Nellis AFB Open House

JW381
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JW381
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the Nellis Open House in November.
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peelout
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peelout 7/29/2016 9:05am
7/29/2016 9:05am
we're doing some anti-terrorism blast glass work down at Nellis at the first of the year, i'll get to go check it out but i don't know much about an open house?
Wildeye511
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Wildeye511 7/29/2016 9:24am
7/29/2016 9:24am
If you are talking about the air show, its usually really good. But for me (retired AF and have been to many air shows) I prefer going to the monster cup. If you do go to the air show, dress warm, winds can make it pretty cold here.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 7/29/2016 9:30am
7/29/2016 9:30am
JW381 wrote:
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the...
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the Nellis Open House in November.
You may want to inquire and see if you can get a group tour during MEC week.

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FolkLoar
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FolkLoar 7/29/2016 10:01am
7/29/2016 10:01am
My wife's oldest brother was stationed there for 10+ years during the 90s-00s. I've been to the base a couple times but never got to see anything cool on base. The Thunderbirds air show is cool. Got to meet a few of the pilots he knew.

Unfortunately, I didn't push to see more stuff while at Nellis. Her brothers nighttime gig was head of security at several large casinos(including the Palms) over the years. Being in our early 20s, most of our focus was gambling and partying every time we were there.
JW381
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JW381 7/29/2016 12:24pm
7/29/2016 12:24pm
JW381 wrote:
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the...
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the Nellis Open House in November.
TeamGreen wrote:
You may want to inquire and see if you can get a group tour during MEC week.
A group tour of Nellis? That'd be cool, but I'm very interested in seeing an F15E and F22 demo. They have a lot of cool shit that I haven't seen in person yet. I've been to a fair share of airshows, but the same 18 or 16 demos get a bit repetitive. Still badass, but I just wanted to check out something more hardcore like the Open House air show. I believe it's free?
Wildeye511
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Wildeye511 7/29/2016 12:34pm
7/29/2016 12:34pm
JW381, yes it is free to attend. You park at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and take shuttle buses to the base.

http://www.nellis.af.mil/AirShow.aspx

Not sure about the group tour thing. You can maybe contact public affairs on base, but I think you might have to have some fame besides Vital to get that.

Wildeye511
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Wildeye511 7/29/2016 12:37pm
7/29/2016 12:37pm Edited Date/Time 7/29/2016 12:37pm
You can also go on a tour of the Thunderbirds museum, but you would have to get someone to let you on base or they may issue a visitor pass for that????? Not a 100% sure, but I would be willing to bring you on base as long as I am not working.

http://afthunderbirds.com/site/museum/

Beast666
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Beast666 7/29/2016 4:25pm
7/29/2016 4:25pm
Perhaps one of the best USAF open house's of the year. Bring very comfortable walking shoes as the flightline is massive with loads of aircraft on static display. The flight demos are constantly going with very little interruption and an excellent mix of civil and military acts.

If going bring a mix of sunny weather and cool weather gear frog togs are excellent. Also arrive early with friends so you can set up camp along the barrier and check out the displays in shifts. Look for the media pit right next to the VIP tents that is show center and all the crossing maneuver will be right in front of you. Expect a long wait for the shuttle buses after the Thunderbird demo.

I have been to several as invited media every show was excellent and different from year to year.
JW381
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JW381 7/31/2016 10:09pm
7/31/2016 10:09pm
Beast666 wrote:
Perhaps one of the best USAF open house's of the year. Bring very comfortable walking shoes as the flightline is massive with loads of aircraft on...
Perhaps one of the best USAF open house's of the year. Bring very comfortable walking shoes as the flightline is massive with loads of aircraft on static display. The flight demos are constantly going with very little interruption and an excellent mix of civil and military acts.

If going bring a mix of sunny weather and cool weather gear frog togs are excellent. Also arrive early with friends so you can set up camp along the barrier and check out the displays in shifts. Look for the media pit right next to the VIP tents that is show center and all the crossing maneuver will be right in front of you. Expect a long wait for the shuttle buses after the Thunderbird demo.

