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Planespotting Guides for Belgium's Airfields and Airports

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Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Belgium. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
Every Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels is valid to every station in Belgium, so you can plan your trip accordingly. Airband receivers are banned in Belgium, therefore exercise extreme caution if you must use yours. If caught, you'll be in trouble

Planespotting at Belgium's Airports & Airfields has been plotted on Google Maps, Google Earth, and can be added to your SatNav - click to download
All 26 Belgian locations - where they are, viewing spots, hotels plus the preserved aircraft can be seen on detailed satellite images, making planning your spotting trip exceptionally easy. All these spotting points of interest can be added to your SatNav to give you another excellent resource to make your trip that much easier and more enjoyable. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

PRESERVED & STORED AIRCRAFT IN BELGIUM - their locations are marked in the Spotting in Belgium download

AVERNAS AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Northwest of Avernas village, towards Lincent town. Very friendly, ask at the cafe for access to the hangars.

BAISY-THY AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Southwest of Quatre Bras village. Very friendly, ask for access to the hangars.

PRESERVED IN BESSEMER

Spotting Info
In Bessemer, 20+59 MiG23 and 28+22 F104 are preserved. The museum is closed but these two are outside round the back of the building and marked in the Spotting in Belgium download.

BORLO-WINTER 1944 MUSEUM

Spotting Info
In Borlo village on the N755. The museum houses A-80 SA.318 Alouette (outside), OO-ABN Auster and OO-FDE AOP6 wings only.

BRUSSELS AIRPORT (EBBR/BRU)

Airport Info
Two parallel runways, either side of the terminal, 07L/25R and 07R/25L, and a cross runway 02/20. Runway usage changes regularly so keep watching all 3 regularly. Weekdays are busier with more charter flights. If you go at the weekend, Sunday is busier. These viewing spots are marked in the Spotting in Belgium download.

Wing Tips and Brussels Cafes
In the terminal, views can be had from either the Wing Tips restaurant or Brussels Cafe. Wing Tips is up the escalator in the arrivals hall to the top level, then past Pizza Hut and the kids play area. Views of the apron are ok from Wing Tips but runway 07L/25R views are restricted due to a satellite terminal in the way. Over the runway and away to the left is the cargo apron and you get a side on view of the GA area. No good for photos though due to the angles and looking through triple glazing. Wing Tips closes at 2000. On the right, at the top of the escalator is a seating area (which is actually above Wing Tips). This area offers the same views as Wing Tips except, as you are higher, you also get a restricted view of 25L/07R.

Car Parks
If you come down the escalators from the Wing Tips cafe to departure level, the top levels of the car park opposite gives good views of movements on 07L/25R and the long haul freight apron. Level 6 of Front Park 1. It also has restricted views of 07R/25L but you have to run to the other side of the car park to read them off, but you'll miss very little in the way of movements. If you go to departure level from the Wing Tips, turn left and walk about 200 metres, you will see the newer of the car parks, Front Park 3, across the road. This gives excellent views of the cross runway 02/20 with 07R/25L to your right and is just about high enough to monitor 07L/25R. Therefore you can log all arrivals and departures without hassle: a great place to stay. If it rains, the lift enclosure has plenty of space to stay and large windows with views. Runway use seems to be random but, weather permitting, either of these car parks should be ideal to spend the day monitoring movements, just watch all the runways. No problems from the authorities.

Landside

To get to the GA, from the Wing Tips go to ground level where the bus and coach station is, go through the bus station and follow the road straight in front of you, passing right behind the DHL freight sheds to your right. You should reach "Abelag" in about 10-15 minutes, having passed 2 sets of security gates - you'll find the biz just after the right bend. The GA building is black - as you look at it, to the right is a gate where you can log quite a few biz. Then walk to the left hand side of the building. Go into the car park here, where there is a slightly raised bank which offers good views of the whole GA Area, the DHL ramps and the GA Hangars if they're open. Just past Abelag is a fence where good photos can be taken of departing aircraft on 25R, and more biz can be seen.

At the old fire station on the Melsbroek (Air Force) part of the airport is N50812 marked "OO-LCM" as a fire training airframe. It's between the maintenance area and the Belgian Air Force ramp. A310s CA-01, CA-02 and OE-LMP are also stored over here. At the military gate to the barracks northside and across the road are guards CP-10 C-119G Boxcar, RM-7 P.66 Pembroke and LX-DKT DC3, visible from the N21.

Airside
The windows at the gates to the right of the entrance to pier B have very good views of runway 25L/07R. Windows to the right of the pier look over the central apron. Walking to the very end of the pier and looking and out the windows on the left hand side offer distant views of the military area. The military ramps can't be seen from either Wing Tips or the car parks. However once you're airside and walking along the piers, everything on here is easily logged. Pier A is obviously much closer to the maintenance and military areas and everything can be read off.

