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Flying High in Reno
SF Gate ^ | 8/29/2008 | Mark S. Bacon

Posted on 08/30/2008 9:59:10 AM PDT by Feiny

Marilyn Dash of Hayward, who took her first flying lesson nine years ago on her 37th birthday, is now tearing around pylons at 180 miles per hour, 50 feet off the ground in her souped-up biplane, surrounded by a swarm of other planes all dashing to a finish line in the air. Dash will be one of more than 150 pilots competing in six classes of aircraft - from biplanes to jets - when the National Championship Air Races and Air Show take off Sept. 10 to 14 in Reno. In addition to dozens of wingtip-to-wingtip races at as much as 500 mph, the event will include displays of military aircraft, restored antique planes, the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds aerobatic team and flying demonstrations of the F-22 Raptor, the country's newest fighter, which incorporates stealth technology. More than 200 aircraft will take part.

Dash's plane is a compact Pitt's Special, a modern biplane designed for speed and maneuverability.

"This is not something you buy to take the kids out flying," she says. "It's not easy to fly and not easy to maintain. If you buy one of these, you must know what you're doing."

Even for seasoned fliers, the races have to be regarded as hazardous. Last year, three pilots were killed in crashes. Does she consider what she does dangerous?

"Yes," she says, pausing, "and no. The National Championship Air Races operational people, the air bosses, the pilots and crews, we do everything we can to maintain safety. We know what we're doing. We fly the airplanes a lot. My crew knows the airplane backward. I think we're doing the best we can, and the only thing I can say is that things happen outside of our control, and that's when accidents happen."

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Hobbies; Military/Veterans; Outdoors; Sports
KEYWORDS: aerobatics; airplane; airracing; airshow; aviation; nevada; reno; renoairraces
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The Reno Air Races are Sept. 10-14

http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php

The event also includes a world-class air show featuring the USAF "Thunderbirds", top aerobatic performers, military and civil flight demonstrations, and a large display of static aircraft. Please plan to attend.

1 posted on 08/30/2008 9:59:10 AM PDT by Feiny
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To: Feiny

Ooh, that should be fun. The name sounds familiar...


2 posted on 08/30/2008 10:00:56 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: Feiny
I guess I could have linked directly to the site Reno Air Races
3 posted on 08/30/2008 10:01:44 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: JRios1968

Yes, she is kinda a big deal...


4 posted on 08/30/2008 10:02:22 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: Feiny
Yes, she is kinda a big deal...

She does have a nice Pitts.

5 posted on 08/30/2008 10:03:11 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: Feiny; Paleo Conservative

Reno Air Races PING


6 posted on 08/30/2008 10:04:32 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: al baby; Auntbee; BJClinton; Dashing Dasher; dfwddr; exile; feinswinesuksass; Finger Monkey; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket TaЯd ping!

"Tard" refers to the ping list members and not to the subject of the thread!

List of Ping Lists

7 posted on 08/30/2008 10:06:39 AM PDT by EveningStar
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To: Feiny; martin_fierro

Silicon Valley PING


8 posted on 08/30/2008 10:07:32 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: Tijeras_Slim; FireTrack; Pukin Dog; citabria; B Knotts; kilowhskey; cyphergirl; Wright is right!; ..

AVIATION PING LING


9 posted on 08/30/2008 10:09:44 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: ChocChipCookie; L,TOWM; MitchellC; pianomikey; Mr. Silverback; Morgana

Additional tard ping.


10 posted on 08/30/2008 10:12:16 AM PDT by EveningStar (McCain-Palin 2008)
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To: Citizen James

SF-Bay Area Ping List please....


11 posted on 08/30/2008 10:13:01 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: Feiny
Thanks for the aviation PING.

(Got my tickets for the Reno Air Races a couple of months ago!)

12 posted on 08/30/2008 10:21:08 AM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Feiny
Ol' Dash sounds awesome!

One thing concerns me, though...

My crew knows the airplane backward.

I know diversity is great, but maybe she should hire the dyslexics for a different job.

13 posted on 08/30/2008 10:22:42 AM PDT by humblegunner (I'm voting for McCain because he's white.)
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To: humblegunner

Dyslexics UNTIE!!!


14 posted on 08/30/2008 10:28:39 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: humblegunner

teehee


15 posted on 08/30/2008 10:35:10 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: humblegunner

LOL! :)


16 posted on 08/30/2008 10:36:10 AM PDT by EveningStar (McCain-Palin 2008)
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To: JillValentine

hello Jill!


17 posted on 08/30/2008 10:36:13 AM PDT by Feiny (www.soldiersangels.org)
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To: JRios1968

I think she either is or was a FReeper.


18 posted on 08/30/2008 10:40:39 AM PDT by B4Ranch ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you"--John Steinbeck)
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To: B4Ranch
I think she either is or was a FReeper.

Really? I hope she still is. If she isn't anymore, that would be a total shame.

19 posted on 08/30/2008 10:42:23 AM PDT by JRios1968 (Never kick a leftist when they are down. Wait until they are halfway back up. You get more leverage!)
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To: B4Ranch
Yeah she was. She got banned for being funny.
20 posted on 08/30/2008 11:03:56 AM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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