During my trip with 4Aviation we visited Nellis AFB on 18 March. Red Flag 24-2 was in full swing and we spent the day travelling back and forth between the Speedway parking (gate 6/7) for banking shots and Cheyenne Avenue for landing pics. The weather was excellent with mostly blue skies but sometimes also a few clouds.
Not all of the participants went out on a flex departure which means that by the time they reached our photo point they were already quite high in the sky and almost overhead (such as the Navy Hornets and Growler, most of the Dutch F-35s and the F-22s). During the landing both runways where in use so that means you have to move around constantly depending on where you stand. It also means you not always have the sun acting in your favor.
It was quite busy with spotters from the US and from Europe. We also met a representative from 313sqn who was selling patches from the back of his rental at Cheyenne Avenue. By the way, the word Avenue in my mind makes me think of a nice street. Not so much in this case. Cheyenne and the surrounding streets are littered with car yunk yards, car and camper wrecks on the site of the road that function as temporary housing for the less fortunate and human wrecks of every kind and breed. Luckely they are outnumbered by spotters because on my own I would not like to hang around there.
All in all we had a great day and some of us even found some energy to go out during the evening and discover the temptations of the Las Vegas Strip.
To bring some order in the chaos I decided to post the pics in alphabetical order.
1. The view on the base and Las Vegas
01_View_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
2.
A-10_80-0176_USAF_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
3.
A-10_81-0965_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
4. Taking care of fuel for the blue team
A330MRTT_T-059_KLu_05 by René Klok, on Flickr
5.
A330MRTT_T-059_KLu_07 by René Klok, on Flickr
6.
B-52_60-0009_USAF_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
7.
B-52_60-0009_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
8.
C-130_15-5827_USANG_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
9.
EA-18_169214_USNavy_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
10.
F-15_87-0204_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
11.
F-15_87-0207_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
12.
F-15_87-0209_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
13.
F-15_91-0603_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
14.
F-15_97-0221_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
15. Still in the markings of the previous user but now belonging to 706th AGRS
F-16_85-1412_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
16. The color bird of 706th AGRS
F-16_85-1501_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
17.
F-16_85-1501_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
18.
F-16_86-0299_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
19.
F-16_86-0299_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
20.
F-16_89-2083_USAF by René Klok, on Flickr
21.
F-16_89-2116_USAF_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
22.
F-16_90-0839_USAF_05 by René Klok, on Flickr
23.
F-16_N858TA_TopAces by René Klok, on Flickr
24.
F-16_N861TA_TopAces_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
25.
F-22_04-4070_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
26.
F-35_13-5066_USAF_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
27. The nosewheel door does not hold the name of the current pilot as usual but bears markings in honour of a Maj. Meier
F-35_15-5118_USAF by René Klok, on Flickr
28.
F-35_15-5175_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
29.
F-35_169625_USMarines_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
30.
F-35_169695_USMarines_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
31.
F-35_169695_USMarines_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
32. Dutch pride
F-35_F-004_KLu_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
33.
F-35_F-020_KLu_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
34.
F-35_F-033_KLu_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
35.
F-35_L-004_DanishAirForce_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
36.
F-35_L-004_DanishAirForce_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
37.
F-35_L-006_DanishAirForce_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
38.
F/A-18_164881_USNavy_02 by René Klok, on Flickr
39.
F/A-18_164961_USNavy_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
40. Refuelling the red team
KC-135_57-1493_USAF_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
41. Flying gas pump for the blue team
KC-135_58-0106_USANG_01 by René Klok, on Flickr
42.
KC-135_58-0106_USANG_03 by René Klok, on Flickr
Hope you like this selection.