RDM-Spot1
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Into the Jungle with a Legend: Flying Columbia’s DC-3
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March 21, 2026Redmond Municipal Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on March 28, 2026
Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM/KRDM) is a regional airport that is located in the center of the state of Oregon. RDM is the only commercial airport in the state east of the Cascade Mountain Range, and provides air service into the Central Oregon area, a popular outdoor recreation destination. It is 15 miles north of Bend, the largest and most well-known city in the region. The airport is also known as Roberts Field, named after J. Roy Roberts who helped promote efforts of local aviation enthusiats to build and develop an airport in the region. It was leased to the United States Army Air Force after the breakout of World War II to become a bomber base, and after the war was sold back to the city of Redmond for $1.
Today, RDM is served by Alaska, American, Delta and United Airlines, with destinations all across the West Coast and Midwest, using a mix of regional and mainline aircraft. Breeze Airways will also serve the airport in the future starting in 2026. FedEx Feeder and Ameriflight (for UPS) operate regular cargo service, moving packages in and out of the region to Portland, Oregon. Because of the many flight schools that are based in the area, the large FBO space and numerous local aviation companies, there is always a lot of diverse General Aviation movements, anything from the flight school Cessnas to prototype aircraft and large business jets.
During the summer for wildfire season, the United States Forest Service opens the Redmond Air Center, which includes the Air Tanker Base on the north side of the airport, to provide coordination and dispatch of firefighting resources to wildfires that start across the state. MD-87s, BAe 146/Avro RJs, Dash 8s, C-130s and 737s, some of which are rare nowadays in North America, can be based and rotated here throughout the summer leading to some unique spotting opportunites. Depending on the severity of the fireseason, there will also be charter flights to fly in/out other firefighting crews from around North America. While military traffic is generally rare, it isn’t impossible to see if you are lucky. There is a lot of construction happening at and around the airport so some spots might change in the next few years.
Written by Cooper Palubeski (follow him on Instagram). Last Update: March 2026, Spot 2
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 05/23 | 2.145 m / 7038 ft – Asphalt |
| 11/29 | 2.135 m / 7006 ft – Asphalt |
| Terminals | There is only one terminal which serves and handles all commercial traffic at the airport. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | A ladder isn’t necessary, but one is recommended at Spot 1 and could be useful at Spot 5. A 2-3 step ladder is enough to get the job done. Standing on the trunk or frame of your car will also suffice as an alternative. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is 100% necessary for spots 3-5 as there is no public transit and the spotting locations are spread out. |
| Drinks/Food | There is vending machines and a small shop inside the terminal. Plenty of food options can be found to the west of the airport off Highway 97 a short drive away. |
| Hotels | There are a few hotels close to the airport, but none of them provide spotting locations |
| Season | Sunny most days throughout the year, particularly in the summer. Being situated in the Oregon High Desert, summer has severe heat haze, is usually extremely hot, and can be very hazy do to wildfire smoke, but the traffic is best during this time due to the aerial firefighting operations and tanker base. Winter, while mostly sunny, can have periods of fogs that can linger for multiple days at a time that make spotting challenging |
| Security | Haven’t had any issues with security but there are some things to know. The airport requires at least a 5-foot buffer between people/vehicles/objects and the perimeter fence. If you need to get close to shoot through the mesh you can to quickly get your shot, but do not stand idly next to fence. DO NOT take a ladder directly up to the fence. There is a Oregon Army National Guard depot/training site on the east side of the airport. Do not park within line-of-sight of the guard booth or you will get very quickly ordered to leave. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | The airport has two near-identical length runways in an “X” layout, and usually operates in a two-runway configuration. 05/23 is typically used for commercial traffic, while 11/29, is used mostly by general aviation, business and cargo. Most common two-runway configuration will be 05 or 23 all day, and 11 in the morning, transitioning to 29 around noon and remaining that way to sunset. Depending on wind conditions, a single runway may be used for all arrivals and departures. |
