FReepers Go to the Races (Air Races that is)

Reno Air Races ^ | Aug 8 2002 | Don Hatten

[hattend]

We tried to do this last year but unfortunately the 9/11 tragedy cut the races short.

Are any other FReepers going?

I am a Rare Bear fan sponsor and I hope to see the Bear in the Air this year.

[hattend]

Who will be there?

Go Bear!

[LibKill]

Where? When?

It could be a great spectator sport.

[lavaroise]

I probably won't be there, but I too am a rare bear fan. Though the P-87 is my all time favorite WWII airplane, the bear coming 2nd and of course first for the Reno race.

[hattend]

Feel free to ping others

[lavaroise]

I meant P-47 Thunderbolt, not P-87 (typo)

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

It "is" a Spectator Sport!!

Its a blast. It is in Reno Nevada..and they RACE around an AIR TRACK. The wings look to be so close at times,..that I've truly held my breath.

There used to be a lot more information on FR about the races.. I'll PING our good friend B4Ranch to this thread. He knows everything there is to know about the races,..and can even direct us to a Race Website I believe.

[hattend]

Where?
Stead Field, Reno Nevada

When?
September 11-15th (click on title link)

It could be a great spectator sport.
One of the best! Air races and air shows, military teams, static displays, aircraft vendors. Something for everybody.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

You went hattend, didn't you? We missed it last year..and it will depend on a flying schedule in this house, if we can go or not this year. Hope so.. it has been too dog gone long!!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thats right the 15th!!! It fell on a "special someones" Birthday!!

I just checked the flight schedule. He is flying, but as it is a weekend, and his birthday.. perhaps we can get there for Saturday night and the races on Sunday!! I'm gonna try putting this together again. (Wish us luck!)

We do have company coming, but I think they are at the end of the month. So,.. the search begins. I don't even want to get my hopes up, until I know for sure. We were both so bummed last year!

The races are WAY COOL!!! Anyone who does go will NOT be sorry!! It's like being on a roller coaster,..but not. All the thrills, and I mean those feelings that hit your stomach at times as though you ARE up there!

[hattend]

Click here for the 2002 Air Races. A little late to purchase tickets on-line but they sell them at the gate all 4 days.

[hattend]

I went last year but when the FAA grounded every plane in the US there wasn't much to see. We got to see Dago Red do an engine run-up, but that was it. Mostly visited the pits for pictures, played golf, and hit the casinos.

I can't wait...I'm on pins and needles.

[tophat9000]

You got to love the sound of 3350 cubic inches running full out!

[hattend]

You got to love the sound of 3350 cubic inches running full out!

Stop it, you're giving me goosebumps. heheheheh.

Here is a great Air Race site. Lots of pictures of the race planes.

[JimVT]

I'd love to get there one day.

I've always been an aviation nut...former air traffic controller at Okinawa, Tokyo and NYARTCC.

My fav a/c was the Bell P-39 Aircobra.

Wasn't worth much in combat, I'm told, but it shore did look realll purty.

[Howie]

Sittin astraddle that drive shaft must have been nerve wracking.

[tophat9000]

In my youth I came up with my dream air racer called: "The Scalded Cat!"

... take an Grumman F7F Tigercat (already looks like a racer)

Then clip the wings...

Cut down the canopy and spine (have just a little blister canopy like Rare Bear)...

And upgraded from the two R-2800 to two R-4360 Wasp Major (O yea! )

[hattend]

You would have loved Mr. Mennen or Crazy Horse

I got to see Mr. Mennen fly in the early 70's when my dad took me to the races for the first time.

I will be building an R/C redition of Mr. Mennon one of these days. Looks like you do excellent work with scale plastic models

[hattend]

BTW: here is another excellent warbird race plane web site.

It also reminds me that the races are the 12th through the 15th.

The reason I wrote the 11th was that is the day I am getting into Reno.

[RAY]

My wife and I had the good fortune to attend the Reno Air Races two times and were in the pits with one of the top crews. It was really fun for an aviation enthusiast.

The P-51 Merlin RR (then Packard-Merlin V-1650-7) at 1649 cubic inches developed, I’m told, around 1695 to 1750 HP at war time power settings of 60 inches Hg and 3000 RPM, with the propeller turning much slower. For these races, a similar engine (1649 CI Merlin-RR V-1650 -9) running at 3400 RPM and 147 inches Hg, turning the 131” propeller 1428 RPM, develops approximately 3800 HP – with about 600 to 800 HP consumed by the blower. They spray into the compressed intake air stream methanol, whose evaporation cools the air down to about 120 C.

These aircraft run into the propeller tip speeds exceeding sonic – which produces much additional drag on the propeller, consuming much more power. Without brute power and reduced drag the are reaching their speed limits. Rare Bear for examply, with a much larger engine appears to have more drag than the P-51s such as Strega, Dago Red, and Voodo Chile (sorry about the spelling). Several years ago, I had the opportunity to fly in the jump seat of a P-51 before it was converted to a racer – doing 400 mph low-level passes – what a blast.

To maintain, operate, and fly these machines is very expensive. However, it truly is the fastest motor sport in the world!

Go to the races if you can and purchase the pit pass.

[JimVT]

Looks like you do excellent work with scale plastic models

I wish!

No. I copied that P-39 from RU

Ol' #90 looks like a real stripped down version.