vegas!

[prozack]

Good Day All,

I am going to Las Vegas for the first time in August. Besides doing the normal Vegas stuff, I want to do as much aviation related stuff as I can.:) (spotting, museums, shows, tours etc...)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

--Thanks to all who post.

[AlanM]

Go to Las Vegas North Airfield.

Get a Twin Otter to Grand Canyon with Scenic Airlines

(IF you have an IATA form - take it and get a standby rate!)

We went on a standby day return inc lunch, flights, and a tour of the rim. great fun.

[hoofhearted]

120F every day. Edwards AFB museum, if open, is a must. Grand Canyon is stunning. Night chopper ride along the strip, fabulous. Parachuting or a flight in a Stearman is all available. You'll meet more pilots in Vegas than at a Friday night disco in Liverpool!:\

[Fragman88]

Either drive or fly to Chino airfield. About halfway between LAX and Las Vegas. Great little museum, B17 etc. and lots of very friendly enthusiasts working on and flying all sorts of good stuff (mustangs, spitfires etc.) The first thing I saw on arrival a few years ago was a Mig 15 doing a run & break! The chap wouldn't let me fly it, but I did get to sit in it!
Victoria, just north was an alternate for me for LAX, so went up to say hello, and the tower hospitality was outstanding.
Have a great trip.:ok:

[Down and Welded]

Re AlanM's reply, take care with Scenic Air. I flew on the tour he mentions - ie Twotter to-from Grand Canyon Airport, chopper flight on one of several standard canyon routes (NB: will be OVER rather than INTO the canyon), bus tour of rim, lunch. Here's my experience....

Arrived at Nth Las Vegas Airport via hotel shuttle at 0630 and informed they wanted another $10/pax for a fuel surcharge (I'd paid for the tour at my hotel - all fees and charges supposedly included). Good flight to Grand Canyon with 13 Japanese co-adventurers--most of them asleep--except that the taped commentary at my seat wouldn't work at a volume level sufficient to hear. Reported to pilot at GC. Those on left side of a/c got view of Hoover Dam on climb out of Las Vegas (those on t'other side had to do their best by sticking their cameras in front of pax across the aisle. The Japanese were transferred to their tour bus and I was left on the kerb. After half-an-hour someone came out of the Scenic Air office to inform me they'd neglected to book me on the chopper (separate operation). They eventually found me a seat on a competitor's 206 then rushed me off in someones van to the rim to catch up with another tour coach. Result, a shortened rim tour (you need EVERY second you can get at the rim - stunning!), sitting backwards in a shuddering old 206 (put the David Clarke's on and no commentary at all - couldn't believe it! Helicopter company gave me a DVD of the GC to compensate for loss of commentary, very good of them. I'd been looking forward to the modern French machines operated by Scenic's tour partner at GC Airport (one of the reasons I'd booked this particular tour) but all of their flights were booked out while I was there. No lunch - they forgot. Flight direct back to Vegas, no glimpse of Hoover Dam (advertised) for those who missed out before. Scenic Air customer services manager (David) entirely unsympathetic with my complaints. Offered me a $5.00 voucher for the terminal kiosk - not accepted. Scenic Air; not all they claim to be!!

Non-stop airline activity at McCarran International close to town. Don't know about 'spotting' though (if that's an intention) - US very trigger-happy these days. Check out the USAF base to north of town.

On US domestic flights select Ch 9 on your entertainment system and listen to ATC. Have a great trip and enjoy Vegas (originally a cowboy town, became a major railroad division point). Give the gambling as much of a miss as possible but I DO recommend the bars in the casinos where you can watch the action (great gaming floor entertainment in the Imperial Palace - consider the Legends In Concert show there as well!). Drink Sam Adams beer. Stay healthy...

[AlanM]

D&W - that sounds a bit rough.

I know a few who have flown with them and no probs.

The tour I went on was $280 I think (or more!) - but by flashing IATA paperwork we went for $50 each standby and no probs.

