Kecskemét

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ICAO Code LHKE/
Last Validated 08-2010
City Kecskemét
Position 46°55'03"N 019°44'57"E
Runway(s) 12/30
Elevation 376 ft

General

Nowadays one of the only two remaining Hungarian Air Force bases and home to the fighters of 59. "Szentgyörgyi Deszö" Harcászati Repülö Bázis. All Gripens and MiG-29s are based here. It is quite OK for photography but better for the number crunchers. Scattered around the base are several stored aircraft that can be read since most of them are outside.

Layout

All military activity is located on the western part of the base. The active fighters are either postioned on the flightline or operate from their semi-permanent shelters on the southern side.

Getting There

The base is located just east of the city of Kecskemét. To get here while using the E75 (from Budapest to Szeged) exit this highway at Kecskemét-Fehértó. Head east from here using road number 54. Following this road it will change into road number 44 (towards Békéscsaba) and you will automatically pass the runway 30 approach.

Around the Airport

130 approach

The approach of runway 30 is quite nice, both for reading and photography. You can position yourself along road number 44 (somewhere in the neighbourhood) where you will end up following the 'Getting There' information above. If you prefer being a bit more out of sight you can chose to stand alongside a dirt road nearby.

2Along the runway

This spot is actually situated along the complete runway. There is a dirt road that runs parallel to the runway and base perimeter. It gives a good view of the complete base and the aircraft that are outside (both stored and active). The road can be found by turning left from the 44 after you pass the base. Driving the road is dependent on the weather conditions. When its raining driving the road becomes tricky.

312 approach

Completing your log of the aircraft outside takes you to the approach of runway 12. Beware that the dirt road slowly changes to a cattle path and you might find yourself parking your car at some time and walking the rest. Alternatively you can access this spot via a road called Kaffka Margit utca. When runway 12 is in use you can position yourself for landing shots. Before midday you are a bit under the aircraft because of a line of trees, but once the sun swings around you can spread further out into the field to get better angles. From here you can also view the Gripen flightline.

The picture of this new Gripen was taken from a dirt track just south of Spot 1. The track leads to a spot in the fields an out of sight of road 44. The aircraft are perhaps a bit high and you have no view of the runway. (Jurgen van Toor)

This L-39 is shot near spot 3 with 420 mm. (Matt Critchley)

Frequencies

311.100 / 135.750Tower
344.400 / 120.250Approach

Based Operators

1. Vadászrepülö SzázadJAS39C
JAS39D
3. Szallitó Repülö SzázadAn-26

Preserved

'1976'A MiG-19PM falsely marked '1976' is preserved on the base
'1976'Another '1976' is this MiG-17PF, also preserved
725/'1976'The final '1976' is a preserved MiG-15bis
909/'1978 1979'This MiG-21F-13 is also preserved on the base
47An IL-28 that is dumped on the base (north west side)
002/ '1951'A SBLim-2 that is dumped on base (north west side)
684/'1977'A MiG-15bis that is dumped on base (north west side)
301/'25'This MiG-21F-13 is preserved at the main gate.

Other Airfields

Kecskemét  
Szolnok  

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