Morlaix-Ploujean Airport - Spotting Guide

Morlaix-Ploujean Airport – Spotting Guide

November 2, 2020 - last modified on September 29, 2020

Morlaix-Ploujean Airport (MNX/LFRU) is a small airfield located a few kilometers northeast of the city of Morlaix itsself. The history of this airfield reaches back to 1911 when this area was used for flying activities for the first time. However, as almost all airfields around here, the airport was transformed into a military airfield during WW2 by the Germans. It was in 1944, once the Americans were able to conquer back this airport and used it for their own transport flight till the end of WW2. Regardless of its busy years during the war, Morlaix airfield did not experience any important changes till Brit Air was found in 1973 with MNX as hub. Since then, training and maintenance facilities were found and extended, which were also kept here once Air France took over Brit Air, which was later merged with Air France Regional’s carrier into its newly found subcarrier HOP! in 2016. However, once Air France announced to shorten HOP! in 2020 and to retire all CRJs, the station in Morlaix – being used to be the maintenance and training centre for these types – faced complete shutdown meaning a big part to break away at MNX including 276 jobs. Thus, the future here is unknown…

Regardless, Morlaix also offers space for some flying schools and also serves as training airfield for French Navy/Air Force rarely. In addition, MNX also hosts an airshow/event regularly including some nice guests and furthermore, the airport is still cramped with a few aircraft being in storage here.

Written by Severin Hackenberger and Alexis Boidron. Last Update: Summer 2020

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Airport Information
Runways
04/22	1617m / 5305ft
Terminals
–	There is no real passenger terminal here as MNX has no regular PAX services.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Recommended at most spots however the fence is quite spotterfriendly here and as most aircraft you will see here are anyway rather standing than moving, spotting may also work with liveview nicely 😀
Car/Public Transport	Needed as public transport between the spots is very poor.
Restrooms	Nothing directly around however there are plenty restaurants and thus restrooms in this region in general.
Drinks/Food	Nothing directly around however lots of facilities in this region in general.
Hotels	Just a few nearby southeast of the airport.
Season	Summer is definitely better regarding the weather, so you will also have more sports traffic thus movements here then.
Security	Spotting is tolerated here mostly however adjust to the local rules. Airport fences may not look like these, so rather be careful and don’t cross any fences – especially in the northern part of the airfield you may see “open fields” and tiny fences…
Runway Usage
General Info	22 is the major direction of usage as we mainly have southwesterly winds here.
04/22	As this is the only paved runway, all bigger aircraft land/depart here. There are two small strips, which are unpaved/grass, thus smaller sport aircraft or glider may land there…

	Spot #1 – 22 Approach North – Arrivals + Departures 22
WHERE	This spot can be found northwest of the airfield’s end on a small farmer road. In order to get here, turn off highway D46 running west of the airfield into the small unnamed road. This will lead you along some trees down a little hill to the fence – to be exact to a little gate. You can either spot from the elevated roadside up the hill or from directly there by the fence, just search your faovurite position around here…

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 22 are best from here. In addition you can also see the runway itsself thus 22 backtracks prior departure are also nicely shootable. That’s why you may also spot heavy 04 arrivals during turning on the pad here.

TIME	Later afternoon till sunset.

MISC.	Don’t block the farmer’s road. Due to its dirty surface, we recommend not to drive in here with noble cars and rather wear solid footwear. No facilities for food or drinks around here.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-300mm Fouga = 260mm / PC12 = 235mm

	Spot #2 – 22 Approach South – Arrivals + Departures 22
WHERE	Turn off highway “D786” in the east of the airfield onto a small street called “Dourneur”. Follow this street and pass a number of houses till you get to a 4-way-junction. Continue a few meters to the north and then you should end up at the fence. Park your car by the roadside and search your favourite position along the fence…

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 22 are best from here. In addition you can also see the runway itsself thus 22 backtracks prior departure are also nicely shootable. That’s why you may also spot heavy 04 arrivals during turning on the pad here.

