Nellis 4-24

a reply to: Zaphod58

if they make you laugh.

are really that bad?

at least thats how I rationalize it.

Managed to get back there today.

OMG, the Buff...

I luvs me sum B-52, ever since I was a kid living in Fairchild AFB housing, and got to see 'em on the flight line...usually headed to somewhere bad...like over North Vietnam.

Made for quiet dinners some nights...

Were those Predators, or drones of some sort, in the first picture? I really can't tell.

a reply to: seagull

Reapers at Creech. It's not easy to get pics there, because you can't stop except at a tiny crappy rest area west of the base, that's far enough down that if they aren't flying you can't see much. The first shot has one sitting next to the end shelter in the open.

The BUFFs surprised the hell out of me. I had heard there were three there, but we only saw two parked on the ramp. Nothing had launched yet so we assumed one had left. I was watching an AFSOC C-130, heard a noise behind me, and the first one snuck in. Then a few minutes later the second came along.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You are so damn lucky getting to see what you do. How do you get any work done I wouldn't be able to stop watching.

a reply to: Woody510

By driving a truck. And having a Significant Other that indulges me and helps out with spotting. There's a truck stop in Las Vegas that overlooks Nellis. It's up on a hill so you look down on the runway. You don't get as close as at the end of the road it's on, by the Speedway, but as you can see, you get close enough.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'd love to go even if it was just for a couple of hours one day hopefully.

a reply to: Zaphod58

There were a couple Predators in there too. Parked to the far right of the Reapers in the shelters.

a reply to: Sammamishman

I'm pretty sure I got a few more over by the hangar, where we saw them packing up the first time we went by. I haven't sat down and really looked yet though. I got some really bad pictures of the base because of the timing, and coming in from the west. Got a few shots we couldn't get before though too.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I can think of some new locations for you to post up with your camera one evening. Close to highways too.

originally posted by: Zaphod58

I'm surprised no one commented on this one.

He had a very bad day last year.

Wonderful pics Zaph, that was some day to be watching the place.
I bet it was cool watching that Osprey passing over. Never seen one in flight personally.

a reply to: charlyv

We went from getting through Vegas only on summer trips with Sam, to going through twice in two weeks. The truck stop near the base is a surprisingly good place to get photos, especially since Nellis apparently doesn't believe in obeying the winds.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'm surprised they have it still sitting there.

a reply to: Sammamishman

They only recently finished all the investigation and claims work on it. They'll either scrap it, or strip it soon.

Is that the one that got rear ended on the runway? After reading the incident report, I can't believe that the 2nd pilot survived that! Horrific image of being trapped under a wing and having the ejection sequence initiated! We had several tragic, sickening runway incidents while I was stationed there mid-late 70s, and innumerable ones on and around the range. Fighter ops are very unforgiving....

a reply to: vinomech

That was one of them. I'm not sure if he was the one hit or the one that hit. I was shocked he survived too when I heard he was under the wing. He was actually lucky that the seat was trapped.

And I really, really enjoy and appreciate those pics Zaph! They bring back such great memories of my 4 years there. Nothing else like Nellis, especially during Red Flag!

a reply to: vinomech

I've got more from the other day if I can get on a better connection. Just before we left the Thunderbirds went over heading to Indian Springs, along with more Aggressors and the like.