Meiringen Air Base (ICAO: LSMM), is located in the state of Bern. The airport is only used by the Swiss military air force and it’s the second busiest military stations in Switzerland. LSMM is also the only Swiss airbase that uses an aircraft cavern in daily operations. The runway is equipped with retractable arresting gear devices which is mainly used by the FA18 Hornets at some times.

The traffic is mainly concentrated on FA18 Hornets and F5 Tigers. It is the home base to two fighter squadrons, militia Squadron 8 “Destructors”, equipped with the F5 Tigers and professional Squadron 11 “Tiger” equipped with the FA18 Hornets. The airfield has a small museum that is open on Wednesday afternoons from May to October.

The use of a airband scanner is tolerated and the frequency for the tower is 130.150 MHz.

Due to the shade is coming in quite early in the winter month. Check the following link for the best spots with light:

https://shademap.app/@46.7407,8.11654,13.43898z,1746210443380t,0b,0p,0m

The 2025 flights services from the Swiss Air Force at LSMM can be find below (not available in English):

Written by Jeremy Denton and Stefan Bratner. Pictures by Neo-Falcon Photography. (Last update 2025).

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	2,003m (6,571ft) Asphalt
Spotting Information
Ladder	There is no need for it
Car/Public Transport	Car is recommend but there is a bus which runs from the Meiringen train station to the airport hourly.
Drinks/Food/Restrooms	Available at the Restaurant “Fliegertreff” at the airport.
Hotels	Few hotels could be found next to the airport, many villages or small city are nearby.
Season	The best season is during winter time as you get some fantastic background shots with the snow on the mountain. Otherwise summer to get more chance on the sun.
Security	We recommend you to take some ear protection as you are pretty close from the jets and to respect the signs and the environment. People are really friendly even security AF but if you don’t respect the rules, the Air Base Security Soldiers will come to move you pretty quickly.
Runway Usage
10/28	Depends on the wind direction.

	Spot #1 – Runway 28 (approach)
WHERE	From Meiringen Base, follow the road “Balmstrasse” until you cross the taxiway of the fighters where they come from the cave and a few hundred meters you will see some houses where you can park the car next to the road on the grass. Try to park your car on the best way possible.
WHAT	Good location to get arrivals shots on runway 28.
TIME	All day in winter. Not early morning/evening in summer.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

LSMM-SPOT1

LSMM-SPOT1

LSMM-SPOT1

	Spot #2 – Cave taxi way
WHERE	This spot is located directly at the Air Base. Park your car at the official visitor parking of the airport and then walk direction runway 28 along the road until you reached the cross road from the cave to the runway. Stay on the side of the road and not on the field.
WHAT	Taxiing aircraft from the cave to the runway and conversely.
TIME	Mostly all day.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-105mm

LSMM-SPOT2

LSMM-SPOT2

LSMM-SPOT2

LSMM-SPOT2

LSMM-SPOT2

LSMM-SPOT2

	Spot #3 – The House
WHERE	From the public parking, drive in the opposite direction of the spot2 on “Guntlerey” road until you reached a small house next to the road. Park your car at the nearby shelter and walk back. But do not park on the taxiway as it is still active!
WHAT	Arrivals and departures both runway directions and taxiway Gulf movements.
TIME	All day in winter. Not early morning/evening in summer.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

LSMM-SPOT3

LSMM-SPOT3

LSMM-SPOT3

LSMM-SPOT3

LSMM-SPOT3

LSMM-SPOT3

	Spot #4 – Runway 10 Cross Way (South)
WHERE	From the spot 3, continue on the same road and same direction. Once you are at the “Waldey” intersection park your car on the left side of the road next to the farmer house (refer to the map). Then walk a few minutes towards the spot.
WHAT	Good for arrivals runway 10 but you can also have shots of departures from rwy28.
TIME	All day in winter. Not early morning/evening in summer.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

LSMM-SPOT4

LSMM-SPOT4

	Spot #5 – Runway 10 Cross Way (North)
WHERE	From spot 4, just continue driving and cross the runway then on your left you’ll notice a small white building it’s here that you have to park the car (not much available space, 2 places). Then walk towards the horse field.
WHAT	Good for arrivals runway 10 but you can also have shots of departures from rwy28.
TIME	Early morning in Summer, no good during winter time.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

