Show of Power

They call him the "Mayor of Nellis," an ambassador in combat boots whose voice cuts through the air like a bullet fired through papier-mache.

He's a commanding presence, firm but friendly, stern but approachable, the kind of guy who'd break your nose then offer you a Band-Aid.

You see, Col. Michael L. Bartley is here to help.

"You know, a lot of people view us as rigid, we're very disciplined, we're hard-core. But it's not true," he says, seated at a long, black glass table in his office at Nellis Air Force Base on a recent Wednesday afternoon. "We're just like you. We're human beings. We have families. We're part of the community, but our day-to-day lives, our profession, is a profession of arms. That's misinterpreted a lot."

Maybe so, but part of this boils down to proximity, or lack thereof: Nellis Air Force Base is a foreign enclave to much of Las Vegas, nestled on the far northeast side, hidden behind a snaking brick wall that insulates the 11,000-plus active duty personnel who reside there from the rest of the city.

But for a weekend, that wall comes down, figuratively speaking, with the annual Aviation Nation air show.

Designated by the International Council of Air Shows as one of the top five events of its kind in the world, the two-day program not only offers an up close and personal look at some of the Air Force's sleekest jets, but it also allows Vegas to get better acquainted with what goes on at the sprawling air base to the north.

"A lot of people don't know what we do here," Bartley says. "We write the playbook that our Air Force and this nation uses to fight wars. We're developing the tactics, we're assessing the tactics, we're developing operational equipment that goes on airplanes. And we also do some very high-level training for a lot of air crews and ground crews. This is a very, very critical installation, not only for the Air Force, but for the nation."

This is underscored by how big an event Aviation Nation has become. This year, the proceedings take on an added resonance, as they commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force as a separate service in the armed forces.

Dubbed "Heritage to Horizons," the show will offer an overview of the history of modern aircraft, broken down chronologically, from pre-World War I planes to Desert Storm fighters to contemporary models.

"You're not just getting a three-hour air show," Bartley says. "The flying starts at about 8:45 a.m. and it doesn't stop until 5 in the evening. There's an airplane in the air almost the whole time. It's nonstop, all day long.

"Some of it will be formation flying," he continues. "And there will also be some air-to-air demonstrations where aircraft are chasing each other, simulating air-to-air gunnery."

In addition to aerial acrobatics from the red, white and blue Thunderbirds squadron, among the most anticipated attractions at Aviation Nation this year is a demonstration of high-tech new jet fighter the F-22.

"The F-22 is an airplane that defies aerodynamics," Bartley says. "If you see the F-22 fly, it's unbelievable."

Along with all the high-flying, stomach-churning displays at Aviation Nation, there's a slew of other events associated with the weekend taking place on base and around town, from a performance by The Singing Sergeants and the United States Air Force Band at 7:30 p.m. today at Pahrump Valley High School, to a singing and dancing revue from Air Force personnel, "Tops in Blue," at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Fremont Street Experience.

It's all designed to reduce the distance between Nellis and the city that surrounds it.

"We're showcasing America's air power, we're showcasing America's airmen, and we're really opening up an area for you to come on the base and talk one on one with us, see how we think," Bartley says. "It's about what our capabilities are and what we bring to the fight, what we bring to this nation and the Las Vegas community. Most people in the United States really don't know their military."

Until this weekend, that is, as Bartley notes with a grin.

"You get to see all the hardware that you as taxpayers have purchased."

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0476.