Madrid - Colmenar Viejo (Coronel Maté)

1North west side view

After passing the base which will be on your right hand side, turn right immediately after the fence bends east. Follow the path and park your car. Walk up to the walled off terrain, there is a gate were it meets the base fence. Open the small gate and head for the first large collection of rocks and trees. From there you can read off the Chinook codes.

2North east side view

For the smaller choppers, you need to walk a bit further. The terrain slopes down but so does the base. From a spot that is on the imaginary 45°degree line off the northeast corner of the base, you can read off the codes of the Hueys and the odd Bolkow. You will now be to the east of the northern approach which should enable landing shots.

3South side views

The nature reserve can be entered from the south side as well. For this, take the road that runs to the east just south of the base. You can not miss this, it is opposite a distinctive circular building on a hill top. Make a left towards the base after passing a horse farm and just before the road bends right. On this side there is also a gate into the reservation. This side is markedly lower that the north side though, but you are able to have a distant peek into the westernmost Chinook hangar. Also, the southern approach runs over this terrain, although the helicopters will be quite high.

4West side preserved aircraft

From the road running past the west, th M-625, you will be able to view the preserved aircraft. Two are on the far side of the entrance road, so slow down near the gate. North of the gate there are three more and just before the base ends another Bell 206 can be seen in front of a building further on base.