GYR-Spot1
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October 18, 2018Phoenix Goodyear Airport Spotting
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- last modified on November 12, 2018
Just 45 km westwards from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is Goodyear located. Goodyear (GYR, KGYR) was built during WWII as a Naval base, and was known as NAF Litchfield Park. In 1941, the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation offered land to the U.S. Defence Plant Corporation. The US Navy subsequently used the facility to the land to build aircraft flight decks and to test fly and deliver aircraft. The airfield’s main role following the end of WWII was that of storage of excess US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft. In 1965, military aircraft storage was consolidated at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, or AMARC as is it referred. Following the closure of NAS Litchfield Park in 1967, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport as general aviation facility.
Today, the airport is home to several private firms offering aircraft maintenance, storage, and commercial pilot training. The main tenant, AerSale, provides aircraft maintenance, overhaul and storage. But its not worth to visit this place as you are not able to make pictures as the planes are surrounded by the hangars and building around the ramp. You can just get a glimpse on the tails. Furthermore Lufthansa Aviation Training has a base there to train new pilots for the Lufthansa Group using Beechcraft F33A Bonanza, Grob G120A and Cirrus SR20.
Infos and photos provided by Tim Ames
| Airport Information | Runways | 03/21 | 2.592 m (8.501 ft) | |
| Spotting Information | Ladder | Would be helpful at but not recommend. | ||
| Car | No chance to get there without one. | |||
| Restrooms | Inside the restaurants and hotels. | |||
| Drinks/Food | Along the Litchfield Road some restaurants can be found. | |||
| Hotels | Along the Litchfield Road some restaurants hotels can be found. | |||
| Season | Winter due to heat haze. | |||
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Spot #1 – West Side |
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| WHERE | On the left side of the only runway is the storage ramp. The planes are lined up just next to the perimeter fence and perfect for photography from both sides of the airfield. Look out for a dirt track off West Yuma Road. Enter the dirt track immediately after the end of the airport fence line on West Yuma Road. It is best to drive to the end of the dirt track and work your way back up but this isn’t mandatory. A SUV is strongly recommended. |
| WHAT | Static parked aircraft and runway movements are possible. From the west side you can photograph the inner and outer row. |
| TIME | This side is best to visit in late afternoon/evening to avoid the heat haze and have a good sun postion. |
| MISC. | Photos are possible from any point along the dirt track. A ladder is better but you can also use the rooftop of your car. The fence is lower and you can hold your camera above it if you have a movable display. Security might come out to investigate but no need to be unduly concerned. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Low focal length is needed as you are very close. |
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Spot #2 – East Side |
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| WHERE | This spot can be found at the eastern perimeter fence next to MC85 and at the opposite side off West Lower Buckeye Road. The best spot to park your car at is the West Lower Buckeye Road and then cross the MC85 and Railroad to reach the fence. |
| WHAT | Static parked aircraft and runway movements are possible. East side is good for the “awkward squad” which you can´t photograph from the west side. |
| TIME | This side is best to visit in early morning to avoid the heat haze and have a good sun postion. |
| MISC. | Limited views and heat haze. A ladder is helpful. Security might come out to investigate but no need to be unduly concerned. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | At least 400mm as you have to shot over the whole field. |
3 Comments
I spotted along #1 on 14OCT2019. Its a long dirt road that is a stones throw from parked aircraft. Fantastic place, definite need a wide lens and a ladder. I was not stopped or questioned, I was there driving along the fence for about half hour.
I was at Spot #1 a few years ago, moving down the line, taking photos from on top of my SUV over the fence for about 15 minutes, when a police officer (not a security guard) drove up, questioned me and called in my ID. He was polite, but told me it was airport property but instead of citing me for trespassing, he would just ask me to leave. So I would use caution in spotting from this location.
Visited Spot 1 25FEB2020. Nice gravel path that could’ve used a mow but with driveable with any vehicle. Had a City of PHX worker in a truck inside the fence stalk me while driving up and down the fence. He never said anything and did not bother me. Only takes about 30-45 mins to shoot everything along the fence.