North Island NAS

1Coronado Beach / Landing runway 29

Probably the best spot for taking pictures of aircraft at North Island is Coronado beach, seen here as spot 1 on the map. Landing aircraft will come in straight over the beach so it is pretty ideal to bring your girlfriend too. While she is getting a tan, you can enjoy yourself with aircraft spotting. To get here take the exit to Coronado (S-75). Follow the S-75 across the bridge and take a left at the first large crossing (Orange Ave). Continue on the Orange Ave and follow the signs 'beach' to get to the Ocean Blvd. Follow the Ocean Blvd along the beach until you are near the end of the road (and base fence). Find a parking spot and walk to the beach. At the beach walk to the right in the direction of the dog-run area. At this area you can photograph the landing aircraft perfectly, but stay away from the fence.

2Point Loma / Cabrillo Lighthouse

From the lighthouse or another spot at Point Loma you will have a good overview of the air station with San Diego city behind it. You can see the main platforms and the runways from here, but unfortunately that is it. Only with a really large scope you can make out some codes (if there are no heatwaves). Photographing of aircraft is also not really an option here or you will need at least 500+mm (digital) and a lot of cropping to get something decent. Helicopters are sometimes an option to photograph from here. How to get here is easiest to discribe from San Diego Intl Airport. When you are South of the airport near the main entrance of the airport, take the N Harbor Dr to the west. Continue this road until you arrive at a crossing where you have to go left (Rosecrans St). At Rosecrans St take the 8th street to the right (Canon St). Follow this street (which will become the Catalina Blvd followed by the Cabrillo Memorial Dr) till you reach the lighthouse. Park your car and enjoy the view. Due to security measures is the road towards this spot daily closed from 5pm till 5am.

3Shelter island / Take off runway 29

From this point it is possible to photograph some helicopters when they fly along the bay. Runway 29 departures are visible from here but to avoid Point Loma the aircraft quickly climb and turn left. If you have a good monocular (60x), you can read off codes and serials of helicopters on the platforms. This is only possible when there are no heatwaves (eg. around sunset). You can use the whole length of Shelter Island to optimize your view towards North Island. The easiest way to get to this spot is from San Diego Intl Airport. Follow the N Harbor Dr in westerly direction. Take a left at the second large crossing (Rosecrans St). At the Rosecrans St, take the 8th street to the left (Canon St)and follow this road which will become Anchorage Ln at the end till you come a crossing with Shelter Island Dr. Go right at this crossing (Shelter Island Dr) and follow this road till you arrive at Shelter Island. Along the road there is space enough to park your car.

4Harbor-tour

During a boattour in the San Diego bay you will pass by several platforms of North Island and therefore will be an ideal tour for the numbercrunchers. You will pass NADEP (maintenance) with always some Hornet present Also you will see the main SeaHawk-plaform with often a lot SH-60 and MH-60 there. If lucky you will see one or two carriers at home during this tour. The startingpoint is located along the Harbor Dr just north of the USS Midway museum. You should take the NORTH harbor-tour otherwise you will go to the wrong part of the bay. The tour will take about an hour.