Oceana "Soucek Field" NAS - Spotting Guide

Oceana “Soucek Field” NAS – Spotting Guide

February 24, 2024 - last modified on February 26, 2024

Oceana Naval air station NAS (NTU/KNTU) is also known as Soucek field named after the Navy pilot Apollo Soucek. The station is the base of 16 F/A-18 Super Hornets squadrons, 1 squadron of C-40 Clippers and 1 squadron of T-34C turbo mentors. Furthermore, some bigger US military aircraft like C17s or C130s are showing up from time to time as well.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Michael Ganoe Jr and Joe Waxman. Last Update: December 2023

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05R/23L	3660m / 12.008ft
05L/23R	2438m / 8.000ft
14R/32L	2438m / 8.000ft
14L/32R	2438m / 8.000ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	It is not recommended tp use ladders here at all!
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely needed to get around the airfield and reach the spots.
Drinks/Food	Nothing at the spots directly, but some restaurants close to most of them.
Hotels	Some hotels around, but no specific spotter hotels.
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 US Naval air station! Always try to keep a low profile (stow your camera at all times e.g.) and be aware of law enforcement. Police and military 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	05/23 runways are in use most of the time, 14/32 is just barely used.

	Spot #1 – Tomcat Blvd field – 32L/R Arrivals
WHERE	Turn off Tomcat Blvd just before reaching the air station entrance to the north onto some fields. There you will find some sheds and trees below which you can park your car and take some pictures of the arrival path.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 32R/L are visible here.

TIME	Early noon till sunset.

MISC.	Be careful: this spot is on air station property technically already! Be aware of that and very careful! However, MP will mostly not bother you, but keep a VERY LOW profile. Just on the other side of Tomcat Blvd is the sort of shopping centre Oceana NEX where you can get food and similar stuff.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

	Spot #2 – Oceana Blvd viewing carpark – 23L/R Arrivals
WHERE	This is a viewing area many people also know and like to visit. It is a car park just off Oceana Blvd. From the lot or the nearby sidewalk you can take the photos.

WHAT	Best for arrivals onto 23L/R.

TIME	Best from the morning till early afternoon, but you can walk to the other when the sun has turned around.

MISC.	There are some facilities like Wawa down the street with toilets and food, nothing right here.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm

	Spot #3 – Potters Rd East – 23L/R Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is more the area along Potters Rd here where the road turns westwards: try to pull over somewhere or stop with your car quickly, take your shots and leave again.

WHAT	From here you cann see 23L/R Arrivals.

TIME	In the afternoon/evening hours.

MISC.	Be careful as you stand just along the road here. Nothing around here. Just come, take your shots and leave! Do not camp at the fence here for too long!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm

	Spot #4 – Potters Rd West – 14L/R Movements
WHERE	This spot is nothing more than a little pull off area along Potters rd. Just pull over here and simply shoot from the car.

WHAT	Movements on runway 14L/R are visible.

TIME	You can stand all along the road so just position yourself as the sun’s position.

MISC.	Be careful as you stand just along the road here. Nothing around here. Just come, take your shots and leave! Do not camp at the fence here for too long!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm