What’s this 100NM exercise area?
Posted by loveofflying@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 122 comments
What kind of military operations take up such a large amounts of space in the yellow shaded areas?
Accomplished-One7476@reddit
probably for these
Slab8002@reddit
The reversed navigation bar in your screenshot threw me for a loop. It took a couple of tries to hit the back arrow on the wrong side of my screen before I realized it was part of the picture. 🤣
Accomplished-One7476@reddit
I do that shit all the time
I just shake my head and do again 5 mins later.
Slab8002@reddit
Believe it or not a big part of my job is teaching people how to use Android devices.
tacodepollo@reddit
A back button belongs on the left side.... I understand they made the default on the right for right handed folks, but, they're wrong.
Source, am UX Designer.
I-LOVE-TURTLES666@reddit
Is lefty’s get no respect
TJLanza@reddit
That's cause you're all so sinister.
Accomplished-One7476@reddit
Guess people don't use XDA to learn how to use Android. That is what I did when the EVO came out back around 2010.
jhammon88@reddit
Jokes on him, I already had mine reversed
GenericUserName46290@reddit
Gestures > buttons i didnt think id like the gestures but i do
gray191411@reddit
Sorry guys! That's us. Primary and secondary flight training at Vance AFB.
PiratePilot@reddit
No. That’s just normal Vance AFB training. Unrelated to that other thing around Wichita.
2a3b66725@reddit
Vance or McConnell?
PiratePilot@reddit
Vance
ReclusiveMiniPainter@reddit
Area B7R, also known informally as "The Round Table" is a semi arid region where knights of the sky clash in battles of wit and skill to achieve honour, settle debts, prove ideals, or to watch their enemies burn and flee before them.
Those who enter risk it all, many who enter never leave. Those that do are changed by the experience.
It is the place where the pride of nations fall, aircraft are shattered, and legends are forged.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
This is excellent! Feels like a D&D battle with fast movers. ❤️
National-Strain221@reddit
Nice try China
Lego_Dima@reddit
But seriously, does anyone know anything about any launch codes?
old_righty@reddit
We are looking for the nuclear wessel
ColdIceZero@reddit
Hello, computer.
NoDoze-@reddit
..."wessel" is Scotty from Star Trek.
4x4Welder@reddit
No, it was Chekov.
NoDoze-@reddit
Ahhhh That's right!
old_righty@reddit
Here, try this…
angrytortilla@reddit
How quaint
Timmosaurus-Rex@reddit
Whales!!!
Striker1102@reddit
Nuclear weasel?
old_righty@reddit
That would probably be moderately terrifying. But it's a Star Trek movie reference if you're not familiar.
brilliantNumberOne@reddit
In Alameda Bay?
angrytortilla@reddit
Ah yeah, they're across the bay. In Alameda!
Electronic-Hat-1012@reddit
Oh, I don't know if I know the answer to that. I think it's across the bay in Alameda
hereandthere_nowhere@reddit
12354-6
patrick24601@reddit
Hey that’s the combination to my suitcase.
MellerTime@reddit
Hey Dutch, I got those launch codes you’ve been asking about. Think you could read them to my wife?
BigMcStrongHuge@reddit
I can hear this message - subtle American Dad flex there :D
Scrantonicity_02@reddit
It’s up, up, down, left,left, A, A, C,C ,down
euph_22@reddit
0000000
CycleComfortable3028@reddit
lol
throwaway17181135@reddit
Most military exercise areas are published in NOTAMs and sectional charts, check your local flight service station briefing.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
Almost got ya! Haha!
Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit
Those who talk don’t know. Those who know won’t talk.
Dry-Egg-7187@reddit
Look there are certain thinga this is true about, but bvr / sam training is not one of them, which this is, you can see the teams and the launch lines and other indicators.
The military is surprisingly transparent if you know what to look for and how to make educated guesses, it's why osint pissed off the us military so much before Iran, and continues to claim lives in Ukraine.
Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit
OPSEC is exactly why those who actually know what training is going on should keep their mouths shut. Does “the US is doing counter-air training near Wichita” provide value to an adversary on its own? Of course not. But if you put enough unclassified or CUI pieces of information together, you can start to piece together classified information. Many countries have intelligence agencies who operate open source intelligence arms for precisely that purpose. But there’s no reason redditors should make that any easier for foreign governments.
anandonaqui@reddit
Remember when the Secretary of defense and other high ranking members of government used an unsecured telegram chat to discuss upcoming and ongoing military operations, with a journalist in the chat? They knew, and talked.
ComesInAnOldBox@reddit
Signal, not telegram.
Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit
You know, that’s a fair point. I’ll qualify that saying, which is not original to me: “Those who talk don’t know. Professionals who know, don’t talk.”
discreetjoe2@reddit
Those who know post on War Thunder forums.
Passing_Neutrino@reddit
I worked for a mil contractor and made a vehicle. no joke my department manager did not let us play war thunder.
Gerbils74@reddit
He did you a favor, not even joking
surfsnower@reddit
As someone who worked military ECM systems for 20 years AND plays War Thunder, you couldn't be more right.
They are confidently wrong all the time based on hours in game.
MrPigeon70@reddit
I bet your vehicle is shit.
You can prove me wrong by sending design documents :D /j
(Dont)
SeniorFlyingMango@reddit
Or signal
KS_Gaming@reddit
oh they do talk plenty don't worry.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
This is the only good response lol.
CounterSimple3771@reddit
B21 or E-4 calibration exercise. OR
It's a drone trap. "don't go there... And then 6 ”UFOs" show up because they can't resist.
JimmyTango@reddit
IIRC the only flying B21 is at Edward’s still in testing
CounterSimple3771@reddit
Just to share what I know...
The B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman, is in active flight testing, with the first test aircraft flying since November 2023. A second test aircraft joined the program in September 2025, and as of April 2026, the bombers are undergoing advanced testing, including aerial refueling, to accelerate operational readiness.
Key Flight Test Milestones and Details Active Testing: The B-21 has been flying frequently, with reports indicating test flights occurred as often as twice a week in late 2024. Flight Locations: Flights are conducted at the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, with operations and test expansion taking place at Edwards Air Force Base. Second Aircraft: The second flight test aircraft (G2) arrived at Edwards AFB on September 11, 2025, to expand testing capabilities. Aerial Refueling: In April 2026, it was announced that the B-21 successfully completed aerial refueling tests with a KC-135R, confirming its ability to operate over long ranges. Production and Design: The test aircraft are not prototypes; they are built on the same production line and with the same tooling as the future operational fleet. The B-21 is designed as a long-range,, highly fuel-efficient, penetrating strike bomber. Future Outlook: The Air Force is targeting 2027 for the B-21's entry into service, with plans for at least 100 aircraft.
Educational-Tax7910@reddit
most likely fighter patrol practices
GreatMinds1234@reddit
Dogfight practice?
Shone-fob@reddit
Your mom decided to go for a walk today.
wargamer19@reddit
Where are you finding this info? Wondering what the zone over St Louis is for. Assuming it's for some type of ops but not quite sure what
jayvan123@reddit
Ur mom
FragrantRound2@reddit
A --> a/a 💥
derekcz@reddit
fascinating not a single useful answer, even if its not a no-fly area it would still be interesting to know why a NOTAM is there so long
ChrisHut737@reddit
The real answer is so that the Textron test department can exceed 250 knots below 10k feet. Talked to a Cessna test pilot a while ago that was telling me about it
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
This is why myself and others are hesitant to ask questions. Groups like this which you would think want to promote their interests have the ability to take the joy out of it.
Repulsive-Ad-2931@reddit
This is a shortsighted and kind of silly comment. Respectfully.
If the DOD wanted people to know all about this exercise they’d have public affairs teams making articles about it.
Nobody here is being nasty to you or giving you a hard time for asking the question. (Well, except for me I suppose). It’s not that anybody in the know doesn’t like talking about their interests in aviation nor specifically want to “take the joy out of it” for strangers. It’s that we have a duty to protect an awfully lot of sensitive information. There are rules in place, and even small details that might not seem important on their own add up in the aggregate into something classified.
