What you're seeing over Virginia Beach
Over Virginia Beach, the loudest thing in the sky is almost always a Navy jet. Naval Air Station Oceana, in the middle of the city, is the Navy's East Coast master jet base, and F/A-18 Super Hornets fly patterns, practice carrier landings and depart in formations throughout the week. For airliners, the main airport is Norfolk International, about ten miles west, served by Southwest, American, Delta and United.
Hampton Roads has one of the densest concentrations of military aviation in the world. Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base, flies MH-60 helicopters and E-2 Hawkeyes. Joint Base Langley-Eustis, across the water in Hampton, flies F-22 Raptors. Army, Marine and Coast Guard aircraft add more. The noise from Oceana's jets is a well-known part of life in Virginia Beach, and the city has an official observation area for watching them. Military jets often fly without broadcasting their position, so if you can hear a Super Hornet but cannot find it, our guide to why some planes don't show up explains why.
Airports near Virginia Beach
- commercialORFNorfolk International Airport
KORF · 13 miles west of downtown
Hampton Roads' main airport, west of Virginia Beach. Live traffic at ORF ↗ - militaryNTUNAS Oceana
KNTU · 4 miles southwest of downtown
The Navy's East Coast master jet base, home to the Atlantic Fleet's F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons. Live traffic at NTU ↗ - militaryNGUNaval Station Norfolk (Chambers Field)
KNGU · 18 miles west of downtown
The airfield at the world's largest naval base, flying helicopters, E-2s and logistics aircraft. Live traffic at NGU ↗ - militaryLFILangley Air Force Base (JB Langley-Eustis)
KLFI · 26 miles northwest of downtown
An Air Force base in Hampton flying F-22 Raptors. Live traffic at LFI ↗ - commercialPHFNewport News/Williamsburg International Airport
KPHF · 34 miles northwest of downtown
A smaller commercial airport on the Peninsula. Live traffic at PHF ↗
Common traffic over Virginia Beach
Southwest, American, Delta and United fly most of the airline traffic at Norfolk International, with 737s, A320-family jets and regional jets connecting to their hubs. Many passengers are military personnel and families. FedEx and UPS freighters serve ORF.
ORF's main runway runs northeast-southwest:
- Southwest flow, common with prevailing southwest winds: arrivals descend from the northeast over the Chesapeake Bay shore and Norfolk's Ocean View area, and departures climb out to the southwest over Norfolk.
- Northeast flow: arrivals come in from the southwest over Norfolk, and departures climb out toward the bay and the north end of Virginia Beach.
Military flying is the big story:
- NAS Oceana hosts the Navy's East Coast Super Hornet squadrons, which fly patterns, field carrier landing practice and departures over Virginia Beach.
- Naval Station Norfolk flies MH-60 Seahawks, E-2 Hawkeyes and C-2 or CMV-22 logistics aircraft.
- Langley flies F-22 Raptors, and Fort Eustis has Army aviation units.
- Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, to the south, flies HC-130Js and MH-60s along the coast.
Helicopters include Sentara Nightingale medevac, police and news crews. The NAS Oceana Air Show each fall brings the Blue Angels or other military demonstrations. Overflights between the Northeast and Florida pass over the coast, often well offshore.
Aircraft you'll often see here
Boeing 737-800
narrowbody airliner
Airbus A320
narrowbody airliner
Embraer E175
regional jet
Bombardier CRJ900
regional jet
Boeing 737-700
narrowbody airliner
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
military utility helicopter
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
military tactical airlifter
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
military strategic airlifter
Plane-spotting tips for Virginia Beach
The city's Oceana Jet Observation Park, on Oceana Boulevard next to the base, is a dedicated public area for watching Super Hornets take off and land, with signs explaining the aircraft. The beaches and the Oceanfront boardwalk give views of jets heading out over the ocean. For Norfolk International, the roads near the runway ends and the Norfolk Botanical Garden, which borders the airport, offer views of arrivals and departures. Fort Monroe and the shoreline in Hampton offer views of Langley's F-22s. Summer haze and humidity can reduce visibility, while fall offers clear, crisp days. Weekdays are usually the busiest days for jet traffic at Oceana, when squadrons fly their regular training schedule.
Virginia Beach sky questions
Why are there so many fighter jets over Virginia Beach?
NAS Oceana, in the middle of Virginia Beach, is the Navy's East Coast master jet base, home to the Atlantic Fleet's F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons.
Where can I watch Navy jets in Virginia Beach?
The Oceana Jet Observation Park, next to NAS Oceana on Oceana Boulevard, is a public area designed for watching the jets take off and land.
What are the gray helicopters over Norfolk?
Most are Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base.
Nearby cities
Planes over Richmond (93 mi) · Planes over Washington, D.C. (153 mi) · Planes over Raleigh (166 mi) · Planes over Baltimore (172 mi)