Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth (FWH or NFW/KNFW) was built 1942 10km west of Fort Worth. In the history, the airfield was home to bombers like the B52, but nowadays the air base is operated by the US Navy Reserve hosting several US Navy HQ and operational units. The Texas ANG has a C-130J squadron based there, the USMC has a KC-130J squadron, and a F/A-18 squadron. There also is a US Navy C-40 squadron. The F-18s are the most inconsistent as some days they will operate out of neighboring Alliance (KAFW). The C-40s are hit or miss, some days you have 3 different ones all work the pattern and other days where you’re lucky to catch one.

Transient traffic is minimal, I would say it is more on the rare side as of late. Occasionally we will get QF-16s heading from Arizona to Florida and a smattering of others. If you’re lucky a B-52 will drop in for pattern work but that is far from common. Usually a T-38 or other trainer will come hit the pattern a bit, those I’d say are the most common of the transient traffic the base sees. Now and then you may also see foreign airforces and military personnel charters.

Lockheed Martin has the F-35 assembly line at the base so you will see F-35s from all over the world fly on test flights. Usually those fly on weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm (they will fly on weekends if the weather during the week was poor, but this is outside the norm I would say). LM has very specific rules for their test flights so often the weather must be clear with minimal winds, again this is not always the case but more often than not. Recently ATAC signed an agreement to use Mirage F-1s as test flight chase jets for F-35s so we should get more F-1 traffic in the near future.

DO NOT park in the parking lot with businesses along the West side of Grants Ln. The business owners are extremely hostile to spotters/photographers and have threatened me with calling the police for trespassing simply by parking there, it is best to park in the grass lot on the East side of Grants Ln!!

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Garrett Heller from Boneyard Safari. Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
18/36	12.000ft / 3657m
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed at spot 1 and 4. Spotting with a ladder along the fence has been known for base security forces and local police to monitor you to ensure you are not too close to the fence, best to keep the ladder back from the fence by a few feet if possible. But normally then it is no problem.
Car/Public Transport	Car definitely needed, you are screewed with public transport here.
Drinks/Food	East and north of base there are many restaurants and stores. The West side has less and they are further.
Hotels	No spotter hotels around here.
Season	There is no real season-off season cycle here: traffic is same all year. But summer is way hotter, so autumn till spring is best.
Security	Generally not a problem, be aware, with a ladder along the fence it has been known for base security forces and local police to monitor you to ensure you are not too close to the fence, best to keep the ladder back from the fence by a few feet if possible. If approached, explain what you’re doing, it’s well known and after doing so you should not have any issues
Runway Usage
General Info	Traffic is not that busy, so during calm times you may see both directions in favour of the destination’s direction. Preferred runway is 18 as south flow is predominate in the area (in the winter we will get more north winds, but the rest of the year is usually south. Check the ATIS upon arrival we’d say to verify runway usage).

	Spot #1 – Highway driveway – 18/36 Movements
WHERE	You must park in the grass East of N Grants Ln, Business will call police if you park in the paved parking area on West side of N Grants Ln. To access the spots then walk from your parked car and use the sidewalk of the overpass on White Settlement Road. Then position yourself at one of the following options:t A: You will be in the grass circle with the road around you. B:  You will be in the grass between the guard rail and the base fence. C: Continue down the street from B, you can also try to cross Lockheed Blvd but this is not advised due to heavy traffic and is dangerous
WHAT	A: 18 Departures B: 36 movements C: 36 departures, fighters are rotating here. 18 departures heavies will rotate around this spot, fighters will already be airborne.
TIME	Late noon till sunset.
MISC.	Ladder needed for B and can be useful for C. Be careful when walking here along the streets, stay away the roadside – especially while spotting with the camera. Haze can be an issue on very hot days, no shops directly here. DO NOT park in the parking lot with businesses along the West side of Grants Ln. The business owners are extremely hostile to spotters/photographers and have threatened me with calling the police for trespassing simply by parking there, it is best to park in the grass lot on the East side of Grants Ln!!
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm A: F35 = 340mm B: C130 = 105mm / F35 = 240mm C: C40 = 400mm / A333 = 100mm

Option A:

Option B:

Option C – North Flow:

	Spot #2 – S Grants Ln – 36 Arrivals
WHERE	Drive East on Downe Dr, turn right onto S Grants Ln which is the turn directly prior to stoplight for Lochkeed Blvd. Then simply stop your car on the grass side east of S Grants Ln and position yourself along the roadside wherever you want.
WHAT	36 arrivals only.
TIME	Late noon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing around here. Keep a low profile due to the nearby business. Do not block the road towards the business entrance south of the spot! They do not like spotters, so be happy they tolerate us at all.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm KC130 = 275mm / F16 = 400mm

	Spot #3 – Jack in the Box – 36 Arrivals
WHERE	There is a strip mall at Alta Mere Dr/Ridgmar Meadow Dr, southeast of the base. Park somewhere around the Jack in the Box parking lot and walk to the grass strip next to the restaurant.
WHAT	36 arrivals only.
TIME	Sunrise till early noon.
MISC.	Jack in the Box and similar directly behind you. Keep a low profile as you stand by the roadside and the police may come as you could disturb the traffic.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm F35 = 300mm

	Spot #4 – Walmart – 18 Arrivals + 36 Departures
WHERE	From Alta Mere Dr, drive to the North West corner of the Walmart, next to the car repair center. Park here and position yourself along the fence or a bit back in the parking as you want.
WHAT	18 departures and aircraft taxi by after landing, 36 taxi out.
TIME	Sunrise till early noon.
MISC.	Ladder needed for taxi way photos, but you may also use your car’s top. Everything you need directly here
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm C130 taxi = 300mm / KC135 = 250mm

	Spot #5 – Jim Wright Fwy Driveway – 18 Arrivals
WHERE	Park on the south shoulder of Jim Wright Freeway service road, just where the driveway up to the Freeway leaves the service road on the other side. You can stand in the grass on the south side as marked on the map.
WHAT	18 Arrivals only.
TIME	Sunrise till early noon.
MISC.	There is a burger restaurant just across the freeway. Keep a low profile as you stand by the roadside and the police may come as you could disturb the traffic.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm A400 = 120mm / F35 = 210mm

	Spot #6 – NW Loop 820 Service Rd – 18 Arrivals
WHERE	Park on shoulder of NW Loop 820 service road. Stand on the South side of the road in the grass for single photos, hike up grass on North side of the service road for banking and formation shots. So leave your car by the roadside and then either head for the north slope or the south grass – both marked on the map.
WHAT	18 Arrivals.
TIME	Later noon till sunset.
MISC.	NOTE North side is far more dangerous as you are near directly next to the freeway, not advised to be on close to the freeway for photos. There is a burger restaurant just across the freeway. Keep a low profile as you stand by the roadside and the police may come as you could disturb the traffic.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm C17 = 120mm / F35 = 300mm

North Grass:

South Grass: