T5 goes on display at Heathrow centre (From Hillingdon Times)

T5 goes on display at Heathrow centre

9:02am Friday 5th November 2004 in News By Rachel Sharp

A REPLICA of Terminal 5 has been unveiled at Heathrow Airport's Visitor Centre. The model, which forms the centrepiece of a new T5 exhibition, was made by TPA model-makers, and shows how the terminal will eventually look when it opens to passengers in 2008.

T5's design and development director Mike Foster said: "This really is a super model and everyone at T5 is delighted to have such an accurate representation of how the finished terminal will look.

"Terminal 5 is currently Europe's largest construction site and is generating considerable interest. We hope the new exhibition will encourage local people to come and learn more about the terminal's development."

A mixture of computer technology and traditional handcrafting has been used to create the high-tech model, which lights up on approach to welcome viewers.

Eight buttons indicate zones of interest, including the departure lounge, baggage reclaim, the check-in concourse and the railway station.

Anyone who wants to get an idea of the actual size of Terminal 5 can go on a weekly bus tour, available to take members of the local community around the site.

It is possible to book a place on a site tour, which begin every Friday from the Heathrow Visitor Centre, by calling 020 8745 6655 between 3pm and 5pm, Monday to Friday.