It's official: the long-awaited Red Flag 03-4 will be launched on Monday, August 4, 2003!!


Message posted by Norio Hayakawa on August 01, 2003 at 0:27:53 PST:

As was reported initially just a few hours ago by Gary Sellani, long-time Groom Lake watcher, military aviation observer and free-lance photojournalist, the Nellis AFB has just issued its first NOTAM on Red Flag 03-4.
What a great news this is, to all of us here at Dreamland Resort!
Although Chuck Clark, well-known military watchdog, Senior Reseacher and Advisor to DLR had already confirmed to us through his "special" sources (as early as the middle of July) that the Red Flag 03-4 is a GO, this NOTAM is the ultimate confirmation that we have been waiting.

As reported by Gary, the NOTAM issued by Nellis AFB (for those who have missed Gary's post) is as follows:

L0172/03 - RED FLAG: NO TRANSIENT ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES MON-FRI DUE TO LARGE FORCE EXERCISE. LAUNCH AND RECOVERY TIMES ARE AS LISTED: 04 AUG: LAUNCH: 0830L-1015L RECOVERY: 1545L-1800L 05-08 AUG:
LAUNCH: (0900L-1000L/1515L-1615L) RECOVERY: (1100L-1220L/1715L-1815L) 11-15 AUG: LAUNCH: (0815L-0915L/1615L-1715L) RECOVERY: (1015L-1115L/1515L-1915L) 04 AUG 15:30 UNTIL 16 AUG 02:15
Times are local. This NOTAM refers to the first half of Red Flag 03-4. The second half of Red Flag 03-4 will be from August 16 to August 29.

Some of the favorite locations from where to watch these great maneuverings of America's premier military aircraft are: 1) the community of Rachel itself, known also as "backdoor to Area 51" 2) the North Gate (Back Gate) area of Area 51, which is only about 6 miles southwest of Rachel 3) the area north of Coyote Summit, next to Hwy 375 4) the Cedar Gate area 5) the Queen City Summit area near Hwy 375 6) the Power Lines Overlook area near Hwy 375, and of course, the world-famous "Mailbox Rd." area, next to Hwy 375.

According to most DLR posters, however, the best viewpoint is the hill near Coyote Summit, which is generally above or at least at the same level as the planes fly. According to Gary Sellani, "the advantage to this hill near Coyote Summit is that you can see the planes approaching the "Student Gap", so you can have some time to track to the planes as they approach."
"From the parking area at Coyote Summit, the planes suddenly appear over the hill, and if you take photos at the parking spot, the planes will nearly always be above you", stated Sellani.

A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-117s, B-1B, B-2 Bombers, EA-6Bs are some of the favorite aircraft usually seen during the exercises. Hopefully this time there will also be some fly-overs of F-22 Raptors.
It will be a great, "free" military air show, the best in action. We'll see you all at Area 51 in August!!

(Anyone interested in setting up our own "base camp" near the parking spot at Coyote Summit? A number of us will be there on August 11 and 12.)


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