On Thursday 11 September 2025, the final bus trip of 4Aviation in 2025 started in Nijmegen. For the first time since 2016, we were heading for the Oldtimer-Fliegertreffen at Hahnweide. For the event itself, it was the first time since 2019 it was organised.
After picking up all participants (a surprisingly small number) and after switching drivers, the bus left the Netherlands in the first minutes of Friday (12 September). What followed was a long rest for the participants on board the bus and a full shift for the bus driver.
We arrived at the event ahead of schedule and ahead of the volunteers at the event being ready for us. No problem though, we got a friendly welcome and were told that coffee and breakfast could already be ordered. While the bus driver headed for the hotel and the rain started to disappear, the participants started taking their first shots. Several aircraft had already arrived the day(s) before, so the flightline already offered several interesting items.
This Friday was earmarked as arrivals day and it showed. Starting off a bit slow, it eventually turned into a steady flow of oldtimers showing up to land. The Luftwaffe CH-53s (both in static and in a low-pass) were the odd ones out. Over 300 aircraft owners had registered their aircraft for the event. Varying from Stampe SV4s, to Pilatus P3s, Harvards, and Focke-Wulf Stieglitz to Antonov 2s, P-51 Mustangs and the Me-109.
The weather turned out to be fine. Although the event is mainly backlit, the setup and the background allow for more than decent photography. Also, it was very easy to position yourself outside the terrain in the approach (with the sun in the back).
As the arrivals more or less dried up, many took the opportunity to get some food and drinks before the bus was expected to arrive at 7 PM. The bus took us to a nice hotel in Stuttgart where we were to spend the night.
