Flyspotting

What is a plane spotter?

Plane spotting is a hobby that people around the world engage in. A plane spotter is a person who has a great interest in airplanes and is eager to see the special aircraft that might come to an airport. Plane spotters worldwide engage in everything from recording the registration numbers of planes to photographing them.

Especially in the summer months, many people spend their free time and nice summer days sitting by the runways at Oslo Airport, photographing planes that come and go. It might be rare aircraft types, airlines, or simply planes from Nordic companies that the individual has not yet photographed for their collection that are in focus.

Spotting Location 1

At the west runway:
The very best spot to catch all the action is the embankment located at the edge of the forest right next to the west runway. The location offers a great view of large parts of the airport area, and all planes taking off or landing on the west runway can be easily observed from here.

To reach this embankment, we start at the old terminal now called the "GA Terminal." Drive further north from the GA Terminal towards the first roundabout that leads to National Road 176 to Hurdal. Just after the roundabout, you'll find a road to the right that takes you through the forest and down to the embankment. At the bottom, take another right and follow the road around and up onto the embankment itself.

Bus: The "Kneppefeltet" bus stop is located near the road that takes you into the forest and onward to the embankment. Local buses stop here.

Photography: The spot is best for photography during the summer months after about 1:30 PM until dusk.

Spotting Location 2

At the east runway, 19L:
To reach this location, it can be helpful to start from exit 51 from the E6 at Jessheim North. This is the exit after the one to Oslo Airport if you're coming from Oslo. Here, you drive up to the roundabout and follow County Road 454 further north through two roundabouts, which take you over the E6 again. After about 2 km, turn left onto County Road 461, and after 650 meters, turn right onto Blikkvegen.

Follow this road until it takes a sharp turn and you can actually see the airport.

Here at the bend, you'll find a small road leading to the spot that gives you a good view of the western runway. Here, you have a mound you can climb up on to get in a good position to take pictures or watch the planes. You can also walk along the fence of the western runway if you wish to stand at the other end. Photography: The spot is best for photography in the morning and up until around 12.00. Spotting Location 3 The Air Force Museum, 01L: A place that can be nice to stand on a warm summer day is a small hill located right behind the Armed Forces museum. From the terminal, you can take a bus to the hotel or use a car and park in the parking lot. There is a small bench and a table here, and it's a nice place to stand from the afternoon until evening comes with darkness. Bus: This area has several bus stops nearby, with "Lilleplassen" being the most central. Spotting Location 4 The Woodchip Piles, 01R: Here, it can be nice to take pictures after 12.00 PM and until the evening if the planes are landing from the south and on 01R, which is this end. To get here, turn off from the E6, drive towards the terminal at Oslo Airport, but head towards the eastern central area. Then, turn right, and in the roundabout, turn right and continue down the local road leading to the heating station. At the bottom of this local road, turn left and continue this road all the way until you reach the fence and the start of the runway. Here, you can get nice pictures of the planes in the air and on their way to land.