Air Force plays part in Vegas Grand Prix

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Travis Edwards
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNEWS) --  Airmen are used to high speeds in the air, but Nellis Air Force Base Airmen will be supporting vehicles going 200 mph on the ground during the 2007 Vegas Grand Prix April 6 to 8 in Las Vegas.

"When a high-speed race like the Vegas Grand Prix comes to Las Vegas, it only seems natural to have a few of our high-powered jets to conduct a flyover to signify the start of the race," said 1st Lt. Jon Stock, a Nellis AFB public affairs officer. 

Four F-15 Eagle pilots from Eglin AFB, Fla., volunteered to fly over the downtown race track before they left Las Vegas from their temporary duty here and other Airmen from the base will take part in the opening of the race.

Nellis AFB Chaplain (Maj.) William Bartoul of the 99th Air Base Wing will lead the invocation and the base honor guard will post the colors following the invocation. The  F-15s will conduct their flyover April 8 at 12:55 p.m. as Master Sgt. Robert Brooks, the Airman Leadership School flight chief, sings the national anthem.

"We are here and available, so it was an easy decision for us to support and promote Nellis and the Air Force as best as we can," said Maj. Jeff Percy, an 85th Fighter Squadron F-15 pilot.

This will mark the first time an open-wheel racing event has been held in the streets of Las Vegas since 1982. The Vegas Grand Prix is a three-day event projected to draw more than 150,000 people. The race is almost a 2.5-mile course full of left and right turns that encompasses Fremont Street. 

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