U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis
The best of the best from the United States Air Force and aircrews from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and allied NATO nations are in Las Vegas for Exercise Red Flag, a 2-week aerial combat training exercise that is held several times a year and it includes the most realistic aerial combat training exercises on earth.
Held at Nellis Air Force Base which sits on the northeast edge of Las Vegas, Red Flag – Nellis brings not only the best combat pilots the American military has to offer but it is also an opportunity to put our military’s cutting edge technology and most impressive aircraft to the test.
While most of the Red Flag Las Vegas combat training exercises are held away from the public eye, it is still plenty loud for those in northern Las Vegas. Furthermore, aviation/aircraft/military enthusiasts are able to post up at vantage points to catch site of the jets and planes being used in the Red Flag Las Vegas exercises. We’ve gathered the best clips (so far).
This view is open to the public:
Red Flag exercises — the world's most realistic aerial combat training exercises — have begun in the desert north of Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/2kCeI02U5X
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) January 16, 2024
Here is the B-52 Stratofortress in all its glory:
B-52 BUFF… is that you?
B-52 ストラトフォートレスも帰還。70年前に開発された爆撃機。 #Nellis #RedFlag24 #Vegas #ラスベガス pic.twitter.com/zAOZzO0oGE— W7XBC ラスベガス / Ex K7STI (@W7XBC) January 16, 2024
Also known as the B-52 BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Yellow), this USAF Bomber has been used by the US military since 1955. It has a range of 8,800 miles and can carry over 70,000 pounds of weapons. The government also signed a $2.6 billion contract in 2022 with Rolls-Royce that will keep the B-52’s in service until at least the 2050s, according DefenseNews.
A view of the F-35 Stealth Fighter coming in for a landing after the exercise:
最新のF-35ステルスファイターが続々帰還。音が良い！ #RedFlag24 #Vegas #ラスベガス pic.twitter.com/fJmPB0zSqO
— W7XBC ラスベガス / Ex K7STI (@W7XBC) January 16, 2024
Nellis AFB shared images of some landings. Here are the Royal Air Force FGR-4 Typhoon and a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler coming in for a landing at Nellis:
U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis
U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis
The Nellis Air Force Base on the edge of Las Vegas where the Red Flag exercises are being held shared these images on Facebook from the Royal Australian Air Force who is there to participate:
According to a press release from Nellis Air Force Base, there are over 30 units from the Department of Defense, Royal Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force in Las Vegas for Red Flag exercises. Eventually, Nellis AFB will upload new video to their YouTube channel from previous Red Flag exercises, videos like this one from 4 months ago:
Interestingly, civilian travelers might catch a glimpse of aircraft flying to Nellis at nearby airports as was the case here:
ROMA63 taking Sierra at Phoenix after dragging Aviano vipers to Nellis. pic.twitter.com/C07N7RvByJ
— DMAviation (@cay89455610) January 16, 2024
For anyone in and around the northeast corridor of Las Vegas, catching a sight of these jets might be worth the hour spent sitting on the side of the road. Seeing these aircraft in action is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many civilians.