Richmond Air Base - Spotting Guide

Richmond Air Base – Spotting Guide

May 1, 2024 - last modified on May 19, 2024

RAAF Richmond airbase (XRH/YSRI) is a big and important RAAF base about 50 kilometers northwest of Sydney area. The air base was opened in 1916 once a military flying school was founded here. Time moved on, world changed and today the air base is home to some RAAF squadrons like the 37th Squadron with its fleet of C-130J Hercules. In addition you will see the RAAF C17s and C40s at Richmond regularly.

Furthermore the Coulson/NSW Rural Fire Service fleet featuring B737 firefighters and Chinhook helicopters is sometimes here as well.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Clinton J Down Photography. Last Update: Spring 2024

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	2134m (7000ft)
Spotting Information
Ladder	Do not use ladders ar RAAF Richmond at all and try to keep away from the fence (as long as possible)!
Car/Public Transport	A car is very useful to get to around the airbase. However, the southern flank can be reached by train: take a service to Clarendon or East Richmond station.
Drinks/Food	There are some shops and restaurants around the air base.
Hotels	No spotter hotels around here!
Season	Take care as morning fog is a BIG issue at RAAF Richmond throughout the whole year! Apart from that there is no real season in terms of more/less traffic, although weekends and holiday season may be a bit quiter.
Security	Be aware that spotting here is bit tricky: security is very tight and may also ask you to move on. It is important to stick to the general rules for miliatry airfields: Always try to keep a low profile (stow your camera at all times e.g.) and be aware of law enforcement. Police and security forces may be uneasy of photographers around the base and it is very possible you will be asked to leave. In addition, always keep an ID with you in case you are getting checked: stay friendly, simply explain what you do here and cooperate… Mostly if you just say you are watching planes (and try to not have your camera next to you), they will leave you alone and tell you not to make any pictures. But sometimes they do also run license plate checks, wanna see the pictures on your SD or they will even make you delete shots, so plan on either having throwaway shots or download shots to another device while spotting to be safe. Stay away from the fence as long as possible to avoid attention and such trouble! Do not include ANY military facilities at all time!
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 10/28 is used in both directions according to the winds and the direction of the destination/origin.

	Spot #1 – Cemetery – 10/28 Movements
WHERE	For this spot you need to head to and enter the Richmond lawn cemetery: there is a small concrete road running through the cemetery plus also a dirt mound close to the base fence that you can stand on. Park your car in the carpark and head to the dirt hill by foot. However, only go up there once finally taking your pictures! The area can also reached by public transport: take a train to East Richmond train station and walk up north here…

WHAT	This spot is good for 10 arrivals and 28 departures. You can also see the taxiway and thus 10 Line-Ups plus heavy 28 Arrivals, but that is a bit tricky due to the fence.

TIME	From sunrise till late noon/afternoon.

MISC.	Keep a low profile here especially once security passes by on the street. Be careful of snakes espeically during hotter summer months! There are some restaurants and shops just down towards Richmond 2-3 minutes away by car.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm C130J = 215mm

View from the concrete road in the cemetery towards the base fence – you can see the dirt mounds in front of the tree in the back:

	Spot #2 – Hobart St – 10 Arrivals + 28 Departures
WHERE	An alternative spot for the cemetery is Hobart St just west of the runway’s end and base. Here you are between some houses thus security won’t see and bother you… The area can also reached by public transport: take a train to East Richmond train station and walk up north here…

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 10 and low 28 departures should work here.

TIME	From sunrise till late noon/afternoon.

MISC.	Be careful of snakes espeically during hotter summer months! There are some restaurants and shops just down towards Richmond 1-2 minutes away by car.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm should cover everything

Unluckily we can not provide any examples taken here yet. If you can do so, please let us know!

	Spot #3 – Percival St – 28 Arrivals
WHERE	Turn off route B59 into Percival St just east of the air base and runway’s edge. Position youself by the roadside of Percival St on the dirt patches where you can stop/park on and thus search your favourite spot around here. You can also take a train to Clarendon station south of the base and walk over here by foot.

WHAT	From here you can only see the arrivals onto runway 28.

TIME	From sunrise till late noon/afternoon.

MISC.	This spot is really close to the fence and property of the air base. So keep a very low profile! However, you are a bit under the level of the runway and nearby patrol street, so security sometimes may also not care about you at all. Also be aware that due to the nearby trees and powerlines it can be very tricky to shoot the fast arrivals here – you not to be quick! Be aware of snakes during the hot summer months!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm C17 = 75mm / C40 = 100mm