Dover Air Base (DOV/KDOV) is a USAF air base located in the state of Deleware 1 hour drive east of Washington DC. Dover air base was opened in 1941 and is now home to the 436th Airlift Wing of the USAF AMC (Air Mobility Comand) with its C17s and C5s which are based here. Furthermore, DOV regularly handles some cargo aircraft like Atlas B747 or also passenger services handled by Atlas B767 from time to time.

Sadly, Dover air base hosts the biggest morgue for US soldiers. Thereby, the coffins of killed soldiers are often brought to Dover initially where family and friends can say goodbye/take farewell. This makes Dover to an important and sadly busy air base especially during war times.

In addition, Dover Air Base also hosts one of the biggest aviation museums out there in hangar 1301. The museum has somewhat 20-30 larger exhibits and allows to relive the past with some former US military aircraft. Be sure to check it out!

Written by Matt Wright, Billy Lomnychuk, Ronnie, Gautham Kurup. Last Update: September 2024

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
01/19	2925m
14/32	3930m
Terminal	In the north there is a small terminal facility handling the very few passenger services at DOV
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder is not recommended at DOV! Stay away from the fence and try to clear the fence by standing on your car’s back or top if needed quickly.
Car/Public Transport	A car is needed to reach and get around DOV.
Drinks/Food	There are some restaurants around DOV, especially to the west you will find plenty options. So no need to bring stuff with you to the spots.
Hotels	No real spotter hotel around here, but there are some hotels south of the base itsself.
Season	Summer offers better weather and is the preferred season for DOV. In terms of traffic you can depict a busy/less busy season.
Security	Spotting was used to be fine at DOV, but after someone took picturees of what was loaded/unloaded of a cargo airplane spotting got very difficult here. Since then it is strictly prohibited to take pictures of airplane movements on the ground. Along the fences are now signs saying “no photography of any aircraft”. Do not include any buildings in the back at any time! At the museum, staff and military police will go around and look out for people taking pictures of movements outside the museum: they will yell all over the museum to stop taking pictures of the planes, make you delete any pictures and leave – be aware of that! So it is important to stick to the general rules for miliatry airfields as DOV is an active USAF Air Base: Always try to keep a low profile (stow your camera at all times e.g.) and be aware of law enforcement. Police and USAF 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!
Runway Usage
General Info	Both runways are used according to the wind and direction of origin/destination. However, runway 01/19 is often used by aircraft flying patterns.

	Spot #1 – Bayside Dr – 32 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located anywhere by the roadside of Bayside Dr running along the base’s eastern edge. There are some sort of shoulders at the roadside from time to time where you could park/stop at, but there are signs prohibiting that. So it is the easiest to park at the museum and then walk back here by foot.
WHAT	From here you can see 32 Arrivals.
TIME	Early noon till sunset.
MISC.	Be aware that there are signs now saying stopping/parking is absolutely prohibited. As you are standing just by the roadside, keep a very low profile! Stow your camera at all times till you finally take your pictures. Nothing around here.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm Harrier = 295mm / A-10 = 190mm

DOV-Spot1

DOV-Spot1

DOV-Spot1

	Spot #2 – AMC Museum – Exhibits
WHERE	For this spot, head to the huge AMC museum east of the air base itsself. There is plenty of parking available north of the museum’s area. Park there, enter the museum and just stroll around the museum to take pictures of the exhibits.
WHAT	As this spot is the whole museum’s area, you can spot all exhibitis here.
TIME	Museum can work all day long depending on the angle.
MISC.	All you need can be found in the museum. Be aware that taking pictures of airplane movements outside the museum (even aircraft doing pattern work in the sky above) on base territory is prohibited since someone took pictures of what was loaded/unloaded in a cargo plane! There are signs at the fence now saying “no photography of any aircraft”. Thus spotting movements outside the museum is officially prohibited here now: staff and military police will go around and look out for people taking pictures, yell all over the place to stop taking pictures of moving planes, make you delete any pictures and leave!
FOCAL LENGTH	18-50mm

DOV-Spot2-Museum

DOV-Spot2-Museum

DOV-Spot2-Museum

DOV-Spot2-Museum

DOV-Spot2-Museum

DOV-Spot2-Museum

	Spot #3 – Route 01/Bay Rd – 01 Arrivals + 19 Departures
WHERE	For this spot yoou need to head southeast on Route 01/Bay Rd coming from the Base entrance. Just once base facilities on the left/north end, you will reach a small lake on the right. Just after the lake there is a small road turning off to the right/south. Pull off the Route 01 here and park your car by the side. Do not drive further as there are signs that say private property.
WHAT	From here you can see 01 Arrivals and 19 Departures.
TIME	Later noon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing around. Keep a low profile as you are quite visible from the highway. Stay in the car as long as possible and then jsut quickly take your pictures.
FOCAL LENGTH	30-200mm C5 front 45 degree = 70mm

DOV-Spot3

DOV-Spot3

	Spot #4 – My Roma Pizza – 14 Arrivals + 32 Departures
WHERE	This spot is located behind the facility of My Roma Pizza, which can be found northwest of the base along South Bay Rd. Just pull over here, park your car in the parking lot and search your favourite position behind the restaurant. You may also be able to take some shots from the other restaurants down the road (marked on the map). However, there are powerlines between the restaurant and approach path here, that’s why we are not sure how well that works.
WHAT	From here you are able to see 14 Arrivals and 32 Departures. A few meters back southwest you should be able to get nice views onto aircraft banking after 32 departure as well.
TIME	Early noon till sunset.
MISC.	There are plenty restaurants around here. However, thus there are also some guests walking around and you are quite close to the base, keep a very low profile here! Stow your camera at all times and only take it out once you finally want to take some pictures. Be aware that spotting here is quite tricky at some points due to the nearby powerlines!
FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm should cover everything

Unluckily we can not provide any exmaples from here yet. If you have some pictures taken from here, please get in touch with us!