Even the biggest most public exercises like Red Flag have social media SOP briefings and rules to follow. Something smaller and more niche is almost certainly going to follow suit. It’s generally better for everyone to just err on the side of caution.
Don’t get me wrong, you are more than free to keep asking questions. Maybe someone involved will provide you with an answer. But I wouldn’t take it personally if all you get is a “nice try, China” in response.
quid_pro_kourage@reddit
Lurker non-pilot here. It didn't dawn on me that civilian pilots would be privy to any information that could get them in trouble. I figured that any information published to commercial/civilian pilots would be practically public knowledge. Could "civvie pilots" land themselves in trouble for sharing information provided to them through usual channels?
Repulsive-Ad-2931@reddit
Sorry, just to clarify when I say “we” I was speaking as a military aviator, not civilian. Idk if that helps at all.
But that’s kind of what I was trying to get at. This NOTAM just says “warning, there are high speed aircraft operating within this 100NM radius.” That is all the information DOD deemed appropriate for public knowledge.
Civilian pilots wouldn’t ever get in trouble for having or sharing information disclosed to them through official unclassified channels. It’s the fishing for additional information that could become problematic. (Whether the intention is innocent or nefarious)
I know I’m kinda on my high horse here. I don’t mean to come off as a douche, ultimately just clarify that there’s a very real reason to not share details about military operations in an online forum for the world to see. It’s not to personally slight anybody.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
I guess I could have looked up the social media group for Notam 01/180…but my fault for not doing that. A simple discussion is all I was looking for from a bunch of enthusiasts. If it’s so important to protect throw up some restricted airspace or at minimum a TFR?
The_ClamSlammer@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_security
HLSparta@reddit
Welcome to Reddit. Half the users are bots, another 45% need to feel they are more superior than everyone else, and the final 5% are wondering why we're still here.
Advanced-Net-8119@reddit
and then there is me, im just, advancing my net for the 8119st time
Optimal_Anxiety6864@reddit
you typed an essay and didnt even answer the question OP is asking
Repulsive-Ad-2931@reddit
I’m sorry it’s a struggle for you to read and comprehend 3 whole paragraphs big guy. I didn’t answer OPs question because he isn’t gonna get one lol
bitching_bot@reddit
This guy fucks
And flies
Root777@reddit
We ain’t no snitches.
Banfy_B@reddit
It's not even that big compared to the annual Red Flag. BVR engagements or long range SAM systems can easily cover 100NM. If you really want you can fly inside the exercise zone to find out.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
My passengers might get upset if we get intercepted. Speaking of…might be a good time to do a refresher on those procedures.
msag95@reddit
Why would you get intercepted? If they really wanted you to stay away they would have issued a TFR or taken them selves to a restricted area. Ehh fly through it and keep your eyes outside. If you really concerned get flight following and ATC will let you know what they need.
fighter_pil0t@reddit
The issue isn’t the intercept, it’s the midair. The NOTAM is to inform folks that aircraft are making aggressive maneuvers and flying in excess of 500 knots. We try to avoid stranger traffic but that’s only if you know it’s there. If you don’t it can be dangerous. At best, we stop fighting and waste $300k of tax $ per hour while some Cessna saves $30 in avgas.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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Geekenstein@reddit
Fuck it, what’s the worst that could happen? Tonight at 6.
abn1304@reddit
Just don’t let the USS Vincennes air defense operations team anywhere near him and he should be fine.
PraetorianOfficial@reddit
There are places where MOAs are about everywhere. They are not restricted airspace, just "hey--the military uses this airspace so head-on-a-swivel and please talk to ATC".
I once got to fly with a pair of A10's. Sorta. Was just going to go out to our standard training area and refresh a few skills. As I'm heading that way the tower pipes up with "oh, by the way, there are a couple A10's out there flying around--be careful".
