You shouldn't expect to see black ops during red flag operations or air shows. Black ops means military operations done with complete secrecy and probably during the night! Why would they show the public a black manta, aurora, b-2, uavs or any other high asset plane if they want to keep such things hidden as much as possible?

As far as I know, the best american and foreign nato pilots get together once a year to practice war games in a realistic threat enviroment containing nato and captured warsaw technology. They split into two teams: red and blue and try to simulate air combat between nato and russian allies, each team using different methods. I don't know all the details but this much I am aware of from tv documentaries and internet research.

I used to live near Nellis AFB and my place of work was under the flight path at a point where they were usually quite low as they passed above. It was amazing on the days of these excercises, wave after wave of aircraft would take off over the space of a few hours. Very cool to see so many different types of jets in such a short time. I really miss feeling the thunder of them roaring overhead....

For the large operations like Red Flag, they would usually start early like 6-7 am with the tankers and such and by 9-10 the flights were slowing down.

Again in the afternoon there would be a large amount of planes landing but it was a fairly constant stream all day long. If you take Cheyenne east from the freeway it will eventually end right near the end of the runways andy ou can park right there (it's a public street) if they are taking off to the south they will literally be a few hundred feet overhead as they leave. On the north side you cant get as close but its a pretty good view from the Speedway. As I recall, most of the takeoffs were generally to the south.

Damn! I love jets. That'd be insane to live so close to the base that at those days you get a new jet fly over every hour. Especially in the morning. That rumble would be insane. Shame I'm all the way in Australia.

The history of Nellis and area 51 are quite intertwined .... The area now known as "area 51" and all of the surrounding desert was known as the Tonahpah Test Range . I lived there when I was just a kid . The USAF has been testing aircraft and ordinance there for many many years most of which is not considered classified or even sensitive.... Thel testing of experimental aircraft and other black ops while it does go on there is usually final stage before release because of the areas well known following. If you want the real cutting edge technology I suggest researching further ....Area 51 and Hangar 18 are merely diversions now... the truth has long since dissapeared from the Nevada desert...... DIRT

Actually, Area 51 is the facility at Groom Lake. Tonopah Test Range, also known as Area 52, is quite some distance to the northwest in the corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range. The history of Area 51 is more intertwined with that of Edwards Air Force Base than with Nellis. Nothing about Area 51 is a distraction. It is an extremely active test and evaluation facility.

where in Utah did you friend claim to see this??? I've heard these kind of rumors before regarding exits for an underground base near Dulce... Please U2 me! And i'll personally check it out and report back.

[edit on 13-2-2009 by hiii_98]