Maybe we were lucky.... and you very unlucky.

[av8boy]

A word of caution... remember the distances we're talking about here...

Edwards AFB museum, if open, is a must.
Edwards (the USAF Flight Test Center) is well over 200 road miles from LAS. Not that it's a bad idea... What's more, Edwards is minutes away from Mojave where you can drop in and say hi to Mr. Rutan...

Either drive or fly to Chino airfield. About halfway between LAX and Las Vegas.
LAS to "Planes of Fame" at Chino is very close to 250 road miles. Chino to LAX is about 60 road miles. Although it may be "about halfway" in driving time ;) it is not halfway in road miles.

That having been said, the suggestions that have been made ARE excellent. Me, I'd gamble for a day then hit the road, even given these distances. Edwards is out in the middle of the Mojave Desert a billion miles from anywhere, but when you get there it seems as though you're at the center of the aviation universe. I've got lots of suggestions in that neighborhood for anybody who wants to wander out there. Like I said, Mojave is right down the road, and LA Center is also very close in Palmdale, but there are lots of other aviation-history sort of things out there as well, if you're willing to do some reading and driving.

[Avman]

As far as spotting is concerned, if you have a car, aim for East Sunset Road situated on the south side of the airport. There is a dedicated public park and spot area with good views of activity on the East-West set of runways. For photography you would need very high steps. Alternatively, if they are on westerlies, continue eastbound on E. Sunset until you come to a garage and parking area on your right. Here you can get good approach shots. Generally, you will be left alone. Sometimes the cops may come along and do a security check on you. If they are landing towards the South-East (the cross runways) then near the western end of E. Sunset Rd is a sports arena with a large free car park. You can get excellent photos of a/C landing on both runways. Best in the morning sunwise. All in all, there are a number of good places. I believe even the multi storey car parks offer some good photo opportunities with the Strip in the background. Variety wise, more charters appear as the weekend approaches, starting on Thursday. Have fun.

[preiffer]

Word of warning re: Scenic Air:

Not only were we unimpressed (for similar reasons as D&W - nobody there, not set up, tour not as promised), we were also dumped on the rim with no facilities, food, water, or any other human being for over 1 hour in the boiling heat while the bus disappeared to get the next party. If something had happened, we could have done nothing - no phones work at the Canyon either.

Their fuel "surcharge" has now increased to $20 per passenger, too.

[wub]

I had a brilliant GC trip with Heli-USA, who collect you from the hotel and take you to McCarran, where a gaggle of four Eurocopter Squirrels take you via Hoover to land at the bottom of the GC. There you have a picnic before the most stunning flight I have ever had, close to the wall of the canyon then across Lake Mead and down the strip, it was simply stunning.

[Middle Seat]

On US domestic flights select Ch 9 on your entertainment system and listen to ATC.

Channel 9 option is a feature provided only by Untied Airlines, and even then at the discretion of the pilot. No other domestic carriers currently offer this service, and you certainly won't see it on Southwest.

[AlanM]

Seems that things have gone downhill since my flight with SA (4 yrs ago)

Plenty of other operators so good luck!! :)

[KBOS]

I have flown the GCN tours over the Canyon a few times, and always took the same company. AirStar Helicopters [mostly red livery, some are white] are located at GCN airport.
The flight is very smooth, and the pilots are great.
About the "No flights into the canyon": there is a rule now that says that no aircraft may go below south rim altitude. It really sucks, and I got the pilot to get down a little off of the original route [not with aistar tho].

So if you get a flight from north las vegas to GCN, walk over to airstar [it's a little off the airfield]. It's real fun.

BTW: I'm not flying for Airstar *laughs*

[Magoodotcom]

If you like modern military hardware, then Nellis AFB has a few good viewing spots around its boundaries.

Cheyenne Ave, about 200 yards east of Nellis Blvd is a good bet, espeacially in a southerly wind. The spot is less than 1/2 mile from the southern threshold of the runways. However, the local cops have been known to move people along from there.

The corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Hollywood Blvd outside the speedway at the north-western end of the base is also good. Most of the larger aircraft (B-1B, AWACS, tankers etc) take off to the north, but if you're planning on taking photos, bring the big lens! Again, depending on their mood, the cops will probably check you out and possibly ask whether you're carrying a weapon! Make sure you have your passport handy!

Plenty of locally based F-16s, F-15s, A-10s and even F/A-22s to be seen. Next Red Flag dates are 8 August to 2 September, so lots of other aircraft will be around, including...

Red Flag 05-4.1 (08/08/2005 - 08/19/2005)
Wing Squadron Home Base
57WG 64AS Nellis AFB, NV (F-16 Aggressors)
131FW 110FS St Louis, MO (F-15)
325FW 2FS Tyndall AFB, FL (F-15)
102FW 101FS Otis AFB, MA (F-15)
159FW 122FS New Orleans, LA (F-15)
388FW 421FS Hill AFB, UT (F-16)
7BW 9BS Dyess AFB, TX (B-1B)
52FW 81FS Spangdahlem AB, GE (A-10)
ALLY - Italy (Tornado)
ALLY - Denmark (F-16)
ALLY - Norway (F-16)
20FW 79FS Shaw AFB, SC (F-16)
3WG 962AACS Elmendorf AFB, AK (AWACS)
57WG 15RS Nellis AFB, NV (Predator)

Red Flag 05-4.2 (08/19/2005 - 09/02/2005)
Wing Squadron Home Base
57WG 64AS Nellis AFB, NV (F-16 Aggressors)
1FW 71FS Langley AFB, VA (F-15)
120FW 186FS Great Falls, MT (F-16)
140FW 120FS Buckley, CO (F-16)
150FW 188FS Kirtland AFB, NM (F-16)
28BW 37BS Ellsworth AFB, SD (B-1B)
57WG 422TES Nellis AFB, NV (F-15)
ALLY - Canada (CF-18)
4FW 336FS Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (F-15E)
ALLY - Turkey (F-16)
366WG 389FS Mountain Home AFB, ID (F-15E)
USN VAQ-142 Whidbey, IS (EA-6B)
552ACW 965AACS Tinker AFB, OK (AWACS)
57WG 15RS Nellis AFB, NV (Predator)
ALLY - NATO (AWACS)
114GSAB Oklahoma USANG (F-16)

If you have a day or two to spare and a rental vehicle, take a drive about 2 hours north of Vegas to a viewing point called Coyote Peak near the town of Rachel on Route 375. On the way, top up with petrol at Alamo, as there often isn't petrol available at Rachel.

At Coyote, you see Tornados, F-16s, A-10s, B-1s fly past you in the passes on both sides of the viewing point which is a half hour gentle hike off the highway. Plenty of fighters and bombers up high as well, and sonic booms galore!!! :}

The locals in Rachel can direct you to the peak if you can't find it, but avoid the UFO conspiracy theorists if you can. If you feel lucky, be really careful in the area west of Coyote Peak, as there is a VERY secure facility in there! :uhoh:

Feel free to Email me if you'd like more info.

Enjoy...I did!

Magoo :ok:

[smith]

The area (is it area X) I don't know, where the aliens reportedly crash landed is close by too but is restricted.

[airbourne]

Did the Vegas thing in '03. Brought my log book and students pilots report book and west to westair aviation at North Las Vegas airport. Hired a 172 with instructor and flew over Vegas, boulder, Hoover Dam and on to the Grand Canyon. Round trip of about 2 hours, best of all it was logged time as well. Cost about $200 in total and well worth it!

Can you hire a steerman?

[Down and Welded]

Middle Seat,


Channel 9 option is a feature provided only by Untied Airlines, and even then at the discretion of the pilot. No other domestic carriers currently offer this service, and you certainly won't see it on Southwest.

Thanks for that - interesting. Hadn't realised as had only travelled 'Untied'/TED. Bluddy nice touch though, luv it...

D&W