Red Flag @ Nellis AFB (aka Area 51)

You shouldn't expect to see black ops during red flag operations or air shows. Black ops means military operations done with complete secrecy and probably during the night! Why would they show the public a black manta, aurora, b-2, uavs or any other high asset plane if they want to keep such things hidden as much as possible?

As far as I know, the best american and foreign nato pilots get together once a year to practice war games in a realistic threat enviroment containing nato and captured warsaw technology. They split into two teams: red and blue and try to simulate air combat between nato and russian allies, each team using different methods. I don't know all the details but this much I am aware of from tv documentaries and internet research.

Up to August There is actually 4 Rad Flags planned with one of them being Classified.

RED FLAG

Originally posted by ajsr71
Up to August There is actually 4 Rad Flags planned with one of them being Classified.

RED FLAG

Ok. It appears your correct. BTW, great site! I always thought there was one RF excercise but apparently there are four, two of which are US only.

Should I assume JEFX are classified?

Originally posted by guppy
BTW, I will post soon with a pix I took with my digicam. On public land, I saw an odd shape rock on top of a hill. I pulled over, grabbed my binoculars, and saw something strange. An near-perfect, rectangular rock with a black slit or hole on it. My guess is its one of the surveillance devices the military places all over the area.

Sorry for the lateness. But here are the photos I took of that sensor box. It is on public land next to the highway leading to Rachel, NV. Very strange but cool at the same time. Enjoy!

External Image 1

External Image 2

I used to live near Nellis AFB and my place of work was under the flight path at a point where they were usually quite low as they passed above. It was amazing on the days of these excercises, wave after wave of aircraft would take off over the space of a few hours. Very cool to see so many different types of jets in such a short time. I really miss feeling the thunder of them roaring overhead....

reply to post by SystemiK


Ya, I was hoping to see some planes take off or perform some of the Operation's manuevers.

What time do the aircraft usually launch from Nellis AFB? I would like to know next time I plan on making a trip out there again.

Thanks!

For the large operations like Red Flag, they would usually start early like 6-7 am with the tankers and such and by 9-10 the flights were slowing down.

Again in the afternoon there would be a large amount of planes landing but it was a fairly constant stream all day long. If you take Cheyenne east from the freeway it will eventually end right near the end of the runways andy ou can park right there (it's a public street) if they are taking off to the south they will literally be a few hundred feet overhead as they leave. On the north side you cant get as close but its a pretty good view from the Speedway. As I recall, most of the takeoffs were generally to the south.

reply to post by SystemiK


Awesome, SystemiK! Thanks for the valuable info. I will definitely plan another trip. This time I got someone hooked on this and I won't go out there alone.

BTW, love your avatar animated GIF. Very cool.

reply to post by guppy


If you click the link you'll see a picture of the area just south of the runway. The arrow indicates the closest point to the runway where you can drive (surprisingly close actually). Better yet though is the circled area which is a nearby park where you could relax in a bit more comfort.


img91.imageshack.us...

reply to post by SystemiK


Again, awesome info. Its gonna make this trip so worth it.

How common are Janet flights flying in and out of Las Vegas airport? Have you ever ventured out towards Area 51 and drive up to the gated entrance? How safe is it to explore the surrounding areas near Rachel, NV?

reply to post by guppy


Sorry, I have no knowledge of Area 51 aside from bits and peices I've picked up from the internet. Check out the vid in this link though, these guys are at the line where you must not cross or you will be arrested. What follows is QUITE interesting.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by SystemiK


That was funny. I probably won't be dancing like those guys did. It would be better with STYLE!... Perhaps with lightsabers while wearing a Darth Vader costume. j/k.

I do intend to make it that far. But not alone. If anything happens, misery loves company. Right?

Thanks for the Red Flag info. I shall put it into good use.

reply to post by SystemiK


I was wondering, is that golf course part of the base? If not it might be worth paying for a round of golf and just parking your golf cart at the end of the runway next to perimeter road (whatever hole that is)! I don't think they would run you off...just let everyone play through,!Oh, and don't forget a set of clubs! hehe

Damn! I love jets. That'd be insane to live so close to the base that at those days you get a new jet fly over every hour. Especially in the morning. That rumble would be insane. Shame I'm all the way in Australia.

reply to post by Nventual


Well, if you ever find yourself visiting Las Vegas for "a good time", rent a car and take a trip north and explore. There are numerous camp sites that lie around the perimeter of Nevada's military land.

If camping isn't your style, there are small communities where you can stay at a motel or hotel. Just don't expect any five-star accomodations.

On more than a few occasions driving thru Vegas, I spotted B-52s, B-2s, C-5s, F-15s, and even an Osprey fly to and from Nellis AFB. TheOsprey caught me off guard. At a distance, I couldn't recognize its profile. Only when I was 200 meters away could I tell the object was an Osprey flying close to the ground.

The history of Nellis and area 51 are quite intertwined .... The area now known as "area 51" and all of the surrounding desert was known as the Tonahpah Test Range . I lived there when I was just a kid . The USAF has been testing aircraft and ordinance there for many many years most of which is not considered classified or even sensitive.... Thel testing of experimental aircraft and other black ops while it does go on there is usually final stage before release because of the areas well known following. If you want the real cutting edge technology I suggest researching further ....Area 51 and Hangar 18 are merely diversions now... the truth has long since dissapeared from the Nevada desert...... DIRT

Actually, Area 51 is the facility at Groom Lake. Tonopah Test Range, also known as Area 52, is quite some distance to the northwest in the corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range. The history of Area 51 is more intertwined with that of Edwards Air Force Base than with Nellis. Nothing about Area 51 is a distraction. It is an extremely active test and evaluation facility.

reply to post by Shadowhawk


Don't forget Area 19 (I think its in N. Arizona) and Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah. Area 51 is probably used for the later part of testing, while the state-of-the-art testing is done in more secluded, unknown places.

There is this one place in Utah where a friend flew by a mesa and saw 4 uniformed Air Force personnel exit out of a portapotty. Either those 4 military men have a sick fetish and double-joints. Or that portapotty was the entrance to the underground facility.

where in Utah did you friend claim to see this??? I've heard these kind of rumors before regarding exits for an underground base near Dulce... Please U2 me! And i'll personally check it out and report back.

[edit on 13-2-2009 by hiii_98]