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March 16, 2021Nellis Air Base – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on March 19, 2021
Nellis Air Force Base (LSV/KLSV) is a military facility and located almost 15km north-east of Las Vegas. The air base was opened in 1941 as Las Vegas Army Air Field, but was renamed in Nellis Air Force Base in 1950 in honour to Lieutenant William Harrell Nellis, who died in WW2 after his plane was shot down over Luxembourg in December 1944, but who was originally based here. So today the official name is actually only Nellis Air Force Base, not Las Vegas Nellis Air Force Base!
The air base is home to many military institutions such as military schools and some squadrons. Thanks to the USAF Fighter Weapons school, you will see many fighters here (as LSV is known as the Home of Fighter pilots within the US Forces), plus also the famous Thunderbirds (US F16 show fleet). In addition to fighters, Nellis is also home to some helicopter units and is regularly visited by bigger airplanes like the Boeing E8 or Rockwell B1.
It also hosts the famous Red Flag exercises since 1975. Many NATO members and US pilots from all over the country take part then in training the realistic fights in this area called “Nellis Range”. It is held four to six times a year and is one of the most important and popular training exercises within the NATO. As you cannot shoot the morning side well, one can only hunt the arrival wave here. We advise to position yourself in the approach from 1530LT on, then you may be lucky to get up to 20 movements within a hour. First the fighters return from the training area normally and afterwards all the tankers arrive as well.
Red Flag schedule and more infos on this website.
Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Alex Crail, Christian Preinl, Pierrick G., Andre Pfitzner, Huy Do & Bastiaan Hart. Last Update: 2021
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 03R/21L | 3063m / 10051ft – Concrete |
| 03L/21R | 3084m / 10120ft – Concrete |
| Spotting Information | |
| Radio Frequencies | You can find all needed frequences for LSV HERE. |
| Ladder | Not needed and also not allowed! |
| Car/Public Transport | Car definitely needed as public transport is poor here. |
| Restrooms | Nothing around. |
| Drinks/Food | Some shops in the nearby area. |
| Hotels | Just some directly here in the air base hood. These very few can be found along the base’s (north)western edge, but there are plenty around in greater Las Vegas obviously. |
| Season | Summer is hazy and hot. Winter is definitely better, therefore the spots are better in summer as it is hard to shoot from the eastern side of the runway axis, which would be good in winter. The east is blocked by the military zone, so summer is easier for shooting as you can also use the spots in the west/evening longer. In general, it is recommendable to visit LSV during Red Flag excercises once you have some foreign forces and commands here. |
| Security | Spotting at the fence is not tolerated here. So do not stand by the fence and you won’t have big problems! Apart from that, spotting is okay in the approach and especially during the Red Flag excercises there are many spotters around. You should keep a low profile and adjust to the common “military spotting rules” in general. Do not be at the fence all the time, carry an ID with you, greet the stuff friendly and always just explain asking people what you do honestly.Take care of the military facilities here! Nellis AFB does not only includes the airport, there is also a huge military zone in the east not meant to be accessed or photographed! Take care when going nearby the red marked zone! Plus at spot #1 and #2: NEVER park on base side along Las Vegas Blvd N, it is an absolute no no! If you park on that side base PD will likely detain you and we have seen it happen a few times! There are many cops around the base, so do not speed between the spots if you wanna avoid tickets! |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | Operations in both directions regarding the wind on two parallel runways. |
| 03R/21L | Mostly used by bigger aircraft such as the E8s or Rockwell B1s. |
| 03L/21R | Mostly used by fighters. |
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Spot #1 – Las Vegas Blvd N – 21 Arrivals |
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| WHERE | This is the best and most comfortable spot at LSV for our hobby. You can just park your car by the roadside here (only on the northwestern side towards Speedway) freely and directly shoot from there. You can also position yourself in the final approach area along the Las Vegas Blvd N. The area where most spotters stand is roughly a 1,5km route along the roadside between the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Northern end) and the junction with N Hollywood Blvd (Southern End). Along the Blvd you will find 9 Gates to the Speedway (most important ones are marked on the map), which locals often refer to as exact spots. Choose your favourite angle with the examples sorted below… |
| WHAT | All Arrivals on 21L and 21R. Towards northern end: You will mostly only have skyshots from here, therefore you will nicely see the banking aircraft over your head (see orange line for fighters). Towards southern end: This spot mostly only offers side on shots and no bankings anymore. Therefore the tankers will be very nice as they pass just in front of the big mountains in the big. This graphic will show you how you can recognize which runway the fighters will use during red flag.
