Aviation Nation 2011 Roll Call

I'll be there! Hopefully there are no lens length shenanigans this year, just plan on bringing a 100-400.

I know it's early but just booked a vacation to vegas and noticed it was the same week as Aviation Nation. Happy accident for sure.

It's in November, so we have plenty of time to get ready.

Who knows, maybe Canon will have their 200-400 out by then

Giving serious consideration to coming up for this one.

Do it, Jay!

Any opinions on best focal length/lens here? Like I said thinking about the 100-400 but not averse to other suggestions. I know the crowd is huge and I don't want to be short on reach.

100-400 is fine if you're right up on the crowd line. It's also handy for the TBirds Diamond/Delta and for larger aircraft. IIRC, I shot there with a 100-400 on a 40D and a 70-200 on a 5Dc for taxi pasts.

If you prefer to back off a bit, something like the 500 or 500+1.4X would be good for single ship stuff. Like most shows, they tend to fly "banana passes" so you're actually a tad closer out on the wings of the show than at dead show center. Be aware that the "corral" is at far show left so you may get aircraft tails poking up in some shots.

Couple years ago when I last went, there was a "kink" in the crowd fence right in front of where the TBirds parked. I found a pretty good spot right on the show right side of that kink so when planes taxied past and had to move to their left to get past the TBirds, I was looking right up their tail pipes. It also allowed me to see what was going on out in front of the TBirds jets for the swearing in of new AF kids and the pre-demo walkdown by the Thunderbirds.

Im going on sunday for the B-2( I have never seen one)
And the F-4 heritage flight (my dad flew f-4's )
I am bringing my new 400mm f2.8L II (Hope they let me in)

Any advice on the best place to shoot would be great.
I got a nice room at the Cosmopolitan hotel Saturday and Sunday night.

Getting so excited for this! Just rented me a nice big lens!

Passing this year...

Went to Alliance in Texas instead (and got rained out on Sunday... )

mikekelley wrote in post #13322376
Getting so excited for this! Just rented me a nice big lens!

Which one?

I am attending. I was approved for media.

^Got a 400mm.

Anyone know what the best way to deal with parking etc is? I'm assuming just get there early from what I hear as the parking can be the definition of nightmare.

The earlier you get into the LVMS lot, the closer you'll be to where the buses pick up and drop off...

I hope they've made improvements but be prepared to "talk amongst yourselves" while waiting to get on a bus at the end of the day. Good photo ops looking back to the west as you walk to the buses.

Any idea on time? It says the lots open at 8, so I don't know if that means you can line up before hand etc etc. Don't want to wait around twiddling my thumbs all morning but I would prefer not to miss any part of the show, either...so early is good, but I like my sleep

I just checked and my first image from 2007 is people standing in line at 0803hrs. IIRC, the gates opened and people were parking at least a little in advance of the metal detectors and such being open for business.

Sounds good...thanks for the tips Jay!