There were. I just went about 20 miles farther north and did my thing. A10's were gone by the time I returned.
flightist@reddit
Isn’t red flag ongoing or starting soon? I could’ve sworn I saw it in the ATCSCC message yesterday, and then a bunch of European military callsigns were talking to Salt Lake when I went through there.
Banfy_B@reddit
Apparently red flag 26-1 and 26-2 was over and 26-3 will be in the summer, you probably heard about some other exercise.
joshuatx@reddit
Altus, Vance and Ft Still
Lost_Cockroach6702@reddit
It’s a busy airspace with a lot of mixed use traffic and HATRs.
McConnell probably posted it because there’s a lot of fighter and T-38 training in the airspace, and they aren’t restricted to FAA speeds below 10,000.
Malcolm2theRescue@reddit
I flew right through that area from CXW to APA Saturday so must not have been that high.
CattleDogCurmudgeon@reddit
Given McConnell AFB is in Wichita and is an aerial tanker base, and given the recent mid-air collision in the Mid East, I'm guessing this is a combo of an exercise plus massive aerial refueling ops.
Planeguy58@reddit
This NOTAM'd area has been around for over a year. There's a combo of MOAs, military training from Vance/McConnell, and test flights by Textron and Bombardier. Lots going on here. Source: flew around the area for several years.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
I didn’t include this in the post but the ceiling of the operation only goes up to 10,000’. I thought refueling was conducted at higher altitudes? But I’m not sure.
CattleDogCurmudgeon@reddit
Yeah, usually. So I have no idea then I guess.
Afizzle55@reddit
I haven’t ever seen that many in the air at the same time.
Inner_Piano_2128@reddit
read somewhere on Xitter that there's been some nuke c&c exercises going on at Offutt. 2x E-6B have been up today off each coast, and 2x E-4B are also up and headed to the area on a training flight.
Efficient_Event_269@reddit
Don’t see what you’re seeing.
PullTheGreenRing@reddit
Its a NOTAM not a TFR, its basically always on over Wichita.
derekcz@reddit
why
PullTheGreenRing@reddit
No idea, it just says high speed aircraft surface to 10,000 ft. Probably refueling operations or something.
mig82au@reddit
I used to fly from Wichita and never saw this notam. Is it a recent thing?
PullTheGreenRing@reddit
It’s been there at least for a few months.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
I’m flying LAX to JFK today and noticed it. Bigger than most so it made me curious.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
The picture I posted was from ForeFlight
djjsteenhoek@reddit
What map is this? Two E4B kinda heading that direction right now
ARFdaddy@reddit
Don’t worry about it
PieMan2k@reddit
It’s for Vance AFB. Pilot training base for the USAF. It’s been there since I went through 3 years ago. There’s a ton of local training and flights out of there every day. So it’s just busy with all of them.
jkoz226@reddit
It’s over McConnell, no?
lbutler1234@reddit
Operation skyshield 4.0.
(The feds decided that Wichita is the only US asset worth protecting.)
boosted_frs@reddit
Probably the Vance MOAs. Those are a lot of Vance T-6 call signs.
Rough-Solution-8983@reddit
Bombardier’s Wichita production test flight Ares, perhaps
ilrosewood@reddit
We do a lot of refueling exercises in that area.
flightwatcher45@reddit
Re-entry area projections for stuff.
lcapaz@reddit
Turns around a point exercises with the SR-72
LazyMarcusAurelius@reddit
There are shit ton of training bases and aircraft in that circle, with most flying all over between the various bases. It think its just a cya thing. I’ve never had a problem flying there weekly.
turpentinedreamer@reddit
Zoomy guys
abstractmodulemusic@reddit
Best answer
skunimatrix@reddit
The ones south of St. Louis is annoying because I've got to fly through there going to down to the farm and pretty much always under NOTAM for hi-speed exercises the last couple years.
lockerno177@reddit
yesting sometimes before deploying it against Iranian air defenses i.e. chinese HQ-9b missiled.
loveofflying@reddit (OP)
My passengers might get angry if we get intercepted.
cheesestinker@reddit
Could that be for Tinker AFB?