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Explore retired aircraft skin tags ->Sofia Airport (SOF / LBSF) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia
SOF/LBSF
Updated Thu 29 Oct, 01:20 local
- Active runway
- 27
- METAR wind
- 290° @ 7 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 27 - public side
- Sun
- 33° / -57°
Landing: 27 100% · Wind vector · +7 kt
MVFR
Night
Sunrise in 5h 36m
Departure: 27 100%
NightWant a Telegram ping when LBSF flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Sofia (SOF) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFR290° @ 7 kt
9°C · 10+ km · 1020 hPa
BKN023 OVC061
Landing: 27 100%
Departure: 27 100%
Sunrise · Sunset
Az 33° · El -57°Night / Low light
Sunrise
06:57
Sunset
17:25
Live · Auto-updatingThu 29 Oct, 01:20 localAz 33° · El -57°NIGHT / LOW LIGHT
Sunrise in 5h 36m
+0h
Live flight board
Past Arrivals
Free · up to 10No landed arrivals recorded in the current radar window for LBSF.
Next Arrivals
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No inbound arrivals inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Arrivals #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Past Departures
Free · up to 10No departures recorded in the current radar window for LBSF.
Next Departures
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No taxiing departures inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Departures #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Runway alerts for Sofia Airport
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at SOF, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 27 - public side Runway 27 | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 08:00. Avoid 14:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 27 · Dep 27
Landing: 27 100%
Departure: 27 100%
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | 95° | 11,811 ft | -6.8 kt | 1.8 kt | Standby |
| 27 | 275° | 11,811 ft | +6.8 kt | 1.8 kt | Both |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Sofia (LBSF)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Verified |
| Approach | 123.700 | Verified |
| ATIS | 124.050 | Verified |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageYour brand on LBSF
One sponsor card on the LBSF live map. $85/mo, shown to spotters after they check the runway.
Sponsor LBSF ($85/mo) ->Alerts: $3/mo or $29/yr Pro for 45-minute Telegram runway and exceptional-flight pings. Partner links may earn a commission.
Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Sofia (SOF/LBSF)
Which runway is active at Sofia (SOF/LBSF) right now?
As of Thu 29 Oct, 01:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 27. The METAR wind is 290° at 7 kt. 27 shows +6.8 kt headwind and 1.8 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Sofia (SOF) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 119° azimuth and 10° elevation. Short final 27 - sunny side scores 95/100, 1234 m from runway 27, view bearing 304.3°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 237° and 13°. Short final 27 - sunny side scores 74/100 on a 304.3° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Sofia Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Sofia Airport (SOF/LBSF) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 1 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at LBSF spotting locations?
LBSF spotting locations sun direction: Short final 27 - public side (runway 27) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 08:00. Avoid 14:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Sofia (SOF)?
Short final 27 - public side is 1234 m from the 27 centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Sofia (LBSF)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Approach 123.7 MHz, ATIS 124.05 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.1 MHz.
How do I know when Sofia (SOF) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 290° at 7 kt, so 27 remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/LBSF#runway-alerts
How is Plane Spotter's Live funded? Do you use affiliate or sponsor links?
Plane Spotter's Live is independent and free to use. To cover live weather, radar, and hosting costs without intrusive popups or display ads, we offer optional $3/mo Telegram runway flip alerts, one quiet $85/mo sponsor slot per airport, and selected partner referral links (such as Aviationtag retired aircraft skin tags, telephoto lens rentals, VHF airband scanners, and runway-view airport hotels). If you purchase through a partner link, we may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.