Aviation Nation, sometimes referred to as America's Air Show, is the annual air show

Air show

An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....

 of the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

. The show is hosted at Nellis Air Force Base

Nellis Air Force Base

Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...

 in November of each year.

Being held at Nellis means that the Thunderbirds usually perform at this air show at their home base as their last show of the year. Since Nellis is the leading Air Force combat training center, the show is able to feature the newest Air Force Aircraft like the F-22 Raptor

F-22 Raptor

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...

.

The air show is a three-day event and is open to the public for the last two days. Guests who are unable to normally access the base can park at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...

 and ride a free shuttle bus to the tarmac

Airport ramp

The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...

 to view aircraft static displays, visit vending booths, and watch aerial demonstrations.

See also

• Aviation Nation 2004 video
• Wikipedia: Major Airshows