Meiringen

1From the mountain

From up above the mountain you have a superb birds-eye view over the airfield.

2North side - 1

Coming from road 11 (Also known as road 6 or Haubtstrasse) you can take the Unterbachstrasse which will lead you over the runway. Just before you cross there are gate barriers which will close once aircraft arrive. Here you have a nice view but unfortunately with backlight conditions.

3North side - 2

From spot 2 it is possible to follow a small dirt road parallel to the runway eastward. Here some more viewing points can be found. Unfortunately, these are still backlit.

4Small hill

From a hill, just outside the village, it is possible to get an overview of the flight line which is a good opportunity for the number crunchers to read off the serials

5Along the runway -1

First spot alongside the good side of the runway is this spot 5. Here one of the roads crosses the taxiway. A barrier goes down when aircraft are using the taxi track. A bit further to the right some excellent pictures can be made.
Across the road ,a new complex has been built. It includes a restaurant 'with a view': Restaurant "Fliegertreff". From its terrace (one floor up) it takes 300 mm (effectively) for aircraft on the runway, and about 200 mm for aircraft on the taxi track.

6Along the runway - 2

Spot 6 is also excellent. Pictures of the planes taking off or on the taxi track can be made from here.

7Along the runway - 3

Spot 7 is on the end (or the beginning) of the runway, where the taxi track makes a turn. A barrier can be found here as well. From this barrier use a small dirt road alongside the runway to take you various good photo opportunities here. Park you car away from the road leading to spot 7. The farmer is not that happy with people visiting. This also goes for entering the grass lands here.

8Shelter view

As the Dorfstrasse crosses the taxiway and actually leads right through the base you will find, coming from spot 6, some shelters on your right. You can stand on top of them and have a prefect view on the runway, the taxi track in front of you but also the taxi track at the back of the shelter.

9Road crossing taxi track

And so it happens that you can find a road in the middle of a village where fighters cross... Can you imagine walking to the grocery shop in the morning and an F-5 crosses your way. Quite something...

10From the other mountain

If you leave Unterbach in the direction to Meiringen, you might want to try this mountain road which gives you quite a view over the base. Just follow the Dorfstrasse in the direction of Meiringen and turn right at a sign which says "Zaun". The road starts climbing up and after a few kilometres and a lot of turns you will see a large antenna. Drive about two hundred metres further down the road and stop at a wooden bridge on the right. Park your car, cross the bridge and you will see the airfield down from you. Very special pictures can be made here but you will need some millimetres.