Short spotting trip. Suggestions??

[Shannon spotter]

Afternoon lads/lasses,

Later this year i was thinking of making a short spotting trip somewhere in europe. I'm looking for a shared military/civil airport the likes of Ryanair serve, ie. Krakow. I'm planing to fly in in the morning stay in the airport hotel and fly back the next day.

Any suggestions?????

Best regards,
Dirk.

[ehusmann]

Pisa or Roma-Ciampino maybe in Italy?
Otherwise I would suggest Madrid. Madrid itself is not combined (although it does get military visit), but it is a very busy and interesting airport and plenty of military stuff nearby (Torrejon, Getafe, Cuatro Vientos, Colmenar Viejo). You can do it all in a day if you rent a car.

One that I myself still have planned for later this summer is Oslo. Not military again, but enough stuff there that you don't see very often outside if Norway.

Erwin

[Shannon spotter]

Thanks Erwin, I did think of Spain and the UK but i'm still to young to hire a car in Europe so it would be hard to get around.
But thanks for the suggestions anyway.

regards,
Dirk.

[Starman]

Hi Dirk,

Carless in Madrid is not a problem if you have the time. There is a bus from Barajas to Torrejon town, and from the same stop, a local bus to the shopping plaza at the western end of the runway. From here you have to walk about to get a better vantage point on part of the ramp, but active stuff is easy.
The Metro system runs from Barajas, and one change in MAD will get you to Cuatro Vientos, although it can also be done by bus from Principe Pio station. The bus stops by the museum entrance. Beware, the museum closes around 13.00 One can, and I have, walked round the base, but it's a good few hours!
Getafe is also accessible, this time by train from I don't remember which station, probably Atocha, you'd need to Google to make sure. If you take the train to I think the Industrial zone, this stops right by EADS from where you can walk up towards the base until things appear. Not sure if you can do CV to Getafe or VV without going back into town.
There is a very good 70Euro hotel in Barajas village called Hostel Vicky, but opposite the Vicky there is one that advertises about 35Euros a night, don't remember the name. You can walk to T1/2/3 from here if they do not have a shuttle (Vicky does).

Good luck!

[jaah]

One that I myself still have planned for later this summer is Oslo. Not military again, but enough stuff there that you don't see very often outside if Norway.

Oslo-Gardermoen is a shared civil/military airport. It's home to the Norwegian C-130J's from 335 squadron.

[Shannon spotter]

Thanks lads,

Is there any such airports in the UK?

[Hans]

Hi,

The only airport I can think of in the UK which fits your request is Prestwick, but this is only home to a (small?) detachment of Royal Navy Sea Kings. Don't think there are any other combined airfields in the UK.

Looking quickly at the destinations which Ryanair serves from Shannon, I think the only other airfield which has both a civil and a military presence, is Wroclaw in Poland.

Regards,

Hans

Edit: of course Treviso-Istrana in Italy is also a combined airfield

[Shannon spotter]

Thanks, I had another thought. Take the ferry to holyhead, and drive up to RAF Valley. RAF Waddington, Cranwell and Coningsby are only 5 hours drive away to. I was thinking from Tuesday till Saturday should do me. Anyone do this before? If so what should i avoid or take in?

Regards,
Dirk.

[Thijs]

Did a few years ago the famous Mach Loop area Waddington (for the Indians) what I remember it was quite a drive, but once in the Waddo area Conningsby and Cranwell are very close.

[planespotters.nl]

I'm also searching for a mil spotting trip.
Not to expensive and with plane only for one or two days.
Im only 16 so i can't drive a car thats the reason why with a plane.

Kind Regards,
Sander

[Thijs]

booked a few weeks ago a roundtrip Eindhoven - Bristol with Ryanair for 12 euro's for the Culdrose airshow. And if the weather won't be ok, I just don't go Hopefully I can do the full trip for less then 100 euro

Just subscribe to their newsletter and you will receive their advertisements in your digital mailbox.

Airshows are most of the time easy to reach by public transport. So look for a combination of a cheap flight, and a airshow nearby.

Another good suggestion is Brussels when their is a NATO Meeting or European Heads of State meeting. Brussels is easy to reach by public transport (train), and public transport (busses) around the airport are for free Most spotting places can be reached by public transport.

[Hans]

Sander,

Depends a lot on what you still call "not to expensive", how much effort you are willing to put into more travel after you arrived by plane (eg. are you willing to travel another day by public transport before you reach your destination), which countries are off-limit for whatever reason, etc etc.
And last but not least, what are your personal interests; are you only into fighters or are transports also OK?

I think the best for you (and Dirk for that matter) is just to check the orbats for those countries you are willing to go to, make a priority-list of airfields, and than check the low cost carriers whether they fly to any airport nearby, instead of the other way around.

Regards,

Hans

[planespotters.nl]

Thanks for the tips guys!
I like both Hans fighters and transport!

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

make a priority-list of airfields, and than check the low cost carriers whether they fly to any airport nearby, instead of the other way around.

This site may help you with an overview of low cost carriers carrying passenger from German, Belgian and even Dutch airports..

[Lex]

Take a look over here for cheap travel. http://www.scramble.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=43695" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;