The far end on the south side of the second runway is actually a very good spot. Along the runway, west of the Bollin River, the raised ground makes it a perfect place to follow a complete take-off run on 23L or a roll-out on 05R. Since the runways at Manchester are 30 degrees offset from a perfect east-west run, this spot is at is best until the noon curfew and operations are moved to Runway one. However, you can get good shots in the mid-afternoon as well. The photos in this report were taken just after the curfew was lifted.

You get to Spot H several ways. If you are the sporty type, you can leave the car along Wilmslow Road (spot F). You start out following the directions given for spot I/J (link), but after crossing the Bollin continue up the steep hill to embankment that runs the length of the runway. Just walk along the embankment and find the spot of your choice.

The other option (and favoured by the Plane-Spotter.com crew due to excess baggage in the shape of heavy camera bags) is driving to to Woodend Lane where there are a number of small parking spaces (one, maximum two cars per spot). From here it is a short walk to the embankment. You can also try Ostler's Lane if you are after short final and touch down photos on runway 05R.

To illustrate what photo you can get from here, let’s follow the complete take off run of the PIA Boeing 747-367. The photos was taken with a Canon EOS 10D equipped with a 100-400mm lens, and as it passed in front of us I wish I could get lower than 100mm limit the lens had.

The 747 is lining up on the runway after having entered it from taxiway Tango.
The stop sign down to the in front of the fire station.

The aircraft is rolling and those poles as always create problems.

Abeam the fire station.

Halfway down the runway.

Passing just in front of us - about two-thirds down the runway.

Vee One, rotate - nose wheel lifting off the ground.

Not much left of the runway, and the heavy loaded struggles to get in to the air.

Postive rate of climb - gear up selected.

A slow climbing PIA 747 has now turned to the north - according to its POL1Y clearance.

The types of shots you get vary according to how far down the runway you are and depends on the aircraft types taking off.

A belly shot of Jet2 The Yorkshire Dales.

A bit closer and less belly.

If need a more intersting backdrop, you have to move closer.

With small turbo props you will either end up with climb out photos from long distance or belly shots.

At the end of Woodend Lane, you can get photos of aircraft vacating 23R at Alpha Echo like this SAS 737-683 LN-RRP.