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November 15, 2020Emmen Air Base – Spotting Guide
- last modified on May 25, 2023
Emmen Air Base (IATA: EML/ICAO: LSME) is mainly a military airfield for the Swiss Air Force but used to hold sometimes civilian traffic for RUAG aerospace and defence systems from which it was often an Antonov 124 from Volga Dnepr (generally twice a year) who operated the flights. They operated their last flight back in September 2019.
The base is used for the pilot training for Air Force Fighter Pilots with Pilatus PC-21 and the famous aerobatic team Patrouille Suisse with F5 Tigers as the flight squadron 19 with its F5s is based here. It’s also host a large maintenance facility for FA18 & F5 Tigers of the Swiss Air Force – during summer time you will find all F-18 squadrons and the new drones (which are still not completely ready) here. On top of that, it is the location for transport squadrons and also with charter flights for the Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops linked to the Swisscoy mission.
The 2022 flights services from the Swiss Air Force at SLME can be find below (not available in English):
Belegung2022
Written by Dominik Kauer, Jeremy Denton, Thierry and Andreas Weber. Last Update: May 2023
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| Airport Information | |
| Runway | |
| 04/22 | 3000m (9,842ft) – Concrete |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Mandatory at spot 1 & 3 but keep your distances from the fence otherwise military patrols will come. |
| Car/Public Transport | A car is mandatory to drive around. Easier and faster. |
| Restrooms | Not available. You’ll have to find a restaurant or petrol station. |
| Drinks/Food | Not available. You’ll have to find a restaurant or petrol station |
| Hotels | Many around Emmen city or Lucerne. |
| Season | We suggest to come during Summer and Winter time as the landscape is very different from a season to another one at this airport. Chance of heat haze during Summer are pretty low as you are very close to the planes. |
| Security | Swiss military are very friendly however please respect the area and don’t try any bad behaviour as it is never recommended at a military base. Normally, you won’t have any problems here with the military police then. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | The main runway for departures is 04 and most arrivals take the 22. However, heavies will arrive and depart (both!) on the 04 mostly and the Pilatus aircraft almost always just use the 22. |
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Spot #1 – Arrivals rwy22 & departures rwy04
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| WHERE | While spotting at EML the reference road will be the “26” named “Seetalstrasse”. From Waldibrücke drive towards Emmen AFB. You will see the rwy lights on your left and at the roundabout take the second exit. Continue driving along the base and take the road “Halifeld” from which you need to park your car next to the road or at the nearby factories. It is important not to block the road! From here walk with your ladder by crossing the road and continue walking along the fence to find the best spot to stand. Please be careful as “sometimes” a train pass on the railroad. Don’t be afraid as it’s extremely low speed, you see it coming far away and as mentioned it’s extremely rare. |
| WHAT | Both runways actions. |
| TIME | Summer: sunrise until 1400. Winter: sunrise until 1500. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need and the most important a ladder is mandatory. Be aware of heat distortion! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A124 side shot = 80mm Fighters 300-400mm |
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Spot #2 – Line-up rwy04 |
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| WHERE | From Waldibrücke use the A26 towards Emmen AFB. You will see the rwy lights on your left and at the roundabout take the second exit. Continue driving along the base and the city. Once you notice the Emmen Church you’ll need to make a right turn on that road named “Kirchfeldstrasse”. Continue here and pass by the runway and park your car on the left on the road. Then walk towards the line-up and place yourself before the runway crossing in the morning and easily just switch to the other runway side in the afternoon. |
| WHAT | Take-off runway 04 during line-up and heavy arrivals rwy22 while making a U-turn at the end at 50mm from your objective. |
| TIME | Actually all day as you can easily walk on Kirchfeldstrasse along the fence and thus change runway sides. Eastern side: Summer: sunrise until 1500 — Winter: sunrise until 1600. Western side: Summer 1600 till sunset — Winter: not useable as sun sets too early. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need and the most important do not go further the runway crossing. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | IL76 = picture 1 70mm & pictures 2+3 = 50mm up to 200mm for the fighters. |
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Spot #3 – Touchdown rwy04 |
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| WHERE | Park at the previous spot and walk towards the gravy path which runs along the fences until the end. |
| WHAT | Arrivals & departures runway04. |
| TIME | Summer: sunrise until 1400. Winter: sunrise until 1500. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need and the most important a ladder is mandatory. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | AN124 = 50mm & FA18/F5 = 260mm |
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Spot #4 – Box + Apron |
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| WHERE | From Waldibrücke use the A26 towards Emmen AFB. You will see the rwy lights on your left and at the roundabout take the first exit. Continue on the road “Rüeggisingerstrasse” until you see the Hunter of the SAF on your left side. Park your car there. |
| WHAT | Taxiing aircraft from/to the box and some remote parking places stands. Also you can take pictures of the aircraft in the boxes. |
| TIME | Summer: 1500 to sunset. Winter: no go backlight. |
| MISC. | Exception once the fighters squadrons 17/18 are based in Emmen, there is also foods/drinks available here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | IL76 = 80mm / FA18 = 145mm / F5 = 230mm |
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Spot #5 – Radar Hill |
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| WHERE | From the spot 6 walk towards the spot 5 by walking up the hill. |
| WHAT | Arrivals rwy 22 or heavy departures rwy04. |
| TIME | Summer: 1500 to sunset. Winter: no go backlight. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby here so bring with you what you need. Also it is not an area to stay too long due to the radar waves. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | IL76 = 155mm |
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Spot #6 – Bunker |
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| WHERE | Same way as location above but you can go inside by following the “taxiway” and park the car next to the bunker. Then walk on the top of the bunker. |
| WHAT | Arrivals & departures rwy22. |
| TIME | Summer: 1500 to sunset. Winter: no go backlight. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. Also you are standing on top of the bunker so keep a low profile. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | IL76 = 155mm / CL60 = 280mm / PC12 = 400mm |
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Spot #7 – Waltwil Road |
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| WHERE | Directly at the roundabout on the A26. Take the third exit and you’ll be on “Waltwil”. From spot 6, walk along the road. |
| WHAT | Only arrivals rwy22 mornings. |
| TIME | Summer: sunrise until 1400. Winter: sunrise until 1500. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | F5 = 260mm / A124 3/4 =165mm / IL76 side = 50mm |
For point 2 you can park your car here: https://goo.gl/maps/KrznFBfmyjww9mb67
And for point 5 you have to walk. Also at point 7 you have to pay attention. This is also a private street!
I live in Emmen.The parking spaces 2 and 5 are private. Please remove these signs. Especially at point 2 there are always problems with wrong parkers / police. Thank you.
Hello Marc,
Thanks for your feedback. May I kindly ask you where can we park the car then to go to spot 2 & 5 ?
Regards,
Jeremy
Please change the parking spaces as instructed by me. When you are all gone, we locals will have the problems with the neighbours. Thank you.
Hi Marc,
Sorry for the late answer, been buys those days. Parking places have been amended as per your input.
All the best
Jeremy