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| TIME | This spot is only good from early afternoon on till sunset. |
| MISC. | Heat haze can be a huge issue here outside of the winter months. During RedFlag excercises this spot is full as many spotters and others come to watch. Security normally passes by regularly, but only greets nicely – no problems normally. But do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ attention. No shade and no shops directly here, but the closer you get to Las Vegs in the southwest again, the more facilities you will find. NEVER park on base side along Las Vegas Blvd N, it is an absolute no no! If you park on that side base PD will likely detain you and we have seen it happen a few times! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Totally depends on where you actually stand and the aircraft’s position, but 200-500mm should cover everything. Gate 2: A330 = 300mm Gate 4: Fighters banking = ~380mm Gate 6: KC135 = 390mm |
Gate 2:
Gate 4:
Gate 6:
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Spot #2 – Helicopter pad – Blackhawks movements |
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| WHERE | This spot is located by the roadside of Las Vegas Blvd N as well, but here you have to be cautious. Pull over your car to the roadside, stop there and also shoot from out of the car or nearby just around the helicopter pad behind the fence. |
| WHAT | From here you will only have the movements onto/from the Blackhawks’ helicopter pad in the air. |
| TIME | Depends on the helicopter’s way of movement, but afternoon is better most of the time. |
| MISC. | Be aware of the fast drivers/cars on the Las Vegas Blvd N which also pass while you shoot! In addition, rather pull over on the street side leading south. The cars passing may disturb your view then and produce heat, but you are far away from the fence in order to attract a lot attention. In general, keep a very low profile here! Do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ attention. No shade and no shops directly here, but the closer you get to Las Vegs in the southwest again, the more facilities you will find. NEVER park on base side along Las Vegas Blvd N, it is an absolute no no! If you park on that side base PD will likely detain you and we have seen it happen a few times! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | >200mm |
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Spot #3 – Three Star Bar – 21R Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located just directly inside the parking of “Three Star Bar” west of the Base’s borders. Just park your car in one of the bays north of the building and directly shoot from here… |
| WHAT | 21R Departures only. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | The view here is a bit limited and easily disturbed by all the poles and power lines, so be aware of that. Food/Drinks can be grabed in the bar just behind you. You are close to the base’s fence and wall, so keep a very low profile here! Do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ attention. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200-500mm |
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Spot #4 – E Cheyenne Avenue – 03L Arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot can be found at the junction of E Cheyenne Ave and N Nellis Blvd. You can park your car by the roadside here in this area normally, otherwise maybe try to use one of the parkings which can be found around here enough. Then just position yourself along E Cheyenne Ave somewhere by the roadside (ideal is to park by the roadside and then just shoot from there). |
| WHAT | 03L Arrivals only, 03R Arrivals are too far. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | The view here is a bit limited and easily disturbed by all the poles and power lines, so be aware of that. You are close to the base’s fence and wall, so keep a very low profile here! Do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ attention. There are some shops/gas station along the N Nellis Blvd where you can grab food/drinks. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm Fighter = ~280mm |
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Spot #5 – Devry Ln – 03L/R Arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot is located just in a curve by the roadside next to an abandoned parking area. You can just park by the roadside here and take your pictures from here easily (as the guys next to the three cars in the overview below also do). |
| WHAT | On the one side you have 03L Arrivals, on the other you can also see 03R Arrivals. |
| TIME | Depends on what you want to shoot: 03R: From afternoon till sunset. 03L: From sunrise till later noon. |
| MISC. | Nothing around here directly, but there are some shops/gas station along the N Nellis Blvd where you can grab food/drinks (to the west). You are close to the base’s fence and wall, so keep a very low profile here! Do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ attention. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-500mm PC3 = 360mm |
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Spot #6 – Cecile – 03R Arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot can be found in a quite calm industrial area in a curve from Cecile to Devry Ln. Just park your car by the roadside here and position yourself around here along the street where you have a free window to shoot. |
| WHAT | Here you can only shoot 03R Arrivals as 03L Arrivals will be too far away. As well you can get take-off rwy21L |
| TIME | From sunrise till later noon. |
| MISC. | Nothing around here directly, but there are some shops/gas station along the N Nellis Blvd where you can grab food/drinks (to the northwest). You are close to the base’s fence and wall, so keep a very low profile here! Do not keep the camera around all time in order to avoid attracting drivers’ and workers’ attention. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Arrivals 03R: C130 = 350mm & F16 = 400mm
Take-off 21L: 400mm both figthers |
Arrivals 03R:
Take-off 21L:
