Castle Tiger Roars at Neuburg: Spotter Hour 2025

On Friday morning, July 4th, 2025, the airbase at Neuburg an der Donau opened its gates to a select group of aviation enthusiasts for what has become a cherished tradition in recent years: the Spotter Hour of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 (TaktLwG 74), better known as the Bavarian Tigers. Held just hours after the base’s Family Day and during the same weekend as Neuburg’s famed Schlossfest, the Spotter Hour offered a rare and intimate opportunity to witness frontline fighter operations, special guest aircraft, and—most excitingly—the official public rollout of the Wing’s latest Tiger jet, the Castle Tiger. Though modest in scale and duration, this Friday morning event once again delivered far more than its name might suggest. For those with cameras, small steps, and a passion for colorful jets, it was nothing short of a highlight of the summer schedule of military aviation events in Germany.

The Castle Tiger – A Heraldic Star in Black and Yellow

The clear star of the day was the freshly unveiled Eurofighter 30+74, adorned in the Wing’s newest Tiger paint scheme. Appropriately assigned the serial 30+74—a fitting nod to the unit designation—the aircraft was presented in an eye-catching yellow-and-black design that harkens back to traditional Tiger Meet aesthetics. In recent years, TaktLwG 74 has built a strong reputation for delivering striking and high-quality special schemes, both for NATO Tiger Meets and for its own in-house events, and this year’s aircraft continues that legacy in grand fashion.

Dubbed the “Castle Tiger”, the 2025 scheme is an homage to Neuburg’s medieval heritage and its annual Schlossfest, which turns the entire town into a costumed celebration of chivalry, tradition, and pageantry. The Castle Tiger features a menacing armored knight’s helmet on the tail, dominated by a glowing yellow eye on the tail that stares down at the flightline like a sentry of old. The concept, once again, was conceived and executed by the talented team at Hamm Werbung, who not only designed the artwork but also applied the adhesive foil that transforms the jet into an airborne canvas.

What made this Spotter Hour particularly rewarding was not only seeing the Castle Tiger at rest but also catching it in action. The aircraft flew a regular operational mission, giving photographers the chance to capture it during taxi-out, takeoff, two low fly-bys, and landing. Following its flight, the aircraft taxied to a dedicated display area where it was parked with good light angles. Two stepladders were even provided to allow elevated photo opportunities, offering rare and welcome access to all those details of this outstanding paint scheme.

Departures, Visitors and a Touch of NATO Flair

While the Castle Tiger was the clear center of attention, the Spotter Hour also featured an impressive variety of other aircraft movements. Neuburg’s own Eurofighters conducted regular training flights, many in conjunction with Italian Eurofighters from 36° Stormo, who were visiting the base at the time. Their presence was linked to a small-scale “Mini Tiger Meet” that took place during the weekend—an event that emphasized international cooperation and the NATO Tiger Association’s spirit, even outside the main Tiger Meet calendar.

Several guest aircraft from the Family Day were seen departing throughout the morning. These included a Luftwaffe KC-130J returning to Évreux in France, and a charming group of vintage aircraft from the Luftraum Süd collection: a T-6 Texan, Pilatus P-2, and Beech AT-11 Kansan, all heading for their home ar Aalen-Elching. The 50th Anniversary Tornado from TaktLwG 33, painted in a special livery, also departed for Nörvenich, giving spotters a look at this now-rare type in commemorative colors. A Czech Saab Gripen took off for Čáslav, having been present as part of the family day and showing the strong connection that TaktLwG74 has in the meantime established with their Czech neighbors. Also noteworthy was the arrival of two Tornado IDS jets from TaktLwG 51 Jagel, further enhancing the Tiger Meet character of the event.

Earlier that morning, a Luftwaffe NH90 and a H135 SAR helicopter took to the skies, followed by a surprise take-off of a HA200 Saeta from nearby Manching, operated by the Flugmuseum Messerschmitt. These movements added a nice mix of modern and classic aviation to the program, ensuring a steady flow of activity during the brief Spotter Hour timeframe.

Souvenirs and Setting: A Spotter Hour with Style

On the ground, attendees were greeted by a surprisingly diverse and international selection of souvenir stands. Despite the short timeframe, the event hosted booths from the Bavarian Tigers, HSG 64, a Czech helicopter squadron, and even from the French EC 3/30 Lorraine that joined the Mini Tiger Meet by car. For collectors of patches, keychains, or squadron memorabilia, it was a welcome opportunity to acquire some limited-edition items. The layout may have been modest in scale, but it was well-considered and perfectly suited the casual and relaxed atmosphere of the Spotter Hour.

While some of the aircraft present during Family Day—such as a Czech Mi-171 and an L-159B ALCA—were not seen on Friday morning, the wide variety of fast jets and historic aircraft, combined with excellent access to the Castle Tiger, ensured that every visitor left with full memory cards and plenty of smiles.

Conclusion – A Worthy Tradition Continued

Reflecting on the 2025 Spotter Hour at Neuburg, it’s clear that this event continues to offer a most enjoyable and photographer-friendly aviation experiences. Compared to previous years—such as the 2023 edition featuring the “74 Tiger” scheme or the more international 2021 event—this year’s focus on the debut of the Castle Tiger created a truly special occasion. The thoughtful access, dynamic flying, and strong community atmosphere once again showed how TaktLwG 74 embraces its identity not only as a combat-ready Eurofighter unit but also as one of the Luftwaffe’s most creative and open-minded wings.

A sincere thank you goes to all those who made the day possible: the pilots, ground crews, planners, public affairs staff, and support personnel of TaktLwG 74, the Luftwaffe, and their partner squadrons. These types of events don’t happen without careful coordination and hard work behind the scenes. The Spotter Hour may have lasted only a few hours, but its impact will linger in photo archives and memories for a long time.

With the Castle Tiger now officially on patrol, we’re already looking forward to what 2026 might bring. Will next year’s design revisit classic tiger stripes, or take inspiration from another slice of Bavarian or cinematic lore? Whatever it may be, one thing is certain: Neuburg’s Tigers will keep roaring in style.

Neuburg’s Spotter Hour 2025 & the ‘Castle Tiger’ – Photo Gallery