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Nellis Air Force Base is the heart of advanced combat training, operational test and evaluation and tactical development for the United States Air Force.  It is accomplishes this mission through the use of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), the largest air and ground space available for peacetime military operations in the free world.  While the proximity of the NTTR is convenient for aircraft operating out of Nellis, the base is also only eight miles north of Las Vegas making it a very favourable location for photographers to access. 

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The USAF Warfare Center and specifically its operational element, the 57th Wing, are responsible for multiple composite strike forces exercises throughout the year.  Red Flag, organized by the 414th Combat Training Squadron, is an air-to-air combat training exercise that regularly includes participants from allied militaries.  Green Flag - West focuses on air-to-ground training and is lead by the 549th Combat Training Squadron.  Finally, the USAF Weapons School ends each of its two annual classes with an Advanced Integration phase challenging students to lead every aspect of combined force missions.  

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I am often in Las Vegas for work and regularly head north to the base to photograph the various aircraft that come and go.  While the images taken during Red Flag are located in a separate gallery, the remainder of my favourite pictures from outside Nellis can be found below.

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