Planespotting Nellis AFB — KLSV
Nellis, on the north-east edge of Las Vegas, is the home of the USAF Warfare Center, the Weapons School and the Thunderbirds — and, several times a year, of Red Flag, the large-force exercise that brings bombers, tankers, AWACS and allied fighters from around the world to the Nevada ranges. The base has two parallel runways, 03L/21R (mostly fighters) and 03R/21L (bombers, tankers and heavies), used in either direction according to the wind. Departures typically head north-east towards the ranges, turning over the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is why the desert road along the north side is the classic place to stand. Morning launches are hard to light from public land, so many visitors focus on the afternoon recoveries, when fighters come back first and tankers follow. Outside Red Flag the flying is less predictable but still varied; weekends are usually quiet.
- 72265 EC45
- ERY55 CL60 11 650 ft
- N677AM DA40 7 325 ft
- FFT1051 A21N 5 975 ft
- N991Z A5 5 375 ft
- N5227E C172 5 300 ft
- AAL1863 B738 4 325 ft
- SWA267 B38M 4 250 ft
Conditions right now
Runways
- 03L/21L RWY 03L 3,087 × 67 m · 10,128 × 220 ft concrete
- 03R/21R 3,068 × 45 m · 10,066 × 148 ft concrete
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 10:00
Typical traffic mix
- Military88%
- Cargo5%
- Turboprop4%
- Bizjet3%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Las Vegas Blvd North by the Speedway
The main Nellis spot: the north side of Las Vegas Blvd N, from just east of Hollywood Blvd along the Speedway fence towards Eren Drive. Much of the traffic launches and recovers over this desert end of the runways, and departures turning over the Speedway give well-lit top-side shots even in the morning.
- Getting there
- I-15 exit 54 (Speedway Blvd/Hollywood Blvd), then Hollywood Blvd south to Las Vegas Blvd N and turn east. Park and stand ONLY on the Speedway (north) side — parking on the base side gets people detained by base police.
- Best time
- Both directions work here; for recoveries be in place from mid-afternoon during Red Flag.
- Lens
- 100–500 mm; fighters need 400 mm or more.
E Cheyenne Avenue at N Nellis Boulevard
South-west of the base, under the approach to 03L. Fighters on final pass low over the junction; 03R is too far from here.
- Getting there
- Roadside parking in the area or nearby commercial lots; gas stations and shops on N Nellis Blvd. Poles and wires limit the window, so be quick.
- Best time
- 03L arrivals, afternoon to sunset.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm, around 280 mm for a fighter.
Devry Lane / Cecile Avenue industrial area
Quiet industrial streets further south-west under both approach paths. One position works for 03L, another for 03R arrivals and 21L departures — useful when the heavies are recovering.
- Getting there
- Roadside parking in the industrial area off N Nellis Blvd. You are close to the base wall: no loitering at the fence, cameras down between movements.
- Best time
- At the Devry Lane bend, 03R arrivals in the afternoon and 03L in the morning; on Cecile, 03R arrivals and 21L departures in the morning.
- Lens
- 300–500 mm.
Three Star Bar car park (Las Vegas Blvd N)
A closed bar's parking lot just west of the base boundary, used for 21R departures. The view is cluttered by poles and power lines but it is the only option for that direction on that side.
- Getting there
- Las Vegas Blvd N, west of the base; park in the bays north of the building. Keep a very low profile so close to the fence.
- Best time
- 21R departures, afternoon to sunset.
- Lens
- 200–500 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Home units fly F-35A, F-16, F-15E and F-22 with the Weapons School and test and evaluation squadrons, plus HH-60W rescue helicopters, and the Thunderbirds' F-16s when they are not touring (roughly March to November). Red Flag rotations, usually several each year with the big ones early in the year and in summer, add B-1s, B-52s, KC-135s, KC-46s, E-3s, EA-18Gs and allied aircraft such as RAF Typhoons or RAAF jets. Transient C-17s and C-130s are common. Most flying happens Monday to Friday; holiday periods are quiet. Check published Red Flag dates before booking a trip.
FAQ
What's that plane over Nellis AFB?
Open Spotterra's live map to see aircraft around Nellis and the Las Vegas valley in real time. Many military jets switch transponders to minimum detail or off, so Spotterra alerts are most useful for tankers, heavies and transients.
When is Red Flag?
Usually several two-week sessions a year, with the main ones in early spring and summer. The Air Force publishes dates, but they shift — confirm shortly before travelling.
Is photography legal around Nellis?
Photographing aircraft from public land is generally tolerated, but stay away from the fence, never park on the base side of Las Vegas Blvd N, don't photograph gates or base infrastructure, carry ID and answer police questions calmly.
Do they fly at weekends?
Rarely. Plan for Monday to Friday; Red Flag usually runs a day wave and sometimes a night wave.
Spotterra watches the sky over Nellis AFB
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