Aircraft spotting using Google Maps

Whilst examples of aircraft spotting using 'Google Earth' have featured in recent editions of Aeroplane magazine, aerial views can also be revealed very effectively using the 'Satellite' view available from 'Google Maps' - as Matthew Lawson discovered recently when he spotted the unmistakable silhouette of an English Electric Lightning alongside the A1 in Nottinghamshire.

Matthew sent us a screen-shot of his 'find' and regular contributor Howard Heeley supplied some background information and a December 2007 view taken from the site perimeter.

Howard writes: English Electric F.2A Lightning XN728 (8546M) has been on this site beside the A1 near Balderton since the early 1990s. During its early days the Newark Air Museum made several attempts to acquire the then relatively complete airframe however the years have taken their toll it is now in a somewhat derelict condition. For a while I believe XN728 become a bit of an icon and at one time featured on tee shirts, and I think even has its own website.



EE Lightning F.2A XN728 seen via Google Maps 'Satellite View'.




EE Lightning F.2A XN728 in December 2007. Photo: Howard Heeley