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"You're flying with 'Bags' and 'Spare'," pilot told me with an unexplained grin. "Stormin' Norman" was checking flight schedule while he showed me around hangar spaces day before my flight. "When you arrive for briefing, tell Bags I said he's a real loser."

Fighter jocks.

Despite professionalism evident in everything they do, pilots at Fighter Combat International maintain a healthy rivalry among themselves and invite their guests to take part in fun. You'll notice immediately that everyone who works here is always smiling. I would be, too - my image of Heaven itself includes an 8,000 foot runway.

THIS IS NOT A SIMULATION

You don't need much runway for Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft. These nimble little planes leap impatiently into air and take you through any maneuver you dare to try. The planes offer handling and roll rate very similar to F-16 and F/A-18 fighters that instructor pilots used to fly in military. Better still, you get to fly yourself for most of flight, because you can't hurt these planes. They're rated to 8 G's - both positive and negative - and instructors will let you be as aggressive as you like. You can try a short aerobatic flight for as little as US$295, or go head-to-head with an opponent in an hour-long combat flight for US$935. It's an hour you'll never forget. The company is offering a Summer Special in 2003 for these flights; see www.fightercombat.com or call 866/FLY-HARD for details.

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Okay, do math. This jet entered service in 1950s, and I'm told Air Force plans to keep it in service until 2040. I'm not sure I'll be in service then!

I'm talking about, of course, B-52 Stratofortress, long a pillar of America's Cold War nuclear deterrent. With new satellite-guided bombs that can be dropped from outside enemy air defenses and strike surgically, this old bird is still USA's main heavy-hauler in wartime. With its huge payload, it's also an excellent psychological weapon against potential enemies. Ever seen one take off? There is nothing more apocalyptically sinister-looking than a Buff rising from runway, a storm cloud of black exhaust behind it, enormous landing gear reaching down like talons of some prehistoric bird of prey.

You've probably seen mysterious new B-2 Stealth Bomber, flying-wing aircraft that flies around air shows like a huge boomerang but never lands because it's still too secret. The B-52 guys I spoke with joked that their old jets will perform a fly-by at Stealth's retirement ceremony.

The annual air show at Nellis Air Force Base is a two-day event (October 5th and 6th in 2002), and it's a good thing: you need that much time to see all of exhibits, and flightline is so huge that it takes half a day just to walk from one end of show to other.

Aviation Nation is an apt name for this event. It shows us how our tax dollars are being spent to protect nation, and it provides an entertaining look at military and civil aviation. Moreover, this year's show provided a history lesson.

We're coming up on 100th anniversary of birth of modern aviation (2003), which occurred when a fragile kite-like aircraft lifted off from a sand dune in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. To celebrate, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has built a beautiful replica of Wright Flyer and is taking it on tour around country. (See schedule at www.flight100.org/activities/tour.html.) The craft was on display in a hangar, surrounded by informative memorabilia and photographs. Just think: in one century we've advanced from kites to boomerangs!