Nörvenich

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ICAO Code ETNN/QOE
Last Validated 08-2022
City Nörvenich
Position 50°49'52"N 006°39'29"E
Runway(s) 06/24
Elevation 382 ft

General

This German Eurofighter base, home to TLG31 Boelcke, offers rather good spotting opportunities, both for reading numbers and for photography. While their home base Büchel is being extensively renovated, TLG33's Tornados also operate from here. The planned period for that is June 2022 to February 2026.

Layout

The base has an approximately east-west runway, renumbered 06/24 in August 2022. Large shelter areas can be found north of it at both ends. The EF2000s live in much newer hangars, south of the eastern runway end. The base extends further south into a forested area.

Getting There

The easiest route to get to Nörvenich is by using motorway/Autobahn A61. From this road, you use exit number 22 Gymnich and take the L495 towards Nörvenich town. After 5.4 km, turn right at a crossroad after a fly-over, where Rath is to the left. This road is officially open for local traffic only. From this road you will end up at the eastern approach.

Around the Airport

1Runway 24

The east side approach, near the 24 threshold, is the best spot to take pictures and note the serials. There is a road near the perimeter fence that gives numerous positions for your best spot on the approaching aircraft. Furthermore, it offers a view on the taxiing aircraft, that can also be photographed using a short ladder. Be advised that use of the road by motorised vehicles is only allowed for local traffic, between Onnau and the L495. Do not park at the crash gate.

2Hangar area

With the introduction of the Eurofighter, new hangars were built on the southwest side of the base, (a former shelter area used by the 81st TFW A-10 as a FOL-base!). Walking the dirt road, from spot 1 along the fence near the former shelter area, can give a view of EF2000s on the taxiways between the hangars. The view is mostly blocked though, by vegetation, other buildings and blast fences.

3Approach runway 06

At the western approach, reading the numbers is still easy but photography can be bit more of a challenge. The road B477 is lower than the base itself, so the aircraft are relatively high and there is no view of the base or the runway. Taking position a bit further from the centreline may be a good idea, especially with today's telephoto options. You may find a view on the western part of the base from a nearby dirt road, however. Obviously, if preferred, departures from runway 24 can be photographed here with a long lens.

Erik Kamphuis framed these EF2000s from spot 1, lining up on (then) runway 25.

Eurofighter in special 'Sword of Boelcke' colours over the lights at spot 3. (Anton van Ruiten)

Frequencies

285.075 / 122.100Tower
136.200 / 142.900Tower (alt)
281.675 / 315.600Radar
313.475 / 138.200Radar (alt)
CAUTIONUsing a scanner to monitor radio traffic of agencies with a security task is not allowed in Germany.

Based Operators

TLG31EF2000(T)
TLG33Tornado IDS (until 2026)

Preserved

24+52F-104G on base as 'DA+231'
29+19F-104F stored on base
44+31Tornado on base
(various)instructional airframes

Other Airfields

Ansbach/Katterbach AHP  
Berlin/Tegel - CLOSED  
Braunschweig-Wolfsburg  
Bremen/Neuenlanderfeld  
Büchel  
Bückeburg
Celle  
Coleman Barracks - CLOSED  
Diepholz  
Donauwörth Heliport  
Dresden  
Düsseldorf  
Emden
Fassberg
Frankfurt/Hahn  
Frankfurt/Main  
Fritzlar
Geilenkirchen  
Hamburg/Finkenwerder  
Hamburg/Fuhlsbüttel  
Hannover/Langenhagen  
Hohn  
Holzdorf
Illesheim AHP  
Ingolstadt/Manching  
Jever - CLOSED
Kiel/Holtenau
Köln-Bonn  
Laage (Rostock)  
Landsberg - CLOSED
Landstuhl - CLOSED
Laupheim  
Lechfeld  
Leipzig/Halle
Mendig  
Mönchengladbach (Düsseldorf)  
München/Franz Josef Strauss  
Münster-Osnabrück
Neuburg  
Niederstetten  
Nordholz  
Nörvenich
Nürnberg  
Ramstein  
Rheine/Bentlage - CLOSED  
Roth
Saarbrücken (Ensheim)  
Schleswig (Jagel)  
Spangdahlem  
Stuttgart  
Weeze
Wiesbaden AAF  
Wittmundhafen  
Wunstorf  

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