Melbourne Essendon Airport - Spotting Guide

Melbourne Essendon Airport – Spotting Guide

June 22, 2024 - last modified on April 14, 2024

Melbourne Essendon (MEB/YMEN) or also known as Essendon Fields is a small general aviation airport located 10km northwest of the downtown of Melbourne. The airfield is home to several companies operating general aviation aircraft like the RFDS, but you can also spot police helicopters, old historical aircraft like the Melbourne Gooney DC3 or similar aircraft here. Sharp Airlines is the only schedule passenger airline at this place.

The airport was opened in the 1920s and was used to be Melbourne’s major airport till 1970, once Tullamarine Airport (MEL/YMML) was build and replaced Essendon field in being the city’s major passenger flight hub.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Thomas Rings and Clinton J Down Photography. Last Update: Spring 2024

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	1920m / 6300ft
17/35	1504m / 4930ft
Terminals
Terminal 1	There is a small terminal located at Essendon offering scheudled passenger flights to Kings Island onboard of Sharp Metros. In addition, there is quite a collection of little GATs or hangars.
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder would be useful at all spots, but attracts some attention we want to avoid on the company properties: so try to shoot thru the mesh or quickly from your car’s top.
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely useful to get around Essendon, however you can also reach the airport by tram from the city (tram stop is located in the west close to spot 5+6).
Drinks/Food	Some restaurants around the airport here and there.
Hotels	There is a hotel right at the airport, but not offering special spotter views as to our knowledge.
Season	No season in sort of more/less traffic, but summer comes along with harsh light and storms.
Security	Spotting is not prohibited here, but some companies do not love us on their property and hanging by the fence. So try to keep a low profile, take your picture and leave again!
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 17/35 and 08/26 are used according to wind and direction of destination/origin without any big preference visible.

	Spot #1 – Meadow – 17/35 Movements + Ramp
WHERE	Follow Global Ave once around the airport in the north and pass the Toyota facilities in the west following the signs to Leonardo Australia. Then you should spot some trees and a small meadow on your way down south to Leonardo: that’s where we recommend you to stand and take your pictures. You can not park here on any of the nearby parking areas, they are all blocked by barriers. But as there is very little traffic on the road here, you can also stop by the roadside.

WHAT	From here you can spot movements on runway 17/35 as well as acititvities on the ramp behind.

TIME	Sunrise till noon is good here.

MISC.	Nothing around here. A ladder is very useful, but you can spot taxiing aircraft thru the mesh as well and 35 departures a few meters back from the fence, thus they are above the fence most of the time.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Gulfstream 5 = 120mm / DC3 on the apron = 250mm

	Spot #2 – Global Ave – 17 Arrivals
WHERE	Just move along Global Ave north of the runway’s 17/35 end and take your pictures from the roadside here east or west of the runway axis… Parking is not possible directly here, try to get rid of your car at the restaurant/car dealer west from here and walk back to the runway then.

WHAT	Great for 17 Arrivals.

TIME	All day long, just move with the sun.

MISC.	Nothing around here, but take care of fast passing cars once standing by the roadside.

FOCAL LENGTH	15-300mm Beech 350 = 300mm / Metroliner = 16mm

	Spot #3 – Car dealer – Ramp + Taxiway
WHERE	Turn off Global Ave behind the Mitsubishi car dealer to a small unnamed road: pass the Nissan car dealder on your right as well and you will end up at the fence front from where you can nicely see the ramp in front. As there is very little traffic here, you can quickly stop in front of the gate for taking your shots.

WHAT	From here you can see the ramp and taxiway in front.

TIME	Best from noon to afternoon.

MISC.	Heat haze can be an issue here quite quickly. Nothing around except the car dealers: keep a very low profile, take your shot and leave again!

FOCAL LENGTH	15-300mm Beech 350 = 300mm / Metroliner = 16mm

	Spot #4 – Wiraway Rd – Street crossing
WHERE	Just a few meters west of the car dealers there is Wiraway Rd crossing the taxiway. The road is closed once a private jet wants to reach/leave the parking in the northwest, so this spot is more a lucky hit from time to time… Once an aircraft comes, the airport personnel will close the road with a big crash gate: just let them know you wanna take pictures and they will let you stand at the gate to take some close-up shots. You can park by the nearby restaurant/car dealer here.

WHAT	Aircraft crossing Wiraway Rd on the way to/from the parking area in the northwest.

TIME	You can easily stand on both sides of the taxiway and thus move with the sun.

MISC.	Nothing around. Tell the airport personnel that you want to take some pictures to avoid trouble once the aircraft rolls by.

FOCAL LENGTH	15-50mm

	Spot #5 – Terminal – Apron + Taxiway + 17/35 Movements
WHERE	From inside the terminal in the west you can also take a few pictures thru a door with tinted glass. Just park your car in the nearby parking area in front of the terminal (marked on the map, free for two hours) and access the terminal heading for the mentioned door at its southern end (exact position marked on the map).

WHAT	From here you can see the apron in front plus the taxiway and runway 17/35 behind.

TIME	Depending on the angle and subject, but best from noon till sunset.

MISC.	All you need is in the terminal or nearby. The glass is tinted and might be dirty, be aware of that!

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm

	Spot #6 – Bristol St Fence – Ramp
WHERE	This spot is not just a single position rather a collection of fence parts between hangars offering views onto the ramp in front. Just drive along Bristol St here passing the hangars and watch out for the positions we marked on the map. You can also walk up the pedestrians bridge in the west crossing M2 Interstate, from up there you also have a great view! Park your car in front of the terminal (parking is free for two hours) or the neraby public parking. Otherwise, this spot/area is also easy to reach by tram which stops west of this spot at Earl St/Matthew Ave.

WHAT	From the fence front you can spot parts of the ramps here.

TIME	Depending on the angle and subject, but best around noon.

MISC.	A ladder would be very useful, but we always quickly shot thru the mesh. Otherwise you can also try to quickly shoot from your car’s top. Sometimes there are also crash gates with big gaps around the lock where a lens can fit thru. There are some restaurants nearby as well as the LaManna supermarket with a very good café.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm E145s = 70mm / Skycrane = 25mm