| 05/23 | Used primarily by commercial traffic but GA and private will also use it for arrivals depending on their direction of approach (ie from the North, West, etc.) and volume of traffic at the time. Larger private traffic such as Gulfstreams and Bombardier Globals also favor this runway specifically for arrivals due to the wider width of the runway. American Airlines mainline aicraft will use only this runway regardless of conditions. Direction of runway depends on wind direction throughout the day. |
| 11/29 | Acts as the crosswind runway. Used primarily by general gviation and private, as well as cargo. Commercial flights may also use this runway even if 05/23 is available. In the summertime, aerial firefighting traffic prefer this runway and will almost exclusively use it throughout the day. |
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Spot #1 – Rental Car Overflow Lot – All Movements |
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| WHERE | The best all-around spot for any movements. This spot is located in a dirt lot that is used for rental car overflow parking just North of the terminal. To get here you turn onto SE Salmon Ave, and make a left before the gate to the ATC Tower. Make a right up a small hill and enter the Rental Overflow parking. Please observe and follow any signs in the area that say “NO PARKING” around the area, and do not park infront of/around the gate that the road ends at. From here you can park your car in any open spot. can exit the terminal from the North Exit and take a right, and walk to the end of the lot where there is a small cluster of trees and elevated rocks. |
| WHAT | All runways and major taxiways are visible from this spot. Taxiway A, which runs parallel to 05/23 is the only access to/from the terminal for commercial flights so they will all use it. |
| TIME | 05/23 and Taxiway A: Early afternoon until sunset in the summertime. In the winter it becomes backlit all day. 11/29 and Bravo/Charlie Taxiways: late morning to sunset all year round. Heat haze can be quite severe during the summertime. |
| MISC. | Restrooms and food/drink available in terminal. You are in the shadow of the Tower and terminal so recommended to keep a low profile, but haven’t had any issues. Airport Ops may drive by and ask what you are doing but are generally friendly. Remember this is a lot used by the rental companies so if they need you to leave or move, make sure to comply with their request.
Parking may not be available at times due to the shear volume of vehicles already in the lot. If that is the case you can backtrack to the main airport entrance, park in the main parking lot (Free parking for first 30 minutes, $2 for first 31-60 minutes, $2 per hour after) and make the short walk over with your gear. Standing on the rocks will get your subject clear of the fenceline in most cases, but a ladder will make it easier and provide better framing. If you choose to use a ladder at this spot, make sure it is at least 5+ feet away from the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm on Taxiway A and Runway 05/23, 100-300mm Taxiways B, C and Runway 11/29 C17 = 200mm; RJ85 = 200mm, E170 =462,108 150mm |
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| WHERE | As of March 2026 this spot is temporarily CLOSED due to construction that will move SE Airport Way through the existing lot. Due to the close proximity to both the road and construction equipment it is not recommended to use this spot in its current state. It is unknown if this spot will be suitable for spotting in the future. |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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Spot #3 – Redmond Air Tanker Base Observation Area |
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| WHERE | This is the official viewing area for the Tanker Base on the north side of the airport. When you get to the area there will be some signs pointing to the turn to enter the parking lot on top of the small hill overlooking the ramp space. You can also park along the fenceline and view from there. |
| WHAT | Tanker Base movements as tankers taxi in and out of the “Hot Pit”. There is an Air Attack plane that also stages on the northeast end of the ramp when it isn’t flying and will refuel there inbetween flights. Up to 5 tankers can be parked on this ramp space. |
| TIME | Light is good across various angles all day, better in the morning periods before heat haze appears. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, take everything you need. This is the one spot where you can walk up to and shoot through the fence without issues. Be respectful of the flight and ground crews and let them do their essential work during the busy periods. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm Dash8-100 = 200mm; 737 = 170mm |
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Spot #4 – Dirt Mound – 23 Arrivals + 05 Departures |
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| WHERE | Going west on Ochoco Highway, there will be a sign that says, “Central Oregon Unit Training Equipment Site”, and make that next right turn onto Sherman Road. A few hundred feet down the road and on the left there will be a dirt mound that you can park by, and then stand on to get a slightly better position. |