Planespotting Hotels - their locations are marked in the Spotting in Belgium download

The Ibis Budget is about 7 minutes from the airport by courtesy bus, usually leaves every 30 minutes but there's a full timetable posted at the main bus station at the airport terminal. If you ask for a room overlooking the main road, even numbered rooms 402-436 and 502-536, arrivals on 07L can be read off along with departures on 25R, although some of these are too high by the time they reach you.
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The Ibis Hotel is in the same complex as the Ibis Budget above, and as such, is also a 7 minute shuttle bus ride from the terminal. Room 311 gives views of departures off 25R.
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The Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel is a very short walk from the terminal and airport views overlook a few stands and possibly the cross and southern parallel runways. Some rooms face 07L/25R with similar views to those from car park 1. Room 4118 faces the threshold of 07R - if they're using 25s, only those which used the full length of 25L on landing can be seen as they turn off at the end.
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The PentaHotel has a free shuttle bus to and from the terminal. No views from the rooms however.
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Helpful Planespotting Brussels Airport Links
Luchtzak.be Movement Forums
Brussels Airport Cargo Timetable - next 48 hours only
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BRUSSELS-ROYAL MUSEUM OF THE ARMY AND MILITARY HISTORY

Spotting Info
The Musee Royal de l'Armee et d'Histoire Militaire is in the Jubelpark in Brussels city centre, with numerous public transport stops close by. If you have your own transport, be wary of where and how you park in the museum car park. It's very disorganised and you could well be blocked in. The museum houses over 100 aircraft exhibits, most of which can be found in the main hall. Prepare your visit in advance though, so you know where to look for those that aren't in the main hall. They often have one or two in the restoration area and while it is sometimes open, if not just ask and they'll usually let you in. If you take photos as well as logging then allow a couple of hours for your visit. Open Tuesday-Sunday 0900-1200 and 1300-1645, entry is free. Photos of the exhibits can be found on the Brussels Air Museum site.

CERFONTAINE AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Southwest of Cerfontaine town, alongside the N589. Friendly, ask for access to the hangars. The clubhouse has a bar with a terrace.

CHARLEROI AIRPORT

Spotting Info
Most will be logged whilst taxiing in or out, a military repair facility on one side of the terminal and some light aircraft on the other side. On the south side of the runway, just west of the light aircraft area, is the SABCA factory, where FA-27 F-16 is preserved. It's in between some buildings so if you don't have a car, you'll have to see it on arrival or departure. If you have a car, the airport road runs right past the entrance with the F-16 just behind it. Northside, but in the west of the airport, and almost opposite the F-16, OO-DHS B727 and OO-KGS DH115 Vampire are stored. There is also an unknown forward fuselage next to the B727.

Transfer to Brussels Airport
A coach leaves from outside arrivals here to Brussels Midi railway station every 30 minutes. You can buy tickets from the kiosk in arrivals for 22EUR return and takes about 45 minutes. From Midi station there's about 5 trains an hour to the airport, takes 20 mins and costs 6EUR return.
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CHIEVRES AIR BASE

Spotting Info
Three frames preserved around the air base. Northside, on the N525 is EG-18 Meteor. Head northeast along here for IF-65 Hunter preserved on the roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout, and at the main gate on your right is FU-33 F84F.

GERAARDSBERGEN-OVERBOELARE AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Southwest of Gerarrdsbergen town. N90443 C-54 marked "N2894C" is stored here. Friendly, ask for access. If the hangar is locked, it has glass windows on the side to log the residents.

GRIMBERGEN AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Northeast of Grimbergen town. 4 CM-175 is preserved at the Aero Club. Contact them in advance to arrange a visit, they are very friendly. Ask in the office in the tower for access and they'll take a copy of your passport, you'll need a visitor's badge and then you can wander the hangars. Walk down to the two large round hangars containing the majority of the residents. Carry on past them and head round towards the end of the runway for another hangar belonging to a maintenance company. Ask for access here, they are also friendly.
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HOEVENEN AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
West of Hoevenen town. Friendly, ask for access to the hangars.

HOUTHALEN HELIPAD

Spotting Info
In the southern part of a large industrial estate, in the south of Houthalen town.

KIEWIT-HASSELT AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
South of Zonhoven town, near Kieweit village.

KOKSIJDE AIR BASE

Spotting Info
The aero club and cafe are on the west perimeter on the N8. All outside here can be logged from the car park. Northside ID-123 Hunter and B-8 HSS-1 Seabat marked "OT-ZKH" are preserved at the barracks. B-4 HSS-1 Seabat marked "OT-ZKD" is also displayed on base. They hold an annual airshow. The flying is far away but if you leave the base and go outside at the eastern end, there are some great photo opportunities. If you arrive before 0600 you can read and see all the far side aircraft from the surrounding roads before the police shut them off.
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KORTRIJK-WEVELGEM AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
In between Kortrijk and Wevelgem towns, alongside the N8. No airside access, but parking at the terminal is free and there are views around the terminal and from the cafe of those parked in this area. Across the runway is a road running the full length of the runway, with quite a few hangars up and down it. You may be able to log a few from the terminal area but if you follow the road down towards Wevelgem and turn right at the roundabout, this road will take you round to these hangars. You'll also have views across to the terminal from here to look in the hangars if any are open.

