Marietta Dobbins Air Reserve Base ARB (MGE/KMGE) is a military airfield located in Marietta, a suburb 30km northwest of Atlanta. The airfield was named after Cpt Charles Dobbins – a C47 pilot who died in WW2 near Sicily – and is home to the Lockheed Martin after Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta in 1995. Thereby, MGE is home to the production site of C130 Hercules and thereby the airfield gets newly built, freshly painted and aircraft due into maintenance. In addition, you may also see some other military movements like fighter or helicopters here.

Furthermore, there are some awesome preserved aircraft around MGE: be sure to visit the Marietta Air Museum Cadet Squadron and the preserved B29. Both marked on the map!

Written by Garrett Heller, Phenom188 and Carlos Barcelo. Last Update: 2023

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
11/29	3048m / 10.000ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	It is not recommended to use ladders here at all!
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely needed to get around the airfield and reach the spots.
Drinks/Food	There are restaurants/shops all over this area.
Hotels	No specific spotter hotels around here.
Season	No season in terms of way more traffic, but around bank holidays (christmas, easter, …) traffic may be a bit quieter.
Security	Remember that this is a 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 are 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! Do not use ladders at all!
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 11/29 in use in both directions according to the winds.

	Spot #1 – Bus stop Cobb Pkwy – 29 Arrivals + Line-ups
WHERE	This spot is located just a few meters north of the bus stop “Cobb Parkway” along the Cobb Parkway SE. North of the bus stop, the terrain below the first fence is a bit lower and thus you can see over the second fence onto the line-up. Either take the bus to get here or come by car and park that at the nearby stores around here.
WHAT	Good for arrivals on Runway 29 plus 29 Line-ups. You may also see low 29 departures.
TIME	Only good on early summer mornings.
MISC.	You are by the roadside here, keep away from the road with the cars passing by fast. Also keep a very low profile here as you are visible for many cars and people! Do not use a ladder as there are many cars passing by – shoot thru the mesh quickly! Haze can be an issue on hot days!
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

Unluckily, we cannot provide any pictures yet, but Line-ups look like THIS.

	Spot #2 – Georgia Memorial Park carpark – 29 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is on the cemetery grounds, specifically adjacent to US Highway 41 near DW Campbell Tire & Service (1930 Cobb Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060).
WHAT	Good for arrivals on Runway 29.
TIME	In the fall and winter it can be good most time of the day, depending on the season light can be harsh like in summer months.
MISC.	Just around the memorial park there are plenty restaurants and co to grab food. Keep a very low profile as you are visible for many cars and people here!
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm T38 = 400mm / C130 side on = 150mm

MGE-Spot1

MGE-Spot1

MGE-Spot1

MGE-Spot1

MGE-Spot1

MGE-Spot1

	Spot #3 – Atlanta Rd SE – Arrivals 11
WHERE	Make your way onto Atlanta Rd SE which runs along the airfield’s eastern perimeter: search your favourite position somewhere along here for example at the entrance to Birmingham St SE…
WHAT	Good for arrivals on Runway 29.
TIME	In the fall and winter it can be good most time of the day, depending on the season light can be harsh like in summer months.
MISC.	Keep a very low profile as you are visible for many cars and people here! Haze, ppowerlines and big trucks can disturb your view though… There are some restaurants like a taqueria just down the road.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm C130H = 220mm

MGE-Spot2

MGE-Spot2

MGE-AHTC