[Buzz123]

Alongside of the Nevada Atomic Test Site is the Nellis AFB Bombing and Gunnery Range. It's an area exactly half the size of the state of West Virginia. Pilots and ground crews from the US and 27 other countries train for combat there. Red Flag is going on right now.

Read the article in today's RJ: Red Flag exercises push pilots, crews to their limits - News - ReviewJournal.com

[MSchu]

My tax dollars in action... just the way I like it.

[demoknite]

Not to be nit-picky, but Red Flag is an exercise, not an operation. Nice information for those that live up that way and are wondering what all the commotion is about.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by demoknite

Not to be nit-picky, but Red Flag is an exercise, not an operation. Nice information for those that live up that way and are wondering what all the commotion is about.

You might tell the Air Force. They've been calling it that since 1975.

Here's some more on the range. Just to correct myself: the range, which appears to include Area 51, is 4843 sq. mi., the AIR SPACE they use is 12,000 sq. miles; but it is mostly uninhabited, so in case they fumble a bomb or something it's not likely to hit a person.

Nellis Range Complex / Nellis Air Force Range (NAFR)

[von949]

Without reading or hearing about Red Flag, I always know when its coming just by the professional spectators that set up their expensive equipment for the show along Las Vegas Blvd.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

You might tell the Air Force. They've been calling it that since 1975.Here's some more on the range. Just to correct myself: the range, which appears to include Area 51, is 4843 sq. mi., the AIR SPACE they use is 12,000 sq. miles; but it is mostly uninhabited, so in case they fumble a bomb or something it's not likely to hit a person.

Nellis Range Complex / Nellis Air Force Range (NAFR)

ACTUALLY.....BEORE that.....OPERATION RED FLAG began in 1963 as a joint ARMY/NAVY/AIRFORCE/MARINE excercise with pilots from all over the SW.....LUKE,YUMA, MIRAMAR and the 82nd Airborne.

The 82 Bivouaced in the desert across the street rom the main gate...bunch of em got drunk one night.....turned a Police car upside down on the corner of 1st n Fremont....a chase ensued....one carload o 82nd and 12 patrol cars....right to the gate of the bivouac area.....they sat there,,,,sirens roarin on 12 cars while a 82nd gate guard stood there holding em back..... they called the CO....he came to the gate....Cops told em what they wanted.....CO said "Well fellas. there they are, youre welcome to comin n try to take em."

They turned around n let....

Next year tho the 82nd was out f the Operation,

In 1965 It became an ALLIED exercise with a FEW foreign nations being invited because of Viet Nam.

[parker's mom 2011]

I was stationed at Nellis from 2003-2007 and worked in Transportation. I loved Red Flag, it was my favorite time of year! The sound of freedom is jet noise!

[dynimagelv]

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


or in the case of the SR71 when it used to fly in n out in the 60's whoshgone

and I lived on nellis Blvd right below the departure end of the runway in a mobile home....ya never are sure you heard the bird

[ft_chief]

What happened to the civilian guards manning the gates at Nellis? All I see are active duty personnel.

[Kalbo]

Originally Posted by ft_chief

What happened to the civilian guards manning the gates at Nellis? All I see are active duty personnel.

All of the contracts for gate guards AF wide have ended. In addition to active duty, you will see federal police officers working for the air force that have full law enforcement authority, that just started last year.