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May 10, 2022Spangdahlem Air Base – Spotting Guide
- last modified on November 29, 2023
Spangdahlem Air Base (SPM/ETAD) is a US air base in the west of Germany, close to Trier, and was opened in 1953. It is home to F16 fighter jets, but sometimes do also hosts F35s. Thereby, USAF tankers like the KC10/KC135 are a common sight here as well. Since a runway extension in 2005, C17 and C5 can also land here without any problems. These types are flying to the nearby Ramstein on a daily bases, but do sometimes pay a visit to SPM. In addition, you may also see a NATO E3 AWACS flying circuits here or similar.
Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Django Brunink (#1,3,4), Aurelius Pressler (#5) and Johannes Wirl (#2). Last Update: July 2022
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 05/23 | 3055m x 45m |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Actually needed for spot 3, but only put it up once needed and keep as much distance to the fence as possible. As long as you do not need it for taking pictures, please „hide“ it on the ground to avoid unnecessary attention. |
| Car/Public Transport | A car is definitely needed, public transport is non existing here – at least one serving the spots. |
| Drinks/Food | Nothing around the spots, but there are some villages/town nearby where you can buy/dine food. |
| Hotels | No “spotter hotels” around. |
| Season | There is no real season here, but winter is sometimes quite grey and foggy. Summer may be better thereby. |
| Security | This is an ACTIVE AMERICAN AIR BASE! So there are plenty rules one has to adjust to when spotting here: 1. Keep a low profile! Stow your camera as long as possible and don’t hang around/at the fence all the time! 2. DO NOT use ladders and keep at least 3 meters distance from the fence 3. Adjust to the driving/parking restrictions in order to also be inconspicuous. 4. Always carry an ID with you, for the case you are being checked. 5. Spotters can always be checked in Spangdahlem – either by US military police from airside or the German police from landside. If they approach you, keep a low profile and just explain what you are doing. We never heard that a “normal spotter” had any problems here while being checked, so stay calm! 6. And the most important rule at Spangdahlem as at most military facilities: DON’T TAKE PICTURES OF THE AIRPORT/BASE! Luckily we were able to do our hobby around here till now, so take care that the spotters will still be allowed the airfield in the future, too. For your own safety and our community, follow the above stated rules! |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | Runway 23 will be in usage more often, but as SPM is not that super busy, you may also be surprised if the wind is not too strong. |
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Spot #1 – B50 – 05 Arrivals + 23 Departures |
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| WHERE | Turn off B50 a few meters north of the spot to the west and make your way down this position. Then you should end up in this dead end field road between two fields where you can stop your car and take some pictures. |
| WHAT | From here you can see arrivals onto 05 and departures from 23. |
| TIME | Later afternoon till sunset from may to september. |
| MISC. | Keep away from the B50 a few meters and stow your camera as long as you do not shoot pictures in order to avoid attention by passing drivers. Also take care to not destroy the meadow/field here! Police patrol regularly and will send you away if you don’t follow the rules |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Should be 100-400mm roughly (depending on where exactly you stand) |
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Spot #2 – B50 – 05 Arrivals + 23 Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is literally a small side road, next to the base entrance onto the field off B50. Normally it is no issue to pull over and take some shots from here. Keep an eye out for the farmer as you may disturb him at work as you actually park on their paths. Try to keep it free or be at your car to be able to drive your car away if he asks you to do so. |
| WHAT | From here you can see arrivals onto 05 and departures from 23. |
| TIME | From sunrise till late noon all year round. |
| MISC. | Keep away from the B50 a few meters and stow your camera as long as you do not shoot pictures in order to avoid attention by passing drivers. Also as the air base’s southern gate is just around the corner. Take care to not destroy the meadow/field here! Police patrol regularly and will send you away if you don’t follow the rules |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200-400mm F35 = 300mm |
