Bückeburg Air Base (ETHB) is one of the major German air force helicopter air bases called. This airfield serves as an education air base for German soldiers who are about to serve in international helicopter movements, so you will mostly see GAF EC135 training.

Written by Paul Panthöfer. Last update January 2026

	Spot #1 – Crash Gate
WHERE	Our spot can be found just south of the base, which can be found northeast of the city of Bückeburg itsself, and can be reached best from the south via highway B65 and then Flugplatzstrasse. The position is located at the end of Achumer Str. just at the fence close to a wodden gate to the apron.
WHAT	All movements at ETHB, but mostly the arrivals/departures on the runway 26 /pads in front.
TIME	Depends on how the helicopters exactly fly, but around noon is best; morning/afternoon work most of the times for most flying routes as well.
MISC.	Nothing around. Don’t block the gate with your car and stay a bit from the fence when not shooting. For a handful of pictures you can quickly go there.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Airport overview = 120mm / EC135 = 220mm

ETHB-Spot1

ETHB-Spot1

ETHB-Spot1

ETHB-Spot1

ETHB-Spot1

ETHB-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Farm Road
WHERE	The spot is along a dead end farm road east of the village of Bückeburg. Take road 65, turn onto Müsinger Straße and follow it to the end. By public transport take the bus to Bückeburg junction Müsingen with bus 2004 or 2026 from Bückeburg train station and then walk into Müsinger Strasse and follow it to the end.
WHAT	All 08 arrival/departure flights
TIME	Depends on how the helicopters exactly fly, but around noon is best; morning/afternoon work most of the times for most flying routes as well.
MISC.	There is a fence, but it doesn’t bother you if you’re a little bit away. A McDonald’s is at the end of Müsinger Straße. It is a military airfield so keep your distance from the fence and don’t attract attention.
FOCAL LENGTH	400-500mm for the helicopters

ETHB-Spot2

ETHB-Spot2

ETHB-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Crash Gate
WHERE	The spot is along a dead end farm road east of the village of Bückeburg. Take road 65, turn onto Müsinger Straße and follow it to the street “Am Flugplatz”. It is important that the gate area remains clear! It is best to park at the beginning of the street “Am Flugplatz”. By public transport take the bus to Bückeburg junction Müsingen with bus 2004 or 2026 from Bückeburg train station and then walk into Müsinger Strasse and follow it to the end of “Am Flugplatz”.
WHAT	Arrivals and sometimes departure on runway 08 and low takeoffs from 26.
TIME	Depends on how the helicopters exactly fly, but around noon is best; morning/afternoon work most of the times for most flying routes as well.
MISC.	There is a small fence but you can take photos through the wire, but a ladder is better if possible.. A McDonald’s is at the end of Müsinger Straße. It is a military airfield so keep your distance from the fence and don’t attract attention.
FOCAL LENGTH	NH-90 on runway = 160mm; H145 fly by = 400mm, Belgian NH-90 takeoff from 26 = 250mm

ETHB-Spot3

ETHB-Spot3

ETHB-Spot3