click on the spots with a number

Spot 1: WAC (West Aviation Club)

Comming from the A18/E40 highway Brussels-coast, take exit 1a Veurne-Koksijde. Once you left the highway, follow the N8 in the direction of Koksijde. After about 5km you find at the left side of the road an abbey "Ten Bogaerde" (is shown with sign-boards). When you arrive at "Ten Bogaarde" you have already been driving a while next to the airfield of Koksijde (the airfield is at the right side of the road). Right across "Ten Bogaarde", at the right side of the N8, you find the local aeroclub "the West Aviation Club". During the week, the aeroclub isn't open, and you can park you car on their parking.

This is the best spot to have a good overview over the whole field. You can see the Herpainhangar in which the 40th Sqn is located with the heliplatforms. From here you can see take-offs and landing from the seakings and the alouette's from the navy. The distance to photograph the helicopters is pretty far but when the wind is good, taking pictures of their take off or landing is possible. At this place you also have a complete overview of the runway. Most of the days there is North-West wind, so RWY29 is in use, but from this spot you can take pictures of the aircraft in take off, or in taxi when they keep-on roling untill the end of the runway.

In front of the parking, there is a taxiway at about 5 meters away from the fence. Unfortunatly they mainly use this taxitrack as a serviceroad for the cars. From time to time the taxiway is still used by aircraft or helicopters and then they pass very close to the fence. During the arrivals and departures of the airshow, this taxiway IS used and you can take very nice pictures!!!!!!!!!

You can also take the N8 in the direction of Koksijde (by foot on the cycle-track, pay attention for the bikers!!!!) untill the axis of the runway. There you have an excellent view over the runway and when RWY11 is in use (SE wind) the aircraft pass very low over the N8 (see picture) and its perfect for photography. ATTENTION: when the trafficlights are on red, it is forbidden to stand between the trafficlights, because then you are in the safetyarea of the runway. During the airshow, there is surveillance of that.

Visiting aircraft are mostely parked at the south of the base. To take pictures of these, you return back to Veurne via the N8 and then you can come closer to the X-servicing platform. For aircraft on the closest platform you need about 200mm, for the farest platform about 300-400mm. Airshow: During the airshow (Saturday and Sunday) the N8 isn't accessible. This spot is open on Thursday, Friday and Monday and then you are perfect to watch or take pictures.

Spot 2: Burgweg (canal)

Departing from the "West Aviation Club" you can reach this spot by following the N8 into the direction of the highway (Veurne). After crossing a railwaycrossing, you approach an intersection with trafficlights. There you go left to Veurne (Pannestraat) and you follow this road untill you come at the roundabout. There you take the third exit (Astridlaan) and after about 800m, you take the road on the left (Noordstraat). This road you follow and you take the second street at your right (Hanssenslaan). This road you keep on following and then you take the second street at your left (Burgweg). This street you keep on following and after one km you can find the airfield at your lefthand side. Now you have a clear view at the taxiway where the aircraft pass at about 15m of the fence. During normal flying days the aircraft mostly take the backtrack of RWY29 instead of taking the taxiway. The runway is about 100m away from the fence.

When following the Burgweg parallel to the runway, you reach a small road next to the canal. You can follow that small road (Conterdijk) and come closer to the runwayaxis or even stand under the aircraft. (see picture) ATTENTION: when the trafficlights are on red, it is forbidden to stand between the trafficlights, because then you are in the safetyarea of the runway. During the airshow, there is surveillance of that. When you continu the road next to the canal untill the little footbridge over the canal, then you can go to the left and follow a road parallel with the runway. The distance to the runway is smaller than at the other road, but you are facing the sun.

Airshow: On Thursday, Friday and Monday this spot is accessible. Mostly the airplanes land on RWY29 and this is the best spot to photograph them arriving or departing. On Monday when all the aircraft leaves Koksijde, the taxitrack is used then.

Caution: In Belgium, scanners are NOT permitted, so also not in Koksijde.

When you come to Koksijde for spotting, please behave yourself. So don't let garbage behind you and certainly don't throw it over the fence. Do not climb over the fence or damage it. On spot 2, please don't park your car in the middle of the road, so the farmers can pass with their tractors.

When you follow these easy rules you can have a pleasant spottingday, and we can also have some more pleasant spottingdays in the future. I hope to meet you ones at Koksijde.

Many spottingfun at Koksijde.

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