Aviation Nation 2017 was staged at Nellis AFB 11-12 Nov 17. As usual, organization was first rate with no traffic queues to the free parking at the adjacent Las Vegas Speedway, extremely efficient security screening and free shuttle bus to the base (15 minutes total for parking / security / shuttle).
The excellent "Warfighter Demo" followed the same format as last year but with the addition of F-35A for CAS. Aggressor F-16Cs attacked, a pair of F-15Cs launched to intercept from strip alert at the end of the runway then chased the F-16s around against the mountain backdrop and in the vertical. The F-35As did plenty of manoeuvring - going in and out of reheat frequently - and complemented the A-10s for CAS. HH-60Gs performed CSAR. A Hind flew backwards and forwards in the distance sensibly staying out of the way. Then everyone landed and taxied by for tea and medals.
Coverage of the "Warfighter Demo" here courtesy of the excellent aerospace videographer "spencerhughes2255":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSYONbRok4
F-22A Solo + USAF Heritage Display:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jvgGNBJzOk&t=556s
An F-15C and an F-16C were both painted in special schemes commemorating the USAF 70th Anniversary on the RHS and "Vegas Strong" on the LHS in memory of the 1 Oct 17 mass shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4dTL1cmIqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OHtAPTVPkE
F-16C "Vegas Strong"
F-16C Solo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKWuWcTwtBI&t=31s
F-15C "Vegas Strong"
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