Brisbane Airport’s iconic plane spotting area ready for takeoff

Brisbane Airport’s iconic new plane spotting location, Fellowship Place, will open to the public on Sunday 19 July.

Created as a gift to the city to mark Brisbane Airport’s centenary, the purpose-built destination offers one of the best vantage points to watch aircraft arrive and depart.

The new location transforms plane spotting at Brisbane Airport, giving visitors a closer, less obstructed view, while celebrating the rich history of aviation in Queensland.

At the heart of Fellowship Place is the tail of a retired Fokker F28 Fellowship aircraft, now a striking landmark and a tribute to the jet age.

The tail was donated by Aviation Australia, which used the aircraft as a tool to train more than 3,000 aircraft engineers.

The new precinct features an elevated viewing platform, less obstructed views, shaded seating, and accessible pathway, creating a welcoming space for families, photographers, and aviation enthusiasts alike.

To make Fellowship Place possible, the site was reclassified from restricted airfield land into a space the public can access, a complex process, but one that now gives the community a front‑row seat to aviation.

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the space is a welcome addition to the airport precinct.

“It was our 100th birthday, but the gift is for Brisbane and for anyone who loves aviation. Fellowship Place brings people closer to the action and gives them a place to share that interest together,” Mr de Graaff said.

“This is the first time in Australia a plane spotting area has brought history to life through the inclusion of a jet tail.

“Plane spotting has always been part of the fabric of this airport. Today’s enthusiasts are tomorrow’s pilots, engineers and aircrew, and this space is designed to inspire that next generation.

“Brisbane Airport is currently home to 25,000 workers, and we expect the number of jobs across the precinct to double in the next two decades.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Fellowship Place would become a must-visit destination for plane enthusiasts.

“Every world-class airport deserves a world-class place to watch the action and that’s exactly what Fellowship Place delivers.

“Some people love train spotting, while others love plane spotting. I’m in the second category and I’m clearly not the only one.

“I’ve shared plenty of plane spotting adventures with my kids and this is exactly the sort of place that has the potential to spark a lifelong love of aviation.”

Long-time Brisbane plane spotter Lloyd Fox, who has spent decades documenting aircraft movements at the airport, said the new site was a game-changer.

“I’ve been planespotting at Brisbane Airport for more than 60 years, and this is something I never thought I’d see,” Mr Fox said.

“Fellowship Place gets you closer to the action than ever before, and it’s not just for photographers, it’s a place where families can come, watch planes together, and share that passion.”

More than 900 m3 of fill went into building up the viewing platform, and the team successfully overcame some unique challenges to relocate the Fokker tail.

“This was a 50-year-old Dutch-built jet, so there were no handbooks on how best to crane and fix it into position, but they’ve done a remarkable job,” Mr de Graaff said.

Fellowship Place is located at the end of Acacia Street at Brisbane Airport and is open from sunrise to sunset. 

Visitors are also invited to see the century-old Southern Cross, located adjacent to the International Terminal at the Sir Kingsford Smith Memorial.

In 2028, it will be a century since the aircraft became the first to cross the Pacific, linking the United States and Australia.

For a deeper look at the history of the F28 aircraft, you can read this feature: A second life for a Fokker Fellowship.

Fellowship Place will be open to the public from Sunday 19 July.

For more information contact Brisbane Airport’s media hotline: 0466 322 485