LSMM-SPOT5

LSMM-SPOT5

LSMM-SPOT5

	Spot #6 – Barrier/Runway 28 Cross Way
WHERE	There is a road called “Unterbachstrasse” which crosses the runway close to the threshold of 28. Park your car at the airport visitor parking lot and then walk a few meters to a barrier/Tiger F5 at the runway, which of course will be closed when there are activities on it. You can stay at the barrier/Tiger F5 for almost the whole day (south).In the summer mornings/evenings you can cross the runway and walk to the other side (north).Parking directly at the northern point is no longer possible. We recommend you to use the official visitor parking lot of the airport and walk the way up by crossing the runway.
WHAT	Arrivals and departures both runway.
TIME	South: All day in winter. Not early morning/evening in summer. North: Early morning/evening in summer only
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

South:

LSMM-Spot6 South

LSMM-Spot6 South

LSMM-Spot6 South

North:

LSMM-Spot6 North

LSMM-Spot6 North

LSMM-Spot6 North

LSMM-Spot6 North

LSMM-Spot6 North

LSMM-Spot6 North

	Spot #7 – Line-up Runway 28
WHERE	From the spot 6, just walk few hundred meters on the small path until you reached the line-up position on runway 28.
WHAT	Good location to have face to face F5, FA18 pictures and also arrivals runway 28.
TIME	Early morning in Summer, no good during winter time.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

LSMM-SPOT7

LSMM-SPOT7

LSMM-SPOT7

	Spot #8 – The Cliff
WHERE	That’s a tricky way to go up to Mountain. Theirs two possible way to go up there. First, from spot 6, drive back on the main road direction right “Grimsel” and follow the road for maybe 5-7 minutes until the roundabout where you will have to take on the right and continue on the road “Balmstrasse” until you see the sign “Zaun” where you will have to take the road on the left. This road will guide you to the top of the mountain. It takes approximately 30 minutes. From there, I just recommend you to have a look on the map and follow the itinerary as it is pretty complicate to explain the location. Update October 2025: A forbidden sign to use the road uphill has now been put in place at the beginning of the Bielti road. According to locals it is anyway the only road to access the spot 8 so just keep a low profile and be polite with the locals to avoid any further issues (also mentioned in the map).
WHAT	This is the most dangerous spotting location of Meiringen. From here you are taking pictures near a cliff edge of 300 meters with only a small fence to “protect” you. We recommend you not to rely on the fence. It’s a tinny place, only 2 people can take pictures, the place is pretty narrow due to trees branches. Theirs the big waterfall on your left, approximately 50 meters. Park your car next to the farm and ask politely the farmer in GERMAN if you can park the car here because you want to take pictures of the Swiss Hornets. Ideally 1 car. Good for night shots and park aircraft on the ground.
TIME	A lot of shadows during the day due to the trees and the mountain. Best night shots.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so take what you need before coming at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	At least a 400mm, bigger would be much better specially for landings and departures aircraft.

LSMM-SPOT8

LSMM-SPOT8

LSMM-SPOT8

LSMM-SPOT8

LSMM-SPOT8

LSMM-SPOT8

	Spot #9 – Restaurant Fliegertreff/Terrace
WHERE	There is more or less the airport building, with a souvenir shop and a restaurant, mainly used by the staff of the base, but it is also open for public. Park again at the official vistior parking lot and cross the road to entrance if the building. You can`t miss it. There is a souvenir shop at the entrance and on the left is the bistro/restaurant. You don`t have to order something and you can go straight to the top by turning right at the entrance and use the stairs up to the second floor/rooftop. Keep in mind the building is not open 24/7!
WHAT	Similar to spot 6. You will see all runway activities from here. You are on a higher level and somtimes you are on the same level as the planes causing a fantastic background in your photos.
TIME	All day in winter. Not early morning/evening in summer.
MISC.	There are some benches on the top. If you wanna eat something at the Bistro check the opening hours on their website. Cash only. Closed on weekends.
FOCAL LENGTH	250-400mm