TIME	Sunrise till early afternoon.

MISC.	Don’t block the farmer’s road. Due to its dirty surface, we recommend not to drive in here with noble cars and rather wear solid footwear. Sometimes the grass is quiet long and may disturb your view onto the runway thus the gear may be cut off.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm Cessna Citation Jet = 220mm

	Spot #3 – Main apron gate – Main apron + storage area
WHERE	This spot is located close to the airport’s tower. So turn off highway “D786” into “Rue Christine Clément” and make your way to the major airport parkng as marked on the map. Then get rid of your car there just a few meters south of the tower. Now search your favourite position along the front bush row around the main apron gate…

WHAT	From here you have a nice view onto the main apron where sometimes French Navy E121s are parked or otherwise it mostly also serves as major storage area for HOP! aircraft.

TIME	Best around noon, exact times depend on the parking position/angle.

MISC.	Ladder needed, still the poles and airside gas station are quite disturbing when shooting moving aircraft. No facilities for food or drinks around here.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm Twin Otter DHC 6 = 150mm / PC12 = 170mm / HOP! Ramp overview = 40mm

View from a 2 step ladder over the bushrow:

	Spot #4 – Tower – GA apron + Runway 04/22 movements
WHERE	This spot is located close to the airport’s tower. So turn off highway “D786” into “Rue Christine Clément” and make your way to the major airport parkng as marked on the map. Then get rid of your car there just a few meters south of the tower and continue by foot to the northwest. So pass the tower on your right and just a few meters west of it, search your favourite position along the fence or on the nearby stairs.

WHAT	This spot offers a nice view onto the apron hosting general aviation as well as the nearby ramp mostly cramped by flying school’s aircraft.

TIME	Sunrise till later noon/early afternoon: depending on what exactly you wanna shoot – taxiway between runway and main apron east of you can also be shot nicely during afternoon hours.

MISC.	Thanks to some stairs here you do not need a ladder as you are elevated enough. Haze is a problem on the runway in summer. No facilities for food or drinks around here.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm Red Doubledecker = 265mm / P180 = 75mm

	Spot #5 – Storage corner – Small storage apron + 04 activities
WHERE	Turn off highway “D786” into “Rue Christine Clément” and follow this street to the west. Pass the main airport’s parking on your right and continue driving to the west. Make your way to the fence, but just before “Rue Christine Clément” would turn off to the south by making a left turn, exit the street to the right. Drive up a little hill towards the fence, keep right and you will find some parking spaces. Leave your car there and search your favourite position along the fence then around here…

WHAT	From here you mainly have a nice view onto the small storage corner just in front. But apart from this, you can also see parts of the general aviation/flying schools ramp as well as the southern end of the runway. Thus 04 activities are nicely shootable from here, too.

TIME	Depending on what you wanna shoot exactly and how it is facing you, but in general sunrise till early afternoon is the best time for this spot.

MISC.	Ladder needed. No facilities for food or drinks around here. Take care not to block neither any preserved parking spots nor the apron entrance gate. Sometimes the grass is quiet long and may disturb your view onto the runway thus the gear may be cut off.

FOCAL LENGTH	10-200mm N262 overcasted full shot = 20mm / N262 sunny closeu-up = 40mm

Aircraft here are regularly towed around and move positions, so don’t wonder we shot one stored aircraft on different positions:

	Spot #6 – Rue Christine Clément – 04 Arrivals
WHERE	From spot #5, continue to the south on “Rue Christine Clément” and just before the street would make a right turn and pass the runway axis, park your car by the roadside close to the curve and search your favourite position around here…

WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 04 and if the grass is cut short maybe you can also spot 04 backtracks/departures from here.

TIME	Sunrise till early afternoon.

MISC.	No facilities for food or drinks around here. Ladder not needed for plain arrival shots, but for shots towards the turning pad, you may need a little step.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm ATR72 = 200mm