Taking photos at Williamtown RAAF Base

[jeffde]

Hi

I'll be in Port Stephens next month and wondering if anybody has taken photos of the jets landing/taking off - any hints for location and is there anyway (???)
to find out when / if they'll be flying ...

Cheers and Thanks
Jeff

[extraball]

maybe the grounds of fighter world would be the go. Do you know that Newcastle airport is next door to the RAAF base?

[jeffde]

Yes re newcastle airport from a map - never been there before... Fighter town definitely on the must do list.

[Wayne]

With Williamtown RAAF, the flights are very ad-hoc and you could sit in a location all day and yet see 2-3 military planes.

[jeffde]

Just subscribed to a RSS feed from the RAAF so will see what that tells me..

[dwat]

HI jeff,I have been there on several occassions and have had success when aircraft are using RW 30,ie landing to the North.On such occassions Medowie Road near the threshold of the Runway can achieve quite good results as they all but come in right overhead.If RW12 is in use it gets a little harder and as extraball said,the grounds of fighterworld could be the best bet there.I have never used this facility for photographing movements buy think it should be OK,there is a groundfloor open area cafeteria and an upper viewing deck.The RAAF may frown on you if you were photographing over their facilities,but probably if you are looking virtually straight across at the airport it mightn't be an issue,be worth asking anyhow.

[jeffde]

Thanks Guys - much appreciated.

[pagani]

Yeah I've been there heaps of times, never really taken photos as such but almost always there is something taking off or landing, the noise is the best part

[squizzytaylor]

There are signs at the end of the runway stating "no photography" however I'm pretty sure you can take photos from the Observation deck that is part of the Cafe at Fighterworld 200 metres up the road. Some awesome subject matter in Fighterworld itself too and well worth the $12 entry fee.
http://www.fighterworld.com.au/about-fighterworld

GT

[jeffde]

Thanks Guys - was there quickly thursday and for a while Friday - Hit the jackpot with exercises happening and watched 13 jets land on Friday morning - before the war finished )lunchtime BBQ i believe) - missed a few that landed over Medowie road as we drove up on the thursday - went to fighter world and yes its worth it. Post some pics in transportation - nothing spectacular though... mostly watched them land.