Moving to Vegas need tips

a reply to: Bigbrooklyn

The whole area behind the base is an MOA. That's where the Thunderbirds practice. There's a parking area you can watch the UAVs recover, it's just that unlike other bases they have taken steps to restrict viewing.

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: rickymouse

Dude thats a fantastic vegas story...next time I go into a casino I'm gonna ask about these mice of olden times if I see anyone I think might know. Sounds crazy as hell!

I went down to Arizona to help my uncle pack up, clean his apartment, and drive my uncle back up. I was only going one way, so it was way cheaper to round trip, I flew to Vegas, stayed there two days, then flew to Tucson to go help him and saved three hundred bucks.

So on the trip from Chicago to Vegas, a charge built up on the nose of the jet and formed a lightning bolt that hit one of the engines on my side of the jet, the stewardess was standing right next to me and jumped up and landed in my lap with her arms around my neck. WOW. She was appologizing to me for that and brought me some drinks because she was embarrassed. The pilot came on and explained what happened and said there was no problem at all. But when we landed we could not go to the landing area, they taxied off and a couple of fire trucks and inspectors came and looked at the engine for half an hour. People were getting cranky, sure, it was safe but not safe enough to just go to the loading docks I guess, people were worried that something might happen to us sitting in that plane. Nothing happened though.

That was a very interesting trip overall, I stayed in Arizona with my uncle for ten days and went look at all the old airplanes and went into Mexico with him and wound up past the barriers into the town where I bought a hat cheap and also some things like elephant ears from the bakery.

In vegas, I went to a little bar behind the strip to check out what the regular people were like in that town. I just happened to pick a bar where there were three relocated Yoopers that hung out there, what is the chance that the only bar out of the tourist part I went to would have three locals in it from the Upper Peninsula, then they called another Yooper at home to come over and we talked till two in the morning. They had to work in the morning, I hope they made it in.

So that whole trip was very interesting and blew away my belief that coincidences are the only explanation for things. Maybe lightning striking the engine on the jet actually made it so I could communicate with the mice.

a reply to: rickymouse

The mouse whisperer lol! If I ever find a place with mouse gambling I will send you a message asking when you're free so I can fly you out lol.

Go see how low lake Mead is then tell us you want to live there...

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: rickymouse

The mouse whisperer lol! If I ever find a place with mouse gambling I will send you a message asking when you're free so I can fly you out lol.

The mouse table was at Circus Circus, the hotel I stayed at there.

Aren't the Oakland Raiders moving in?
The Nevada Raiders...it will take some getting used to.

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: rickymouse

The mouse whisperer lol! If I ever find a place with mouse gambling I will send you a message asking when you're free so I can fly you out lol.

Thats a shame... At least you can check out the cee i aye planes located behing Harley Davidson.. Four trips a day back and forth to area 51 52..a reply to: Zaphod58

a reply to: RickyD

I'm a real local. Born and raised in Vegas. Grew up here when it was a small town. I can't help with sighting planes but about most anything else, I can. Where to go, where NOT to go, etc. Send me a PM anytime. I know stuff.

My sis is a great skier. Been dropped off from a helicopter in Europe onto mountains. No joke, she's really good for a non Olympic type and she loves Lee Canyon ski resort. Keeps her in shape for her big ski trips where she can get to a big mountain. They just opened up and she did her first day this year on Wednesday and was very happy even with sub-par conditions. The snow was natural and not man-made so that was a plus.

So I did a bit of digging around and found a pretty good site to aid in whats where with what views and all that as well as some other useful info and links if anyone is interested. I'll toss the link in here for you guys.

Field Guide

a reply to: RickyD

You need to be really careful with the ranges. One of the spots is just outside the Groom Lake airspace. If you go wandering you may accidentally stray onto land you shouldn't. That's why I say to get to know the local spotters.

a reply to: TheSpanishArcher

Don't see many of you for sure man...good to know! I would # a brick jumping from a chopper on a snowboard. I used to operate a lift at Angel Fire Resort in NM and would sometimes look down from the lift and think about the video they showed us in training of what happens if the breaks fail...it flies backwards at break neck speed and throws you off the chair as it mangles and bends, the bags weighing 100lbs went like 50ft away...I knew the best bet to live was jump but even that at only 2-3 stories up made me shudder lol. You're sis is a badass...so I guess I'll be looking into a pass there to check that spot out!

a reply to: Zaphod58

Lol I bet that's the one I just told the wife I wanted to hike! I am not too bad with a map and compass so as long as I can get a clear boarder I am confident I would be ok, but you're probably right...really don't wanna miss the show while I'm detained in a bunker somewhere having a microscope shoved up my ass!

a reply to: Bigbrooklyn

Unless I'm wrong and the Air Force has already annexed Reveille Peak you could see right into area 51 with proper optics, which I dont have yet. At only 45mi away I bet you could still get some good glimpses of things albiet not very detailed with binoculars or a spotting scope, however who knows for how long now as its been made a bit famous after the Swiss mountain bat put it out there that it has a good view down the runway...

a reply to: fringeofthefringe

Yea they are building their stadium now. Not sure when its supposed to be done though...I am looking forward to working shows there if I get in local 720.

a reply to: Xtrozero

If I can make more money there than Vegas maybe...this relocation is all about the dollar dollar bills though.

a reply to: Bigbrooklyn

Hey man, sorry for the late reply. I'm on the SW by Blue Diamond. How about you?

East side.. Green Valley near Galleria mall...did live in Southern Highlands.. Booming area now..a reply to: v3g4S

a reply to: RickyD

From what I understand it was only like a ten foot drop. Lee Canyon is only about 45 minutes from here so not that bad. She's got a locker up there to keep most of her accessories and just travels up there with skis and boots.

The camping up there is nice also. It's so much cooler there in the summertime that it's a great place to get away but beware it gets cold at night, or at least cold for a desert rat like me. There's some good hikes to keep you entertained.

There's this awesome cave you would dig but it's really hard to get to these days. Used to be able to drive in and park but that area now houses riding horses. Last time I was there you could still get to it you just had to park way out on the main road adding another mile or two to a hike that was already about a mile or two. I can't lead you there as I've had blood clots that ruined my foot and walking is difficult so sorry on that one.

It's really cool and one has to know where it is to find it and even then it's a huge pain. The entrance is very hard to find. There used to be an arrow painted above the entrance but alas they took that away, possibly because they don't want people in there as it's dangerous. As are all caves, basically. Just like the mine near Lake Mead I used to visit when younger. I won't go near that death trap these days. That place is not only dangerous but scary as hell. You could easily fall hundreds of feet because the floor just magically disappears.

The cave is across the street from the Red Rock Loop, something you should also check out. Thirteen miles one way and it's very nice. IIRC there's petroglyphs out there but it's been a long time. At Floyd Lamb State Park - formerly Tule Springs, which is what we still call it -they have had dinosaur bones found there.

There's also an actual Easter Island Moai in Sunset Park. It's on an island in a small pond on the southeast side. Don't get to see those very often.

Anyway......

Red Flag 20-1 will run Jan 27- Feb 14. The list of players comes out next week, but 617 Squadron from the RAF with their F-35Bs released a challenge coin showing they'll be there.

So lot of stuff as many have noted above:

Janet Terminal at McCarran
Nellis especially during the flags.
Creech AFB
Groom from a distance
Tonopah
You also are a 4 hour drive to Edwards