Nellis AFB (Nevada) Petting Zoo

[silverstate55]

I never knew Nellis AFB had a "petting zoo!" Recently I got to go on a guided tour of areas of the base I've never been able to see before, including walking the flightline and getting up close & personal with various aircraft flown out of the base. At the end of the tour, we were asked if we wanted to visit the "petting zoo" if it was open, so of course we had to check it out. Unfortunately our time there was limited, I could have spent all day there!

I apologize for poor quality of photos; it was late in the afternoon with full sun, so the shadows and confined areas worked against me getting better pics.

Unlike any other armor/equipment collections I've visited on other service's bases, with these items you were encouraged to crawl in, on, and over them as long as you didn't break anything nor get hurt. Pretty cool!!

I was instantly drawn to the 5-ton with Roland missile launcher:




I tried to convince the tour guide that I'd happily swap in a full set of 11.00x20 NDCC tires/wheels to give the truck a more authentic look, and take away these brand-new tires, but it didn't seem to work:




The info plates around this 5-ton:

 

[silverstate55]

A large amount of the equipment on display was Soviet in origin, as the intention of the Petting Zoo is to familiarize Air Force pilots & others with the full looks and capabilities of equipment that most of our opponents are armed with.

Here's a GAZ-69 light truck:




And a couple of Soviet trucks:

 

[silverstate55]

A good selection of Soviet armor and armored vehicles were on display, and visitors were encouraged to crawl on & in them.

The row is headed by a nice T-34/85:



PT-76 light tank:



A burned-out T-55 (with what appears to be M1 Abrams tracks, minus rubber pads):



T-62:



T-72:




T-80 with some ERA pods (explosive reactive armor, to defeat shaped-charges):

 

[silverstate55]

A ZSU-23/4:



A BMP:



MT-LB:



BRDM-2 with Sagger ATGMs:



2S1 SPG:

 

[silverstate55]

Several radar units and different types of missile launchers:



There were over a dozen different AA guns, lots of SAMs, HIND & Mi-8 helicopters, communications vans, mobile fire-control systems, and much more in the outdoor display, but these photos were the only ones I had time to take...it was late in the day and everybody was ready to go home; I could have spent 5-6 hours there easily, and that doesn't even include the inside displays (mainly small arms and crew-served weapons). It is an impressive collection and well-maintained; I had no idea that all this was even here!

Inside there was a MiG-27 and a MiG-29 (purchased from Moldova in 1997 when Iran made overtures to purchase them):



I hope I get the chance to go back and have more time to pore over everything someday.....

 

[elkhtr]

Very cool.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[swbradley1]

Nice pics.

 

[bigbe5678]

Thanks for taking the time Great Pictures

 

[B3.3T]

It has been there for decades but has not been open for public visits until the last few years. Back in the 80's, it was larger with many of the vehicle being operational. Captured radar systems were tested and evaluated near by as well as countermeasures.

 

[Mike929]

I like all the static models placed around the base. Basically tanks that have been shot with large holes through them.