Brize Norton RAF Station - Spotting Guide

Brize Norton RAF Station – Spotting Guide

September 14, 2014 - last modified on February 21, 2024

Royal Air Force Brize Norton is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. The station is home to Air Transport, Air-to-Air refuelling and Military Parachuting, with aircraft operation from the station including the Airbus A400M, Globemaster C-17 and Airbus A330MRTT. It’s about 105km west north-west of London. Mainly Royal Air Force but sometimes you can get special visitor particularly from the Middle East. It still a buisy military airport, of course it’s not LHR but I think at the end of the day, you could be happy about your few pictures.

Brize Norton is very close to the RAF Fairford base and you can switch easily.

Written by Jeremy Denton, Alexander Rowley and Patrick Weis. Last change: February 2024 (Spot 3 added)

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
07/25	3.050m (10.007 ft)
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed at Spot 1 & 2.
Car/Public Transport	Car is neccesary.
Restrooms	Nothing available at the spots.
Drinks/Food	Available in the nearby town Carterton.
Hotels	There are no special hotels around.
Season	Best weather in the summer month.
Runway Usage
07/25	Used in both directions as per Wind direction. Nothing special.

	Spot #1 – Crash Gate – Arrivals and departures rwy 25
WHERE	Exit the A40 when you see the sign of Brize Norton Rd B4477. Drive southwards and follow the signs and indication. Take Station Rd until the start of the rwy26. The spot is next to a crash gate. Parking is very limited due to the crash gates, which should not be blocked! Maybe 2-3 cars.

WHAT	Good location for arrivals and line-ups on rwy25.

TIME	From the sunrise to noon for the line-ups. From late morning until afternoon for arrivals.

MISC.	Bring what you need before coming at this spot. Ladder needed for line-ups.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

	Spot #2 – Ground and taxi aircraft
WHERE	From spot 1, continue to station Rd until next village. Turn on the right Bridge St, then A4095 and take first way on the right. Continue strait in the field until you see some house take on the right. Follow the road to the end. Park your car and walk along the fence to take pictures of aircraft.

WHAT	Best for the ramp and taxiway movements. Runway is in sight, but heat haze can be really a problem.

TIME	From the early of the morning to approximately 14:00 / 16:30 for the taxiway.

MISC.	Bring what you need before coming at this spot. A small ladder is necessary

FOCAL LENGTH	On the Taxiway C-17 40mm, A330 24mm, A400M 50mm. On the runway A330 120mm, C-130J 180mm

	Spot #3 – Black Bourton Footpath – 07 Movements
WHERE	From Carterton Town centre, drive south on Black Bourton Road before turning right into milestone Road, which leads onto ‘The Crescent’. Park before the foot path, then follow it along until you get to a crash gate, and a lower part of the perimeter fence to see the runway. You can also start from spot 2 and continue the path along the fence to the final position.

WHAT	Best for runway 07 arrivals. Aircraft turning off and onto the south end of the runway can be seen but gears are cut off.

TIME	Usually the whole day for the arrivals. Ground from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm