you'll pass Maypole Lane on your left and the entrance to the farm and airfield is on your right - it's a tight turn and you almost double back on yourself. This is a private airfield with CCTV cameras, visitors aren't welcome and the owners will escort you off the premises. However some resident pilots are happy to escort you round. If the gate is padlocked then there's no one at the airfield.
Maypole Airfield
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MIDDLE STOKE AIRFIELD - A/G 118.925

Spotting Info
Head east on the A228 out of Stoke/Upper Stoke towards Lower Stoke. On the long sweeping left bend turn right and then turn left at the triangle junction at the end. The field is on the right at the back of this tiny village and its location can be seen off the main road, and is signposted. Follow this road almost to the end and park up near the hangar. This is the Medway Microlights factory and they are friendly, ask for access. Then walk past it, and head over the railway line for the airfield. Ask at the cabin on the airfield for access, they are friendly but they may restrict access to the few aircraft parked outside and the one large hangar which are the cabin side of the runway. You will need to be escorted airside as you'll be walking right alongside a very active runway and this isn't always possible if no one's available. A lot of the hangars have see through doors. If you can't get access, follow the signs to the Anglian lakes - there is a footpath that runs parallel to the runway with the hangars opposite. If they're open, you should be able to read them off.
Medway Microlights and Medway Airsports
Last reported September 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

POSTLING-PENT FARM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head north out of Postling village and after a couple of fields, the strip is on the left beyond the various farm buildings, some of which contain aircraft. One hangar by the runway, a newer hangar round the back and a plastic hangar at the back of the farm building containing 4 T67s. Believe one is being restored to fly using the other 3 for spare parts. Friendly, ask for access though please try and contact the owner in advance to arrange your visit.
Last reported April 2012. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

ROCHESTER AIRFIELD (EGTO/RCS) - TWR 122.25

Spotting Info
Come off the M2 at J3 and head north on the A229. Clearly signposted. As you enter the airfield, on your right is AV8 Helicopters. Friendly, ask for access and you should be allowed round their hangar. Then follow the track round the south end of the airfield and park up. Ask in the tower for access, then you'll have to ask in each hangar for access. Also home of the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society, their current project is N1671 Boulton Paul Defiant. A friendly group that well deserve their excellent reputation for restorations. They hold open days throughout the year for you to inspect their progress for a donation to help their worthy cause.
Rochester Flyer
Last reported January 2013. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report

SELLINDGE-HARRINGE COURT AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head west out of Sellindge on the A20 and turn left onto Harringe Lane after half a mile. Go over the M20 and the strip is on the left after about a mile - it's the second of two entrances on the long left hand bend, the first is to a private house. Friendly, ask for access. Best to visit at weekends as it can often be busy with visitors. During the week the field is often used for grazing and the hangars are locked up.
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SEVENOAKS-ROMNEY STREET FARM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head south out of Eynsford, through Maplescombe, towards Romney Street. Strip is approx 3 miles from Eynsford on the right, just before Romney Street.
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WOODCHURCH WARBIRDS-LITTLE ENGEHAM FARM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Head north out of Shirkoak (a village north of Woodchurch) and it's on the right. Friendly place, visitors are welcome, but as owners are not always there, an appointment is required.
Woodchurch Warbirds
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