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A B-52 launches chaff during a bombing run at Nellis Air Force Range's Point Bravo, northwest of the Las Vegas Valley. The Air Force puts on the Capstone Fire Power Demonstration four times per year for new generals, admirals and invited guests. Photo by John Gurzinski. Two HH 60 Pave Hawk helicopters hover above the desert Friday at Point Bravo near Indian Springs during a Capstone Fire Power Demonstration. Crew members are being lowered during a simulated rescue of a downed pilot. Photo by John Gurzinski.

Saturday, July 28, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Air Force exercises its muscles

Nellis spreads war games across 12,000 square miles of sky

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's call Friday for another round of military base closings fell on deaf ears at Nellis Air Force Range's Point Bravo.

The roar of jet fighters and helicopters near Indian Springs, northwest of Las Vegas, saw to that. Even if Nellis officials could have heard Rumsfeld's announcement in Washington, they had few reasons for concern. They were too busy putting on another air power demonstration.

Four times per year, Point Bravo plays host to generals and admirals completing their upper-level training. Each 45-minute display, costing about $650,000, is a real-life show of Air Force capabilities should the United States go to war.

Spanning 3 million acres, the Nellis grounds are the largest advanced combat training facility in the world. Included in the base's resources are 12,000 square miles of airspace in Nevada, plus a portion spilling into Utah.

The cost of the demonstrations might appear high, Nellis spokesman Michael Estrada said; but the expense is typical for normal range exercises and beneficial in allowing pilots to see live fire before actual combat situations.

Friday's Capstone Fire Power Demonstration happened about 10 miles southeast of Indian Springs, drawing nearly 2,000 visitors, including military leaders, congressional staff members, Boy Scout troops, Nellis personnel and their families.

Sitting on grandstands and lawn chairs in the desert heat, onlookers watched as military bombers and fighter planes whizzed over and around their heads, firing upon and dumping live bombs on fake targets about 2 1/2 miles away.

"If budget cuts were to happen, this would be the last thing to go," Estrada said. "In fact, we're building up."

The demonstration includes the rental of a giant-screen display monitor and other video equipment so those watching can better see planes flying at high altitudes and long distances. Among the bombing raids using B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, the display included F-16 fighter fly-bys and a downed-pilot rescue using HH 60 Pave Hawk helicopters and A-10 attack aircraft.

Two consecutive "Red Flag" training exercises will begin Aug. 11, bringing an additional 120 aircraft to the air base. The exercises are scheduled to end Sept. 8, Estrada said.

The Capstone show is not open to the public, but base officials encourage groups to schedule ahead and view the event. The next demonstration is scheduled for Oct. 12.

"I'll get them out here," Estrada said. "They're taxpayers. They have a right to see this."

Rumsfeld on Friday told a dozen Republican senators that he is determined to press for a round of base closings to save money, but no particular facilities have been targeted.

The Bush administration believes excess bases drain too many resources from the Defense Department, and another round of base closures would allow for increased spending and modernization at other facilities.