Back in the 1980s I flew F-4G Wild Weasels for many years out of George AFB, Victorville, California with the 562TFTS and 563TFS, and a full 75% of our "routine training missions" were flown in the Nellis Ranges, the extremely classified ranges northwest of Las Vegas/Nellis AFB, Nevada. We all had Top Secret clearances, and in addition had signed NDA's (non-disclosure agreements) regarding anything we might see while flying there. Oddly, these ranges were controlled by DOE (Department of Energy), and there was a definitive "pecking order" as to whom (USAF, Navy, Marine, etc.) were allowed to fly around Tonopah Test or Area 51 on any given day, but due to the nature of our work and clearances, etc., we Weasels were never forbidden to fly, though we my have restrictions. I had just transferred to George AFB from the 81TFS Wild Weasel squadron (Spangdahlem AB, Germany) and within a week found myself selected to fly a now declassified Constant Peg mission (look it up). While flying I made the mistake of drawing a picture of the MiG 21 on my knee card and during our mission debrief my Flight Lead, an old crusty Vietnam War vet, caught glimpse of it and casually picked it up, ripped it into pieces, and chewed my ass out. Days later while prepping to fly I read the NOTAMs (notices to airmen) and discovered that all the Nellis Ranges were closed to flying, with the exception of the Wild Weasels. We were however, restricted to fly from only the ground up to 10,000 MSL. Now the ground out there is around 4500' and that doesnt give you much room to play, so I kept my eyes glued on both my flight lead and to the sky that day, when lo and behold, there it was (and now declassified), the Stealth Fighter (Wobbly Goblin, F-117), flying right above me! It was a crazy experience and just one of many that I would later have over the next few years. Now, to give you an idea of just how off-limits and classified Area 51 is: even when the Nellis Ranges are open to the "general public," NO ONE WITH NO EXCEPTION IS ALLOWED TO FLY WITHIN ITS BORDERS, which are well depicted on any flying chart, and I have flown its perimeter 100's of times, all the while knowing the consequences of violating its borders. And yet, there is always some idiot pilot(s) that that think that they can fly low and fast and sneak in without being seen, only to be met after they land by many serious armed men with seriously bad attitudes that will handcuff them, strip search them on the tarmac, and take their cameras and anything else as evidence. Later, they will have their flight wings taken and be bounced from the service! Typically this happened during some Red Flag or Green Flag Flying Excercise (out of Nellis AFB), when some newby jet-jockey who thinks they're bullet proof will deliberately fly into Area 51 Restricted Airspace and later claim they were lost. Yeah right, as if Area 51 hasn't heard every excuse in book in the past 50 years..! On one such occasion I was actually flying out of Nellis AFB when I observed two Marine aircraft enter Area 51. Upon landing and while taxiing to park I saw the two Marine pilots spread eagled on the tarmac, much as I mentioned above. What fools. If you've stayed with me this long I hope it has sunk in that playing games around Area 51 just isn't worth it, and you'll most likely disappear like a ghost when your caught, and you will be...