Brisbane Airport is wrapping up its 100th anniversary celebrations by unveiling plans for a brand-new plane spotting area that honours aviation history while inspiring future generations of aviators.
The centerpiece will be the tail of a decommissioned Fokker F28 Fellowship aircraft, installed as a feature, ensuring it will be a must-visit destination for aviation fans from around the world, as well as serving as a new local attraction.
“It’s our birthday, but the present is for Brisbane. We want to create something that celebrates our past and inspires the future, and this iconic plane spotting area will be the place to visit,” Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
“We have growing demand from people who want to come and have a front-seat view of aviation, and we know the children watching aircraft today will be the pilots and aircrew of tomorrow."
The 50-year-old F28 tail donated by Aviation Australia forms a symbolic link to another iconic aircraft on display at Brisbane Airport: the century old Southern Cross, famously flown across the Pacific in 1928 by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, alongside co-pilot Charles Ulm, navigator Harry Lyon, and radio operator James Warner.
Both aircraft were built by Fokker, underscoring the enduring legacy of the Dutch manufacturer in shaping Queensland’s aviation heritage. Brisbane Airport is now home to the world’s largest Fokker fleet, operated by Alliance Airlines.
Fokker F28 Fellowships played an important role in pioneering regional jet travel in Queensland, linking major cities and serving as the first jet aircraft flown by many passengers in Queensland through operators such as Flight West Airlines.
Key features of the new area:
· Fokker F28 tail sculpture — a dramatic and rare tribute to jet-age design
· Elevated viewing platform — offering less obstructed views
· Proximity to taxiways — providing closer views of aircraft, ideal for photographers
· Shading and seating – providing better facilities for families.
The new location will be closer to the Zulu and Yankee taxiways than the current position, providing less obstructed views of aircraft taxiing to and from the western runway, as well as aircraft landing and taking off on the eastern runway.
Lloyd Fox has been visiting Brisbane Airport to photograph planes for 65 years. As a 10-year-old he rode his bike to the old Eagle Farm airport. When the modern Brisbane Airport opened in 1988, his passion continued from the current plane spotting area.
Lloyd estimates he’s visited Brisbane Airport to take photographs 5,500 times, and has an image collection of almost 30,000 photographs, which he shares via his Instagram account @tourismman189
“This new area is something I could never have imagined as it will get people a lot closer to the action,” says Lloyd.
“It’s not just about taking photographs, it’s talking to people. I see parents here all the time with their kids sharing a love for aviation.”
Construction will occur in 2026 and will require the temporary closure of the current viewing area. During this time, 927 cubic metres of fill will be trucked in to establish the foundations.
“We thank people for their patience during this time and we’re confident the wait will be worth it, and can’t wait to open this new area in 2026,” notes Gert-Jan de Graaff.
Visitors will be able to view aircraft taxiing and departing for 35 international destinations. Brisbane Airport is Australia’s most connected domestic port, with connections to 62 destinations around the country, half of them in Queensland.
Brisbane Airport to create iconic plane spotting area
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