Welcome to the Hamburg Airport Days is now once again as open house event in Hamburg and Hamburg Airport opens its doors to the public between 10 am and 6 pm. More than 100,000 guests are expected on both days of the Hamburg Airport Days and one could already notice in the early morning hours how big the rush will be. Aircraft fans from “big to small” will then again have the opportunity to get very close to special aircraft. Even before the official opening of the Hamburg Airport Days in the morning, I had the opportunity to take a “private” look at the exhibits and so I can already show you what the Hamburg Airport Days will be like.

Hamburg Airport Days at Hamburg Airport

Free shuttle buses will be running regularly from the airport terminal at Hamburg Airport to parking areas P8/P9, which is also the entrance to Hamburg Airport Days and the ticket office for tickets to the airport grounds. In addition to the option of ordering tickets online, there will also be an opportunity to buy tickets at the box office on both days of Hamburg Airport Days. The price per ticket is 15 EUR for adults, 9 EUR for children between 7-17 years, and 35 EUR for the family day ticket (2 adults, 2 children).

Already in recent years, the Hamburg Airport Days were the visitor magnet in the Hanseatic city and this year I also had the good fortune to be allowed to walk hours before the opening over the Hamburg Airport Days site and to photograph undisturbed. The accommodation for the day of course perfect – the Radisson Blu at Hamburg Airport. Just a quick breakfast and then already packed with camera, video camera and yellow vest on the Hamburg Airport Days site.

Aircraft during Hamburg Airport Days

For aviation and aircraft fans ist this open house event a true paradise – to a few meters directly in front of the aircraft can, some aircraft also from the inside to visit. A great option for visitors to Hamburg Airport Days.

On the grounds of Lufthansa Technik, there was thus a colorful mix of current and historic aircraft, from various helicopters to gliders, and lots of information.

Some of the aircraft on display included: Beechcraft D18S – N868L, Eurocopter EC 135, Dornier DO 228 (Pollution Control), Lockheed P-3C Orion, Boeing E-3A Awacs reconnaissance aircraft, Airbus A300-600ST Beluga, Boeing Stearman, Boeing 737-500, (D-ABIA), Airbus A340-300, Super Puma helicopter, Bell UD1D, Yakovlev YAK-3U, PBY 5a Catalina, Miles Messenger M38 MKII, North American AT-6 (from Red Bull), Douglas DC-6B (Red Bull), Junkers Ju 52/3m “Tante Ju”, Boeing 707-430 “Jet Intercontinental” (Lufthansa), L-1049 Super-Constellation (Breitling).

Among my personal highlights at Hamburg Airportdays2015 was of course the Boeing E-3A Awacs reconnaissance aircraft, which is stationed in Geilenkirchen and monitors the airspace on behalf of NATO. The biggest eye-catcher is, of course, the search radar on the fuselage of the aircraft, which is over 9 meters tall and weighs 3 tons.

I have seen the machine already at the arrival on Friday at the Hamburg airport and one notices, both from the exhaust gas, as well as the noises that this basic type was already built in the 70s. Pure flight experience and airplane!

Airbus Beluga transport aircraft – Hamburg Airport Days

Another highlight of the Hamburg Airport Days exhibition is, of course, the Airbus A300-600ST Beluga, with its absolutely atypical shape reminiscent of a large beluga whale, which transports aircraft parts primarily for Airbus between its various locations, but has also been used for other cargo deliveries for ESA. In terms of cargo volume, the Airbus Beluga is considered the largest transport aircraft in the world. It is to be replaced by the new Airbus A330-200ST Beluga, which will be specially designed for aircraft parts of the new Airbus A350 and will be able to fly to less large airports.

Of course, some classics were not to be missed, such as the Junkers Ju 52/3m, which has been built since 1932 and is still flown today. During the Hamburg Airportdays, there was once again the opportunity to take part in sightseeing flights over the Hanseatic city with the classic aircraft, as well as with the L-1049 Super Constellation, which is otherwise stationed in Basel and also offers sightseeing flights (primarily over Switzerland).

The Hamburg Airportdays offer a great opportunity to spend the weekend in Hamburg with various attractions, many information booths and, of course, appropriate catering. To get there, we recommend taking the S-Bahn (S1) directly to Hamburg Airport and from there a shuttle bus to the Lufthansa Technik exhibition grounds.

I wish you a lot of fun and hope that many more events like this year’s Hamburg Airport Days will take place. I am glad to be there again…