LIEGE AIRPORT

Spotting Info
No scheduled flights, with just a couple of charter flights, but a lot of cargo flights. This means that the terminal appears somewhat abandoned at times. The weekends are usually good to see TNT's 146s and a couple of 737s and not much will move. It's quiet during the day, often with hours between flights. The airport is extremely busy from around 2300 and continues through the night. The upstairs cafe in the terminal is the only place to view the ramp in front of the terminal, but if there isn't a flight leaving, it's often closed. Free parking for 30 minutes at the terminal car park. There is a big area of waste ground at the end of the TNT ramp, near the 05R threshold, where the local spotters stay but there is no shelter from the weather. You can walk here from the terminal, just follow the road west behind the hangars, and you can log as you go. Good views of the TNT ramp, and of the ramp north of here across the runway. There are roads that follow the perimeter all the way round, giving very good views of the near ramps, such that most can be logged from a drive round. Viewing at night is not a problem as the ramps are so well lit. Northside there's a road that runs from Bierset village to Fontaine, and runs through the military area. As you head down towards Fontaine, you'll see the helicopter hangar and apron on your left and on the right are A-34 SE.3130 Alouette, B-11 BN-2 and OO-FDH AOP6 marked "OO-FDL" just behind the gate. The helicopters are usually in the closed hangar at weekends.

Public Transport
If you use the Eurostar from London to Brussels, the ticket is valid to every station in Belgium, so you can catch a train to Liege. Once in Liege, bus 53 operates from here to the airport, listed as Bierset, and stops at the TNT area.

Planespotting Hotels - its location is marked in the Spotting in Belgium download
The Park Inn is a short walk from the terminal, and a high, northwest-facing room gives views of the top end of the ramp and of arrivals and departures on 23L. Room 419 has the best view and is in the corner. You can contact the hotel in advance to request this room, they are very accommodating.
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MST-Aviation Liege Movements Forum
The Liege Airport timetable will help you plan your visit
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MATAGNE-LA-PETITE AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
South of Matagne-la-Petite village. Hangars on both sides of the runway, with their own entrances. To avoid the long detour from one to the other, you'll have to ask permission to drive or walk over to the other side.

PRESERVED IN MILMORT

Spotting Info
In Milmort, FA-46 F-16 is preserved, close to MT-30 CM-170 preserved on a roundabout. Their locations are marked in the Spotting in Belgium download.

OSTEND AIRPORT

Spotting Info
West of the terminal ramp is the long term storage ramp, where there are usually a few aircraft, including DC8s 9G-AXB, 9G-AXE and 9G-BAN currently. West again is the GA area, where EC-IDQ B727 is preserved with a flying club, and the fuselage section of 5N-VRG B707 joins part of the college there. South of the runway, off the N324 are what could be allotments alongside the water. The first track runs to a crash gate overlooking the GA area, but you can also get good photographs here. Driving through the allotments to the far side will give you views of the Terminal ramp, should you not be able to log these from the Terminal area. B742Fs G-MKBA and G-MKEA are also stored here, parked away from the main area.
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SAFFRAANBERG AIR BASE

Spotting Info
This military helicoper base is alongside the N3 south of Sint-Truiden airfield. They hold an annual Open Day, usually at the end of March, for visitors to look at their aircraft. FX-53 F-104 is the pole mounted gate guard and is marked in the Spotting in Belgium download.

SAINT HUBERT AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Northeast of Saint Hubert town. Very friendly, ask for access in the office under the control tower.

SCHAFFEN-DIEST AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
In between the towns of Schaffen and Diest, alongside the N174. Home of the annual Old Timer Fly In, you'll need to apply in advance for an airside permit on the Diest Aero Club site if you wish to visit during the fly in and go airside.

SINT-TRUIDEN AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Just south of Sint-Truiden town. The main entrance is on the south side with a couple of hangars. Friendly, ask in the office for access. Northside there is a hangar and a helipad that you should be able to drive round to but if no one's there and the gates are locked you won't get in or see anything.

SPA AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
Southeast of Spa town, alongside the N62. Friendly, ask in the office and you'll be escorted round the hangar. BA-30 Mirage and FR-27 F-84F are preserved here and are marked in the Spotting in Belgium download.

ZWARTBERG AIRFIELD

Spotting Info
In the northeast of Zwartberg village.