| WHAT | 23 Arrivals and 05 Departures. |
| TIME | Early AM to around noon in summer. Good all day in the winter. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so bring what you need. Cellular service can be quite spotty and slow in this area so be aware when tracking aircraft that you don’t miss it as it arrives. Make sure wherever you park or stage that you are not in view of the guard shack of the armory further down the road. At the dirt mound you will be out of their view. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200mm Falcon = 120 mm; |
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Spot #5 – 29 Approach – 29 Arrivals + 11 Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located right underneath the final approach for Runway 29, on public land that is south of the airport. Drive south from Spot #4 and straight past the National Guard armory site. Once past it, stay to the left and follow the primary dirt road. At the fork take a right (if you come to a bridge you went too far) and once you crest a small hill there is a pulloff for parking immediately to the left. Once you park, you can walk anywhere you want along the irrigation canal path to get the shot you desire. |
| WHAT | 29 arrivals are best from this spot. Primarily GA and private unless winds favor 29, at which time you will start seeing commercial flights using this runway. Firefighting aircraft in the summer use 29 primarily and depending on other traffic in the airspace will like making tight approaches (specifically the MD-87s) to reduce turnaround time back to fires. You can either walk a short distance and get photos from the side, or stay underneath the approach and get head on with jets that are landing just feet above you. 11 departures are also possible from this spot, specifically for larger/heavier aircraft as they use up more of the runway in the summer. 29 lineups are also technically possible, but will likely either be backlit or have too much heat haze. |
| TIME | All day. You can adjust where you stand on the walking path by the canal as the sun moves throughout the day. Heat haze is an issue for distant shots in the summer. |
| MISC. | Absolutely nothing here so bring everything you need. A ladder might be useful to shoot over the fence but there are some rocks around that can you could balance on as an alternative. Be mindful of other vehicles using the dirt road and canal path. Being public land, it is in a common space for outdoor recreation and there is a small homeless population spread out across the area. No issues have been reported here, so just be mindful of other people’s space and privacy, and keep a distant eye on your vehicle if you walk away from it. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-400mm will work well, but you can go larger too. There is a shot for all focal lengths here. CRJ = 200mm; A-10 = 130mm |
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Spot #6 – Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center – 05 Arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located on the local County Fair grounds, make a turn on either Mt Hood or Mt Jefferson Drive (keep in mind only one entrance might be open) and make a left and make your way towards the back of the fairgrounds towards the unpaved section for a better, elevated view. |
| WHAT | 05 Arrivals. |
| TIME | Early afternoon until sunset in the summertime. In the winter it becomes backlit all day. |
| MISC. | The Fairgrounds are a public use space, however, this spot is only accessible when there isn’t a large event going on at the Fair Grounds, otherwise you will need event tickets to get into the area. When the area is empty or there is not active events, only one entrance might be open. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm Dash8 = 150mm |
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Spot #7 – 2nd Floor Terminal – 05/23 and Ramp Movements |
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| WHERE | Past the security checkpoint, you head to the second floor and from the windows you will have a clear view. |
| WHAT | Runway 05/23, Taxiway Alpha and the northern end of the ramp, which Alaska Airlines utilizes. |
| TIME | Early afternoon until sunset in the summertime. In the winter it becomes backlit all day, though is possible to get shots of aircraft entering Ramp from the west on R2. |
| MISC. | Due to the unique configuration of the RDM terminal, there is no way to access this spot as an arriving passenger (unless you are connecting, but you will still need to exit to baggage claim and reenter TSA). The terminal is currently undergoing a lot of construction so this spot may be partially blocked by scaffolding and other construction equipment. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200mm |
No recent photos from this spot but there are a few older pictures on JetPhotos.
Who took these pictures? Didn’t know there were other spotters that knew of these locations!