Hatzerim, airport in Beersheba
Hatzerim is a military air base in southern Israel near Beersheba, located in the flat Negev Desert. The installation has four long runways, an aircraft museum, the Air Force Flight Academy, and several operational squadrons flying modern fighter jets like F-16 and F-15.
The base was built in the 1960s and became operational in 1966 as Israel's fourth air force base after independence. It was the first airfield built from scratch for the Israeli Air Force rather than reusing former British or Jordanian facilities.
The name Hatzerim comes from the nearby kibbutz of the same name. Visitors perceive the base as a place where order, discipline, and modern military operations are visible, with parked aircraft displaying squadron markings that convey organized strength and purpose.
The base sits in open desert landscape with four extensive runways, so weather is typically sunny and dry, ideal for flight operations. The museum area is accessible and offers information about the aircraft through exhibits and photographs.
The museum houses over one hundred restored aircraft, including captured Syrian and Lebanese planes that tell stories of past conflicts. Some of the displayed aircraft remain in flying condition and occasionally participate in air shows.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
