Just like our trusty vehicles, planes too have a lifespan. When they are deemed unfit for the skies or simply retired, they find their final resting place in an aircraft graveyard. One such boneyard is tucked away just a short drive from London, nestled between the Skylark Hotel and London Southend Airport.
This overgrown plot, strewn with dusty, forgotten planes, sits on land believed to be owned by the hotel and borders the airport. Some of these aircraft could date back to the 1950s, according to Essex Live. A bird's eye view on Google Maps reveals three planes: two larger ones resembling modern passenger planes and a smaller one, possibly a private plane.
Several posts on the Fighter Control forum suggest the two larger aircraft could be ex-RAAF Hawker Siddeley HS 748's, a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally produced by British manufacturer Avro. However, there is no official confirmation on the exact type of aircraft languishing at the site.
The precise reason why these planes were left here remains a mystery. They do not appear to have crash-landed, as the bodywork on the larger planes is largely undamaged from a distance, although they are rusting and have been targeted by graffiti artists. Access to the area is restricted with locked gates and fences, so you cannot just stroll up to the planes. However, you can catch sight of one of the larger planes from afar if you stand in the hotel's car park.
It is always advisable to seek permission from the landowner before entering any private area, as trespassing could lead to legal repercussions.
