Volkel Air Base (EHVK) is a fighter air base close to Eindhoven. Based here are  RNAF F16 and F35 of the Lifeline3 from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Foreign fighters may be seen a few times a year for NATO trainings or similar. Infos can be found in the scramble.nl forum or just follow ADSB once you are in the area.

The air base is opened in general from 0900-1200L and 1300-1600L. Flight times may change though, but the opening times are mostly fix times – except when evening/night flights are planned: then the air base is mostly opened 1500-1800L and again 1900-2300L -> first wave departs before sunset, but second wave is mostly in the dark completely. But F16 and F35 have mostly different time slots and rarely fly together.

Our experiences: the fighters flew twice a day. Once in the morning 1000-1130 and then 1330-1500 roughly 90 minutes flights each. Mostly there were 4-6 fighter jets flying in pairs of two: often F16s and only rarely F35.

Written by Tjorve Henzler and Cor-Niels Paans. Last Update: July 2024, Spot 5 added

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
06L/24R	3024 x 45m
06R/24L	3027 x 23m
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed at spot #3, so better to have a small step with you.
Car/Public Transport	Car needed as public transport around the airfield is quite poor.
Drinks/Food	There is a supermarket south of the base, otherwise head to Volkel for groceries and co.
Hotels	None around here.
Season	The fighters fly all year around, in summer holidays maybe a bit less.
Security	The air base is quite spotterfriendly as long as you keep a low profile and do not cause any issues. But they do not have problems with planspotters in general.
Runway Usage
General Info	24R direction is definitely more often in use. 06R/24L is almost never in use.

	Spot #1 – Spotterparking north – 24 Arrivals + Line-Ups
WHERE	This spot is sort of an official lookout place. Just turn of Peelsweg east of the air base to the marked parking area next to a little forest. Then walk up to the fence for line-ups and stand away for arrivals.
WHAT	24 Arrivals and line-ups.
TIME	Summer evening are fine if something special is coming in or line-up can be photographed in the early morning hours. But you would have backlit here all the time during normal operation hours, but this spot is great for grey days.
MISC.	No ladder needed here.
FOCAL LENGTH	Taxiway = 300mm / Runway = 380mm Examples: ~350mm

EHVK-Spot1

EHVK-Spot1

EHVK-Spot1

The parking area – then walk along the walkway on the right here and you will get…

…to the spot here behind the trees:

	Spot #2 – Peelsweg – 24 Arrivals
WHERE	Easily stop along Peelsweg in one of the available parking bulges along the road’s shoulder. Or park at spot #1 and walk back here. In the end position yourself freely in the area of the approach.
WHAT	24 Arrivals only.
TIME	In winter all day; in summer from morning till mid-afternoon is good here.
MISC.	Nothing needed, nothing around.
FOCAL LENGTH	Examples: 400mm

EHVK-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Fenceside – 24 Movements
WHERE	Along N264 you will find a small gravel path/area where you can park and then walk up here by passing the field along the row of trees. You will get to the fence where you can position yourself freely.
WHAT	From here you can see all 24 movements – 24L (close) movements are very rare though!
TIME	In winter all day; in summer from morning till mid-afternoon is good here.
MISC.	Ladder needed, in summer haze makes the spot very tough to use!
FOCAL LENGTH	24L: 300mm / 24R: 400mm

EHVK-Spot3

EHVK-Spot3

EHVK-Spot3

Path along the trees:

The spot at the fence itsself:

	Spot #4 – N264 – 06 Arrivals + Line-Ups
WHERE	This spot is simply the resting area/parking lot along N264 highway just before you pass the runway axis. Park here and either position yourself around here for arrivals or head towards the little “mound” at the trees along the fence from where you can also see the runway (long lenses needed!). Nearest bus station: Odiliapeel, Rouwstraat
WHAT	06 Arrivals mainly and from the mentioned mound also the 06 line-ups.
TIME	Sunrise till later noon.
MISC.	Ladder not needed, maybe only a small step for the fence for line-ups, but the runway is very far away, so in summer haze makes the runway unuseable.
FOCAL LENGTH	Arrivals: ~330mm / Runway: 500mm

EHVK-Spot4

EHVK-Spot4

EHVK-Spot4

The parking/resting area for arrivals:

The “mound” at the trees for line-ups:

	Spot #5 – Rouwstraat – 24R departures
WHERE	The spot is along a small  road named Rouwstraat, close to the main road N264 and spot 4. Park at the roadside withouth blocking the way for the agricultural vehicles. Nearest bus station: Odiliapeel, Rouwstraat
WHAT	Very good take off shots when runway 24R is in use. You can hear a bell, used as a warning for base traffic, giving the sign the aircraft having clearance. When the aircraft stay low they are behind the treeline for quite some time. Be aware of that and stay tuned! The spot is also very good for low approaches and touch-and-go. When runway 24L is in use for departure, the fighter may come straight over you but if you are lucky they first turn somewhat to the right and then bank a little bit.
TIME	Sunrise till later noon.
MISC.	Fuel station nearby at Oudedijk 6, 5409 AC Odiliapeel. Food and drinks are also available here.
FOCAL LENGTH	300mm for F16

EHVK-Spot5

EHVK-Spot5

EHVK-Spot5