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Spot #3 – Forest – 23 Arrivals + 05 Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located a bit off tracks directly at the fence at the air base’s northeastern boundaries. Leave Binsfeld northwards on Saalholzstrasse and park your car at a “four path junction” shortly after you have entered the forest. Parking is tricky here and may cause issues as you actually are not allowed to access that road by car, but normally nobody cares. However, the police can give you a fine! Enter at your own risk! Park there at your own risk as you are entering “Do not pass” road as marked on the map. But if you wanna avoid any trouble park at the nearby village of Binsfeld and walk all the way up. Keep in mind from there it is a 2 km walk! Keep on walking on the same road in same direction until you end up at the fence and choose your favourite position along it. |
| WHAT | From here you can see arrivals onto 23 and departures from 05. |
| TIME | From sunrise till late noon all year round. |
| MISC. | Ladder needed as you are directly at the fence. Try to „hide“ it on the ground as long as you do not really take pictures and don`t stay directly at the fence. Once you put it up for pictures, keep as much distance to the fence as possible. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm |
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Spot #4 – Forest – 05 Departures, 23 line-up |
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| WHERE | From the previous point continue by foot along the fence and cross the runway axis to get to the northern side. Then just position yourself somewhere along the fence here roughly at the marked position. |
| WHAT | From here you can photograph departures from 05. 23 arrivals are tricky because of the trees. Furthermore you can photograph line-ups on 23 as well as arrivals on 05 that use the last exit (see Omni 777) |
| TIME | Later afternoon till sunset from may to september. Line-Ups in the early summer months only! Be aware of heat distortion. |
| MISC. | Take care of the environment, the plants and don’t litter! Ladder needed as you are directly at the fence. Try to „hide“ it on the ground as long as you do not really take pictures and don`t stay directly at the fence. Once you put it up for pictures, keep as much distance to the fence as possible. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm |
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Spot #5 – Meadow – 23 departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | To get to the spot you have to drive from the B50 up a field road up until the ,,Pieta-Kapelle”. You can park there or at the other side of the B50. Walk through a little path at the ,,Pieta-Kapelle” to the field an walk up a liddle dirt hill or just position yourself somewhere at the field. Even if you are close to the base entrance, you cannot be seen from there. |
| WHAT | 23 departures, the F16s usally bank in your direction |
| TIME | Later afternoon till sunset from may to september. Line-Ups in the early summer months only! Be aware of heat distortion. |
| MISC. | Food, drinks, restrooms are available at the nearest villages. Police might controll you, so please make sure not to take any pics of the base. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 250-600mm |
Is it worth spotting on the weekend as well?
Hi !
Are there still fighter jets that fly there ? And if yes, do they fly much ?
Regards
Hey, i‘m planning to go spotting at Spangdahlem in august. Will there be daily action?
At point 1 and 2 there are sometimes a lot of spotters lately because of the F-35 and F-18 deployments.
The police cleared the places several times because people were simply standing on the main road or too close to it. The places have also been closed because of a lot of rubbish.
At point 4 there has also been stress with the police for a few months because some people misbehaved there too and young trees were also broken off. Depending on who is on duty, it can be very uncomfortable.
We, the local spotters, would be grateful if the garbage is taken away and nature is respected.
Be nice and behave, we want to spot here longer.
Thanks!
Visiting Spang for the first time in August, I will take care of the environment and follow the etiquette.
We experienced similar situations in the 1980s and 1990s at Soesterberg Airbase, where “foreign” spotters treated the designated areas like a trash heap, even causing one of the spots to be permanently closed.
This still annoys me so you won`t see this behavior from me.
Do note that the roads around the field are strictly anlieger frei or landwirtschaftlicher frei so – in principle – off limits for all other traffic. Although not often, fines are being given avery once in a while when parked in those spots….
Hi Ruud, we are aware of this restrictions for spots 3 and 4 only, but for spots 1 and 2 we were told there are no signs. Can you confirm that?
-Julian