Nellis AFB spot one of the best Military Aviation Spotting in the United States. Usually 4 times a year you get Red Flag Exercises that hostup to 200 fighters/bombers and other supporting aircraft from all services and foreign Air Forces.
This Massive Airbase spot 2 runway parallel to each other at 03L 03R and 21 L and 21 R
The following Frequencies are use for your radio.
| ATIS: | 270.1 |
| NELLIS GROUND: | 121.8 275.8 |
| NELLIS TOWER: | 132.55 327.0 |
| NELLIS APPROACH: | 118.125 291.725 |
| NELLIS DEPARTURE | 135.1 385.4 |
| CLEARANCE DELIVERY: | 120.9 289.4 |
| CLASS B: | 124.95 NORTH 273.55 NORTH |
| COMD POST: | 320.0 ACC HAVE QUICK TIMING AVBL 381.3 ACC RAYMOND 22 |
| EMERG: | 121.5 243.0 |
| OPS: | 340.2 AF OPS |
| PMSV METRO: | 323.9 344.6 |
| PTD: | 139.3 372.2 |
| SFA: | 321.1 326.2 385.5 397.2 |
| SOF: | 305.6 CALL BULLSEYE SOF |
This Guide will give specifics of timing and location for viewing pleasure oriented by the Active Runway use and I will also include some photos to show what you can capture.
Runway 03L 03R Take off
If this orientation is taken for launch. Head to between Speedway gate 7 and 8 for the “flex take off” call for in the tower Frequency. School house and Aggressors units usually take the Flex on 03L and you will get them bank right infront of you. Dependent on the aircraft type they some do bank way ahead so plan on that. ( A-10, F-18 and Typhoon do flex a little earlier than F16 and F-15E) All shots Flex take off 03L launch can be achieve with 400mm lens while straight out will need about 600mm.
Lighting is not optimum in the morning since you have the sun in front of you. Light gets better after 2pm to 6pm.
If it is a straight out for 03L or 03R it would be way high and Speedway Gate 2 will be a better side shots. 03R take off will usually be straight out with no flex and they are way too far for fighter size aircraft. For most 03R launches I would say it will be hard to shoot even with 600mm lens.
03L Flex take off at Gate 8 
03L straight out shot at gate 7 
03L straight out at gate 2
Runway 21L and 21R Recovery
Typical Red Flag recovery comes in after 1500 hrs which the light gets really good at the speedway. Look for the formation of returning fighters and if you see the echalon formation of the 1st aircraft pointing to the right usually means a right break and be at Gate 2 speedway for them banking Base to Final run for runway 21R. Some fighters will bank earlier like the Typhoon, Growlers and Hornets. Gate 1 will be where I will be for the tighter fighters while 2 to 3 will be the regular fighters like the F16, F15 aircrafts. gate 5 to 8 will be for the heavies like the B52 or KC135 when they do a bank for Base to Final leg.
Photographer on the speedway 
B1B on final leg for 21R 
Echalon flight with F16 being and lead showing a right break 
Gate 5 B-52 base to FInal Runway 21R 
Gate 03 Heavies on Final Runway 21R 
Runway 21R Gate 02 Base leg 
RUnway 21R gate 02 Base leg 
Runway 21R gate 01-02 FInal leg 
Runway 21R Base leg
21L can get tricky because they are much further and a 600mm is a absolute minimum . U can still achieve good shots if you do it right.
Echolan formation showing a left break for 21L 
21L banking FInal leg 
21L final straight in
Runway and hotramp shots is way too far to have good shots for the base activities.
hotramp by cheyenne Blvd 
21R from Speedway gate 2 
21R speedway by gate 2 
21R landing on heavies on the runway
Runway 21R Takeoff
There are times when 21R is use for take off, usually in high wind and they wil Flex for most of their flights in this manner. I will be at Cheyenne 1 and 2 for the flex shots but do watch out for those power lines. In the flex take off probably a 200mm is sufficient for the shots.
21R flex take off between 1 and 2 Cheyenne location 
21R flex take off in Cheyenne 1 location
For 21L it will be very challenging in the Red flag launch which you will be backlid in the afternoon sun. I would say it will be hard to shoot if they choose the inner runway. 200mm is sufficient for the shot.
heavies straight up at Cheyenne 3 
Aggressors taking off 21L on Cheyenne 3
Runway 03L Recovery
If they recover on this runway 03L, be at cheyenne 02 spot for the bank from Base to Final. 200mm is sufficient for the shots
Typhoon on initial runway 03L spot Cheyenne 02 
F15E final 03L cheyenne 02 
Base to Final Runway 03L spot 2 
03L heavies on final spot 2
Runway 03R recovery
This is the only recovery you can get good shots if they use 03R for receovery. Be at location between Cheyenne 04 and 03 you can get the mountainous background and in good light. for recovery the lighting is killer in this area unless you are here in the morning and you will have to be Spot4 . At spot 3 you will get 03 recovery backlid in the morning. 400mm is better for this area but 200mm is sufficient.
03R on spot 04 
banking base to final 03R spot 4 
Spot 4 heavies final on 03R 
03R morning recovery at spot3 
03R morning recovery at spot 4
Photography from Inside the Base
Shooting from the inside always gets you the best shots but again gaining access needs to be coordinated with USAF in Nellis AFB. Here are some of the unique stuff U can catch inside the Base
