Kleine Brogel Air Base - Spotting Guide

Kleine Brogel Air Base – Spotting Guide

November 29, 2021 - last modified on November 20, 2023

Kleine Brogel Air Base is situated in the Northern part of the Belgian Limburg province. The base is home of the 349Sqn and 31Tiger Sqn, both flying the F-16 aircraft. In 2022, major infrastructure works will start in preparation for the arrival of the F-35 anticipated around 2025. The base is spotter friendly and there are hardly any incidents. Please note that ladders and radio scanners are prohibited as on all bases in Belgium. In principle there are 2 waves per day; one in the late morning and one in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, it is not possible in Kleine Brogel to photograph taking off aircraft. After take Off, they are already quite high when they become visible from the spotter sites. On the other hand, they fly very low when landing and you can photograph them very easily. The base will provide the F-16 demo pilot for the period 2022-2024, which you will see at many airshows. The most common aircraft you see are the F-16. But weekly visitors include the NH-90 and A109 Agusta Helicopters, the A400M Atlas. Very occasionally we see an AH-64 Apache helicopter from Gilze-Rijen (NL), a C-17 from the US Forces and the AWACS from Geilenkirchen (D). But that will all become less with the upcoming infrastructure works.

Written Guy Croisiaux, Chairman of the Belgian Air Force Spotting Group and Lukas Lamberty. Last Update: May 2022

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05L/23R	3096m – aspahlt
05R/23L	2400m – asphalt
Spotting Information
Ladder	The use of ladders is strictly prohibited in the immediate vicinity of the fencing!
Car/Public Transport	Car is needed as there is no public transport available.
Drinks/Food	Bring food and drink because there is nothing near by. Bring your trash with you as there are no trash cans available. Litter attracts birds and they are dangerous for planes
Hotels	The beautifully renovated Old Town Hall 1673 houses the Grand Café and the brasserie of Hotel de Boskar in the town of Peer; but it’s not cheap. If you are on a budget your better go to Hoeve Het Gehucht in Overpelt; a bed&breakfast about 5km from the base.
Season	There are always flight movements except weekends. From mid-December onwards it is less interesting because most pilots have reached their flying hours.
Security	Drones are prohibited! Don’t stand too close to the fence! Never stand under the landing lights because you will be in the middle of the crash zone. Standing too close to the fence arouses suspicion in air base security and then they may come and see what you are doing there. Photographing buildings and military personnel is very sensitive, so it is better not to do that. Also know that you are being watched very closely because there is camera surveillance almost every 50m
Runway Usage
General Info	Best time is between 09:30-12:30 and 13:30-17:00. Before you leave, you can check which runway is in use that day through this website.
05R/23L	Major runway with 23 being the dominant direction.
05L/23R	Not known to be in use.

	Spot #1 – Farm Road – 23R arrivals
WHERE	You really need to have a look on the map because the sandy dirt road has no name. To get there follow the fence of the base from Kleine-Brogel towards Kaulille (N747 – this is the Vliegveldlaan). At a given moment (after 2,6km) it bends to the right via a dirt road. Follow it and you will arrive at the spotter’s site where you can even park the car. You are now at the rear of the base where you have a very good view of aircrafts during their landing.

WHAT	23R arrivals only.

TIME	Light is good from sunrise until afternoon throughout the year.

MISC.	There are NO restrooms or shops close by; There is a gas station with shop in Kleine Brogel and in Peer.

FOCAL LENGTH	Airplanes land in front of you so a 200-300mm lens will suffice

	Spot #2 – Spotters Corner -05L arrivals
WHERE	Depending on the wind direction, planes sometimes land on Rwy5. Do not stand at the official spotting area because you will be right under the planes when they land. Better go 150m further (in the direction of Peer, N748); opposite ‘Voortstraat’ you have a dirt road towards a small lake. Park your car there and walk 100m further until you reach the fence of the base. There you have a good view of the landing aircraft.

WHAT	05L arrivals only. 23R depature are also maybe possible but we never tried it.

TIME	Light is good from sunrise until afternoon throughout the year.

MISC.	There are NO restrooms or shops close by

FOCAL LENGTH	Airplanes land in front of you so a 200-300mm lens will suffice

	Spot #3 – Spotters Corner – 05L arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located at the end of the RWY 05L/23R, north of the previous locatio, next to the Voortstraat. Park your car as marked on the map and walk down in the grass for 25-50m . Remeber parking is on your own risk!

WHAT	05L arrivals only. 23R depature are also maybe possible but we never tried it.

TIME	Light is good from afternoon (16:30) till Sunset (~only in the Summer).

MISC.	There are NO restrooms or shops close by

FOCAL LENGTH	100-200mm

	Spot #4 – Farm Road
WHERE	The location is literally a small side road “Kruisakkerweg”, near the small town De Pastory and is about 6 minutes by car from the city.

WHAT	You can see the awesome tranings display from the Solo Display pilot from the Belgian Air Force, and also the low approaches from the 05L/R and with luck the takeoffs from the 05L/R but it is very far away .

TIME	Light is good from sunrise until afternoon throughout the year.

MISC.	Keep an eye out for the farmer as you may disturb him at work as you actually park on their paths. There are NO restrooms or shops close by

FOCAL LENGTH	200-800mm

	Spottersday Sanicole, Nato Tigermeet, Belgium Air Force Day
WHERE	During the annual Sanicole Airshow there are yearly 2 spottersday, one during an airshow day saturdays and the depature day on monday. Every few years the Nato Tigermeet will take place at Kleine Brogel. Every 4 years the Belgian Air Force days will take place too.

WHAT	All Movements on Runway 05L/23R, Taxiway and aircraft parked in Static display

TIME	On the runway from sunrise till 15:30/winter all day. On the taxiway till sunset also in summer. Static display depends on the parking spot

MISC.	Toilets and Food availible during the shows

FOCAL LENGTH	Taxway 18-55mm on the runway 150-500mm