Posted on 09/16/2009 5:15:41 PM PDT by smokingfrog
RENO, NV - This is the 46th year of the air races, drawing fans from all over the world, and bringing millions of dollars to the local economy.
The Air Races have been run since 1964 and are held at Reno Stead Airport just north of Reno. The US Navy "Blue Angels" return to Reno this year, their first visit since 2000.
Race aircraft in the Unlimited Class reach speeds of over 500 mph - by far the fastest-moving machines in motorsports. The event also includes a world-class air show featuring the US Navy "Blue Angels" flying the F-18 Hornet.
Air show performers for 2009 include David Martin, the Red Eagles, the Smoke and Thunder jet car, and Patty Wagstaff, plus military and civil flight demonstrations, and on exhibit will be a large display of static aircraft.
In addition to enjoying all of the flying, you can visit the pits and watch race teams work on their aircraft and browse aviation-related vendors.
For more information visit www.airrace.org
If you do not have hair standing on the back of your neck as they race, please check for a pulse...
Ping
Its a GREAT show, I have seen it many times. I always get a pit pass and hang around the planes and pilots. You can’t go wrong with the Reno Air Races.
Always a fantastic and fun event. Wish I was going this year.
I try to go every two years. I’ll be there tomorrow.
Here’s the schedule for Thursday, September 17th:
8:00 Biplane Heat (1A)
8:25 Formula-1 Heat (1A)
8:50 Break
9:00 Biplane Heat (2C)
9:25 Formula-1 Heat (2C)
9:50 David Martin
10:00 Sport Heat (1B)
10:25 Unlimited Heat (Medallion 1C)
10:50 Patty Wagstaff
11:05 T-6 Heat (Silver 1)
11:30 Sport Heat (1A) (Premier Demo)
12:00 Welcoming Ceremony
12:15 Smoke and Thunder (Red Eagles)
12:25 Unlimited Heat (Bronze 1B)
12:50 T-6 Heat (Gold 1) (Premier Demo)
13:20 Blue Angels Practice Show
14:55 Unlimited Heat (Silver 1A)
15:20 Red Eagles
15:35 Jet Heat (1A)
Don’t forget Dago Red...
Someday I will make! Only race I have ever wanted to go see. Oshkosh someday too. Love the sound of a radial engine. Used to work on T-28’s for awhile. Even got some time in one. What a kick A$$, P&W 1820.
Yes, I’d have to look at the pictures to see if 2nd was Dago or Strega. I remember Bob Yancey’s “Perastrokia” was 4th (maybe in the silver heat?). I loved that airplane....
Before I moved to Alaska I lived in Nevada and went to the races twice, second time I had the pit pass and took a ton of pictures.
In that collection was pics taken just an hour before the disastrous Pond Racer mishap. I think it was 1991.
I swear if I had to drive a silent electric car the first thing I would do is to mount speakers and an amplifier system with a recording of the P-51 Rolls Royce V12 under full race throttle.
One of the jets in the jet class is a de Havilland Vampire. Geez - how freaking rare is that!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire
I was single at the time so time off and go was a no brainer. The compact car and the flight weren't bad. But the locals know of the show and the hotels were pricey. Join RARA or so I am told to get the cheaper tickets. DO IT !!!
Is that the Rolls Royce V-12 “Merlin” version that was in the Spitfire?
92’ was the crash of the Pond, the year after I went. 91’ was a memorable year. Tusnami’s last, and the Pond’s 1st showing.
Are you sure because I moved to Alaska in March of 1992, that I remember. So I think it was Sept 1991 when it happened.
I just looked it up, It crashed in 93’. 92 I think it passed as they tried to get through the teething problems.
But, Yeah - Reno's A KICK...
Don’t know much about these races. In the WW2 warbird class, which plane usually wins? I hear the Navy Bearcat holds its own pretty good. The P-51, of course, has to be hot one.
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