Aviation Nation 2012

**steve1840** · 2012-10-23, 05:22 AM

With just under three weeks til one of the best air shows of the year i guess I'll get this thread kicked off with a question....

Who's is going this year?

I have talked to a few people and i know some that are going. Lineup looks good and statics look good as well. Im looking forward to my first Aviation Nation show.

**Steven Holzinger** · 2012-10-23, 07:26 PM

I'll be in Pensacola the week prior!

**seahawks7757** · 2012-10-24, 12:56 AM

Have they posted anything yet? Last I saw there isn't anything on there event site yet which is disappointing.

**seahawks7757** · 2012-10-24, 12:59 AM

Nevermind, just saw that they have. Not sure yet. Have to look at the budget.

**Boxman** · 2012-10-25, 06:53 PM

I've been there twice - 2009 and 2010. Really an enjoyable show in a great locale, with some incredibly beautiful lighting for the latter hours of flight demos. The number of aircraft on static display is usually upwards of 100. So many statics that I wish they would let folks in on the Friday before show weekend just to be able to take a stroll (a 1-mile plus stroll) along the flightline and take everything in! But of course, Nellis is an active base, so, perhaps outside of a few press pass folks, that is not going to happen.

If you do choose to go, see if you can get there a couple of days before. Usually some variety of "Flag" (Red, Green, or otherwise) exercise going on at Nellis before the Open House, plus, you get a chance to catch some of the statics flying in for the show and you can also take in the rehearsal (from outside the base) on Friday. There are a couple of great spotting locations outside the base, one alongside the speedway, and the other to the south at Cheyenne Ave. Not to mention, there's also some spotting that can be done at McCarran. They even have an observation area along the south side of one of the runways at McCarran where you can get some nice shots (if you can manage to shoot through the cyclone fencing).

I'm hoping to make it out there this year, but it will be a last minute-thing due to some committments at work. I hope they are able to add one of the Phantoms and some naval participation. Despite this being the Air Force's big day - I recall the Navy demo-ing an F/A-18E/F both years I attended.

Oh, then there's the other thing... Show ends and you're usually in your car at the raceway parking lot after 5pm. After that, you're still in Vegas! Plenty to do at night as well!

**Zee71** · 2012-10-25, 07:15 PM

Thinking of going, but airfare prices as well out of range of what think is reasonable. Will keep looking just incase something good comes up.

**Greg_NY** · 2012-11-16, 08:41 PM

Here are some of my shots from Aviation Nation 2012:

Thanks for looking

Isaac

**Chris S** · 2012-11-17, 12:33 AM

Great shots Isaac ... especially the ones of the BONE, HF and the F-15s with the flares !!

Looks like they had an AMAZING line-up out at Nellis this year !! Thanks for sharing !!

**Zee71** · 2012-11-17, 06:56 AM

Nice series Isaac and beautiful light. Ditto on th BONE.

**Greg_NY** · 2012-11-17, 01:54 PM

Thanks so much Chris and Mark!

**steve1840** · 2012-11-17, 09:47 PM

Isaac, great shots pal! I pretty much scrapped all but a few of my shots from AN12 on saturday. Right around the time the light was supposed to start getting good, the clouds moved in and made for awful shots. Definitely should have gone back for the sunday show. Of well, lessons learned i guess.

**gonzalu** · 2012-11-17, 10:00 PM

Jealous! Jealous! Jealous! Jealous! Jealous! Jealous!

Awesome shots guys!

**Greg_NY** · 2012-11-18, 12:10 AM

Thanks Steve and Manny.

Steve, Maybe next time. However your McCarran shots are spectacular and that Valley of Fire shot that you sent was droolworthy...