Airshows, spotter days & events

Spotting farewell and first flights: finding retirement flights, first landings and special flights

Last flights of a type, first landings on new routes and one-off special flights are the highlights of the spotting year. Where they are announced, how to recognize them on the radar and how to plan the day at the fence.

AERO Friedrichshafen: the general aviation trade show for spotters

AERO on Lake Constance is Europe’s big meeting point for general aviation. How the show came about, what awaits you in the halls and static display, how the fly-in works and how to plan your show day as a spotter.

AIRPOWER in Zeltweg: Austria’s big airshow for spotters

Free admission, hundreds of thousands of visitors and a program from Eurofighter to B-25: what makes AIRPOWER at Hinterstoisser Air Base special, how it has developed and how to get the most out of the day as a spotter.

Airshow day checklist: gear, food and hearing protection

An airshow day lasts ten hours or more, usually without shade and with fighter jets on afterburner. What belongs in the bag, what stays at home and how to get your camera, body and ears through the day.

Airshow photography: choosing your spot, shutter speeds and display lines

Where you stand at the fence decides light, background and perspective at an airshow. How to read the display line, find the right spot and match your shutter speed to distance and direction of flight.

Airshows in Europe: the guide for plane spotters

From the military show in England to the aerospace trade show at the gates of Berlin: which European airshows are worth it for spotters, how often they take place and how to get the best pictures on site.

Axalp Fliegerschießen: experiencing and photographing fighter jets in the Swiss Alps

On the Axalp above Lake Brienz the Swiss Air Force fires its cannons at targets in the rock – and spectators stand at over 2,200 meters right in the action. History, current status, getting there, gear and photo tips.

Dubai Airshow: mega orders, Gulf airlines and what to expect as a spotter

Every two years, Al Maktoum International becomes the stage for multibillion-dollar orders. How the Dubai Airshow came about, which orders have defined it and what to watch for as a spotter on a visit.

IWM Duxford: warbird airshows and museum in England

Duxford is Britain’s largest aviation museum and at the same time an active airfield full of airworthy warbirds. What awaits you in the halls, how the Flying Season is structured and how to photograph Spitfire, Mustang and B-17 properly.

Farnborough International Airshow: history and visiting as a spotter

Every two years in July, Farnborough airfield becomes the stage of the aviation industry. How the show came about, what happened in 2026 and how to plan a visit as a spotter.

Airport tours and apron bus tours: how to get behind the fence

Onto the apron instead of just the fence: how apron tours and airport tours work, what you need to bring, which airports offer which tours and how to get usable photos through the bus window.

Airfield festivals in Germany: small air shows at public-use airfields

Airfield festivals are the small, approachable air shows on the spotter calendar. What to expect, how to find dates, which rules apply to the displays and how to handle propellers, backlight and crowds.

Frecce Tricolori: Italy’s ten-aircraft aerobatic team

Nine jets in formation, a soloist and, at the end, a green, white and red smoke trail across the whole sky: the Frecce Tricolori are Europe’s largest aerobatic team. History, aircraft, maneuvers and tips for spotters.

Hahnweide vintage aircraft fly-in: historic airplanes in Kirchheim/Teck

Since 1981, the Fliegergruppe Wolf Hirth has turned the grass-runway airfield Hahnweide into one of Europe’s best-known vintage aircraft meetings. What you should know about schedule, getting there, tickets and photography.

ILA Berlin: history, the Schönefeld grounds and tips for spotters

ILA is Germany’s big aerospace trade show, with a history going back to 1909. How it got from Frankfurt via Hanover to Schönefeld, how the grounds at BER work and how you make the most of the public days as a spotter.

Europe’s aerobatic teams: aircraft, formations and history

From the Red Arrows to the Turkish Stars: which aerobatic teams Europe has, which aircraft they fly, how to recognize them in the sky and which teams are facing a turning point.

NATO Tiger Meet: Tiger squadrons, special liveries and spotter days

Since 1961, squadrons with a tiger in their crest have met at the NATO Tiger Meet. Who takes part, how the exercise works, which prizes are awarded and how you can get into one of the sought-after spotter days.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: the world’s largest fly-in

From a homebuilders’ gathering in Milwaukee to the world’s largest fly-in: how AirVenture came about, who is behind it, what happens during the week and which dates are set through 2029.

Paris Air Show at Le Bourget: trade show, flying display and public days

The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest aviation trade show: four trade days, three public days, flight demonstrations every afternoon. How to plan your visit to Le Bourget – from getting there and the flying display to your camera.

Patrouille de France: the aerobatic team of the French air force

Eight Alpha Jets in blue, white and red, a tricolor of smoke and roots going back to 1931: how the Patrouille de France came about, how the team is organized, which maneuvers it flies and how to catch it as a spotter.

Patrouille Suisse: history and F-5 Tigers of the Swiss aerobatic team

The Patrouille Suisse has flown for the Swiss Air Force since 1964, and with red-and-white F-5E Tiger IIs since 1995. History, aircraft, team, identification features and what the decided end in late 2027 means for spotters.

Ramstein 1988: the airshow disaster and its consequences for airshows

On August 28, 1988, three Frecce Tricolori jets collided at the airshow at Ramstein Air Base, and 70 people died. The sequence of events, the rescue, the aftermath and the rules you still feel at every airshow in Germany.

Red Arrows: history, BAE Hawk and displays of the RAF aerobatic team

Nine red Hawks, colored smoke and the Diamond Nine: how the Royal Air Force aerobatic team came about, what it flies, how a display is structured and where to catch it as a spotter.

Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford: the world’s largest military airshow

The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford is considered the world’s largest military airshow. History, the 2026 cancellation, the 2027 Tiger theme and how to make the most of arrivals, the static display and the flying display as a spotter.

Bundeswehr Open Day and Luftwaffe open days: what spotters can expect

Once a year, barracks and air bases open their gates. Learn how the Bundeswehr Open Day (Tag der Bundeswehr) works, which airfields have taken part and how to get the most out of the day as a spotter.

Airport open days: apron access and photo opportunities

Stand in front of an aircraft with no fence in between: at open days at airports, maintenance shops and air bases, you can. Learn how to find such events, which rules apply on the apron and how to get clean shots in a crowd.