I have been to several as invited media every show was excellent and different from year to year.
Awesome, thanks for the info!!
DoctorJD
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DoctorJD 8/1/2016 1:55pm
8/1/2016 1:55pm
JW381 wrote:
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the...
Anyone ever been? I'd like to make a weekend trip to Vegas with a friend of mine and I'm torn between MEC in October and the Nellis Open House in November.
TeamGreen wrote:
You may want to inquire and see if you can get a group tour during MEC week.
JW381 wrote:
A group tour of Nellis? That'd be cool, but I'm very interested in seeing an F15E and F22 demo. They have a lot of cool shit...
A group tour of Nellis? That'd be cool, but I'm very interested in seeing an F15E and F22 demo. They have a lot of cool shit that I haven't seen in person yet. I've been to a fair share of airshows, but the same 18 or 16 demos get a bit repetitive. Still badass, but I just wanted to check out something more hardcore like the Open House air show. I believe it's free?
I just got some up-close-and-personal time with the F-22. My bro-in-law did his "Fini-Flight" at Langly last month and we all went up to take part in the celebration. Really cool. Got to see the flight ceremony as well as some "backstage" access as well. He also flew F-15's and flew F-18's when he was in the Navy earlier in his career.




JW381
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JW381 8/1/2016 2:04pm
8/1/2016 2:04pm
TeamGreen wrote:
You may want to inquire and see if you can get a group tour during MEC week.
JW381 wrote:
A group tour of Nellis? That'd be cool, but I'm very interested in seeing an F15E and F22 demo. They have a lot of cool shit...
A group tour of Nellis? That'd be cool, but I'm very interested in seeing an F15E and F22 demo. They have a lot of cool shit that I haven't seen in person yet. I've been to a fair share of airshows, but the same 18 or 16 demos get a bit repetitive. Still badass, but I just wanted to check out something more hardcore like the Open House air show. I believe it's free?
DoctorJD wrote:
I just got some up-close-and-personal time with the F-22. My bro-in-law did his "Fini-Flight" at Langly last month and we all went up to take part...
I just got some up-close-and-personal time with the F-22. My bro-in-law did his "Fini-Flight" at Langly last month and we all went up to take part in the celebration. Really cool. Got to see the flight ceremony as well as some "backstage" access as well. He also flew F-15's and flew F-18's when he was in the Navy earlier in his career.




Fucking badass
71Fish
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71Fish 8/1/2016 5:16pm
8/1/2016 5:16pm
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where it was mandatory to work a fucking booth. I guess it is cool for folks who don't see jets everyday.
Sully
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Sully 8/1/2016 5:42pm
8/1/2016 5:42pm
71Fish wrote:
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where...
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where it was mandatory to work a fucking booth. I guess it is cool for folks who don't see jets everyday.
"I guess it is cool for folks who don't see jets everyday."

I don't know about that. I grew up in San Diego, just a couple of miles north of NAS (now MCAS) Miramar, then joined the Navy, and spent all of my time aboard aircraft carriers, and I still love going to airshows.

I understand how you're sour on open bases if you have to work, though. I've worked every open base we've had here in Yokosuka for the past 15 years, and it definitely gets old.
JW381
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JW381 8/1/2016 6:14pm
8/1/2016 6:14pm
71Fish wrote:
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where...
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where it was mandatory to work a fucking booth. I guess it is cool for folks who don't see jets everyday.
I know how certain experiences can ruin things like that for a guy. One of the reasons I've never wanted to get a job in the moto industry or join the air force. But you sound like a douche Tongue Ive seen fighter jets enough times in my life, but it's always a special excitement that brings out the kid in me. Totally joking about the douche comment, btw.
71Fish
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71Fish 8/3/2016 8:20pm
8/3/2016 8:20pm
71Fish wrote:
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where...
I avoid airshows like the plague, but my experience is sour I admit. Seems like every airshow at Hill AFB came on a long weekend where it was mandatory to work a fucking booth. I guess it is cool for folks who don't see jets everyday.
JW381 wrote:
I know how certain experiences can ruin things like that for a guy. One of the reasons I've never wanted to get a job in the...
I know how certain experiences can ruin things like that for a guy. One of the reasons I've never wanted to get a job in the moto industry or join the air force. But you sound like a douche Tongue Ive seen fighter jets enough times in my life, but it's always a special excitement that brings out the kid in me. Totally joking about the douche comment, btw.
When I'm outside my office and a few F35s are doing locals, that's exciting. Waiting in line for hours to leave the base after spending hours serving brats to brats, less exciting. I'm more of an asshole than a douche.

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