Only a few hours before returning to France, we stopped in the Kent, atManston International Airport.
The scene from Die Another Day is certainly not mythical... but we knew that we could quietly realize that nice unreleased plans with our little droneThe airport is now abandoned.
Bond and Jinx climb to the banks of the Antonov – Manston (Kent)
Loyalty: ★★★☆ – Access: ★☆☆ (easy)
The Manston International Airport (in VO) was closed to commercial traffic in 2014, after years of financial difficulties. During the crisis VOCID-19, it played a strategic role as a site of storage and transit, thanks in particular to its proximity to Sheep. Despite its closure, some infrastructure remains visible and reflects its active past.
The reference site Mi6-HQ, we knew thatonly a small part of the airport was used for shooting. François had conducted the investigation and managed to contact the son of the owner of a nearby farm. She says she's been through a night of nightmare with the deafening noise of the reactors of the AntonovMay 1, 2002... The poor woman, however, was compensation by EoN. I would have done it for free: you imagine watching a movie shoot James Bond from bed !
The place now identified, we easily found access and started taking some photos on the ground. Then, with some apprehension, we did take off the drone. The afternoon was particularly windy... but despite some fears, the little drone perfectly fulfilled its mission. However, we did not push the experiment too far, for fear of seeing it turn on a airport prohibited to the public, with treasures in his SD card.
The call sheet of filming, found on the internet, testifies to the almost complete displacement of the casting on site. We note that the passport was mandatory, proof that the airport was still in operation at the time.
The wire mesh cut by Bond was in fact only a decorative element, placed about a hundred meters from the place where theAntonov was stationed. The take-off of the Antonov He himself took place on the main runway.
The little drone recovered and warm, we finally took the road to Dover for the return to France, happy with this unusual stop in Kent, in the footsteps of Die Another Day.
This blog shares my travel experiences, from unavoidable destinations to the most original and exclusive places. Each article is the result of careful work and a real time investment. If you use this information elsewhere or for your own adventures, consider citing your sources and thanking – that's what I do myself, and it's always fun.
Julien Abauzit (JaBoz)
