Torrejón Air Base (TOJ/LETO) is located in the East of Madrid, near Barajas Intl.Airport, and was built in 1953 – once it had the longest runway in Spain. It was an USAF + Spanish AF joint venture base from 1988 until 1991. However since then till now, it is still only serving as air force base for Spannish AF and one of the most important of the SAF.

Here you can see based aircraft as some Spanish F18s, Spanish Kingdom airplanes, Guardia Civil helicopters/planes and some waterbombers from the ALA43. If you are lucky, you may also see some rare visitors as this airport is sometimes approached by foreign military/cargo airplanes or governmental jets – such as IAF B707 or Air India B747 did already for example.

Written by Björn Düwel, Jeremy Denton, Juan Manuel Gibaja (most of the guide’s pictures) and Severin Hackenberger. Last update: July 2024

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
04/22	3657m / 11998 ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and recommended.
Car/Public Transport	Only type of public transport to get to the locations is taking a taxi, uber or cabify. Car is needed to get around for sure, but be careful with the places where you cannot go to by car.
Restrooms	Towards the city of Torrejón you can find plenty restaurants/supermarkets, where you can find restrooms, too.
Drinks/Food	Towards the city of Torrejón you can find plenty restaurants/supermarkets, but the best and easiest option is the mall west of the airport.
Hotels	Plenty in the city, but no real “spotterworthy” hotel.
Season	Winter may be better due to nicer light and calmer, cooler weather. Summer is hot and hazy.
Security	Although this airfield is serving as a military air base, spotters normally don’t have any problems here. However, we can just recommend you to carry an ID with you at all time in order to be safe if they check you. In addition, keep a low profile and don’t break the road restrictions around the airport – some are marked on the map. If you break the restrictions and the police caught you, they may make you pay the fine of up to 600€! That’s why rather go some steps by foot…
Runway Usage
04/22	Usual configuration is arrivals on RWY22 and take-offs on RWY04 due to Barajas Approach, which runs south-west of Torrejon air base.

	Spot #1 – Dog Pound – 22 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot can be found at the northeastern end of the airfield and is hard to reach due to road restrictions. Be careful and do not enter any tracks with your car you are not allowed to as the fines are up to 600€ – here it is the bridge which is not supposed to be crossed! You will have to take the bridge a bit to the south (“Calle Buenos Aires”) and drive up to the farest point in this industrial area – a roundabout, where you can leave the car. Then walk to the mentioned restricted street (only restricted for unauthorized cars, not pedestrians) and follow it until you see the ILS lights. However, you can freely choose your position in the area then there regarding your favourite angle and light.
WHAT	Arrivals on runway 22.
TIME	Best in in the morning till late noon.
MISC.	There´s nothing to buy there, be sure you have something to drink or eat before you go. You will be on the meadow in the middle of nowhere. TAKE CARE NOT TO TAKE THE WRONG ROAD AND THEREBY BREAK ROAD RESTRICTIONS!
FOCAL LENGTH	IL76MF/B748 = 150mm / C295 = 275mm

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	Spot #2 – Dirt mounds – 22 Arrivals + Departures
WHERE	This spot can be found in the middle of nowhere;  west of the northern end of runway 04/22 on the opposite side of the Tower on some little dirt mounds along the highway. It is extremely hard to reach as well due to road restrictions for cars all around here. If you break them and the police arrives, they make you pay a fine up to 600€! So rather take these options: Leave your car at the western end of the airfield close to a roundabout where the first restrictions sign is and walk the 2kms in here…  Leave your car north of the highway “R2” and then walk via the bridges onto the southern side where you just have to continue eastbound.  Use spot #1’s description and then walk on after reaching spot #1. Tricky part, there is a river (marked on the map), which can’t be crossed easily as there are no bridges or similar. You can cross by using the nearby rocks. Then continue walking to the spot #2 mark along the road (see map). As you see, this spot is very hard to reach – especially without car you don’t have a chance to get into this area at all. Also note that during high temperature it is not recommended.
WHAT	All runway 22 movements as well as line-ups. You can see some hangars, the Tower or the Military Terminal – but do NOT photograph them!
TIME	Afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	There´s nothing around here, be sure you have something to drink or eat before you go. You will be on the meadow, where you have to be careful, even if they are not right, police can make you leave. In summer, you will have heat haze here. Take care and keep a low profile. Keep an eye out for car drive restrictions.
FOCAL LENGTH	Approach sight: C130 = (3/4 front 275mm & side 90mm) & A321neo = 150mm Runway sight: C17 = 150mm

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	Spot #3 – Field – 04 Arrivals + 22 Departures
WHERE	This spot is located at the southern end of the airfield between the fence and motorway “A2”. It can be reached best by car from the west as shown on the map by turning off “M108” onto a little road which will lead you then to this position. However, we don’t know till which position you are allowed to drive here – take care to not pass any signs with enter restrictions (most likely the “Via Pecuaria” signs), otherwise you may face high fines (up to 600€). Luckily this spot is no exact position, rather can be found in this area around there, so no need to exactly drive to an exact point. The safest option is to park the car in the Calle Brasil, next to the A-2. Then this spot can also be reached through a small pedestrian tunnel under highway A-2 from Calle Brasil / Calle los Curas in Torrejón de Ardoz.
WHAT	Arrivals on runway 04 and maybe also heavy 22 departures – both are quite rare.
TIME	Best in in the morning till late noon.
MISC.	Nothing around here. Take care and keep a low profile. Keep an eye out for car drive restrictions. Shops in Torrejón de Ardoz or in the large mall on the opposite site of the runway
FOCAL LENGTH	100-200mm

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	Spot #4 – Shopping Mall – 04 arrivals and 22 departures
WHERE	Follow M-108 to centro commercial. Park your car where ever you like on the huge parking lot. There is a small green strip between the parking lot and the M-108 road. You can position yourself where you like. Planes are still high enough so no ladder it needed.
WHAT	Arrivals on runway 04 and 22 heavy departures. Smaller aircraft like Fighter Jets, Firebombers and Falcons tend to do a very sharp turn when approaching in order to avoid the approach path of Barajas Airport, so they will fly just over your head or turn in front of you. That’s why this position is mostly useful for larger planes.
TIME	Summer only. From around 5 pm until sunset.
MISC.	Large mall is just some meters away with everything you need. Enough shadow available.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300 mm

Copyright Björn Düwel

Copyright Björn Düwel

	Spot #5 – The Tree – rwy04 departures
WHERE	While driving on M-100 road, take the exit n°2 “Arrendataria” then take left and simply continue on this road “Arrendataria” or M-134 until you reach the parking spot mentioned on the map on your right hand side. Try not to block the road/access.
WHAT	Only heavy or low take-off runway 04.
TIME	Best in in the morning till late noon.
MISC.	A long walk awaits you without shadows so be aware during hot summer days. Good shoes recommended. At the spot you’ll enjoy being in the shadow of the tree. Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	C130 = 330mm / A310 = 280mm

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