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.
Had the air show down the way from me before. The most impressive thing is when the B-1 left. It did the flyby about 5 miles from me at probably 1,000 feet and passed over my house headed back to base. By the time it got to me he was at probably 4,000 feet on the gas and headed up FAST.
The B-1 is a big rocket ship.
The Germans usually fly an F-4 in. That thing shakes the whole hood when it leaves. Last year the F-22 brought tears to my eyes. what a machine. The pilot hovered her for about 5 seconds in a vertical attitude.
Unreal. Yeah I was in OH for once in my life and wanted to go to the Air Force museum to see the B-58 Hustler and other powerful mosters like the F-4.
I would love to see the F-22 hover. Cool.
I apologize, I moved to Alaska in 92, but I went back to Nevada the next year from march of 93 to june of 94 and it was indeed sept of 93 when I was there the second time, I had a scanner and actually heard the pilot radio his Mayday, he went up and away from the grandstand and then it went down killing him.
I absolutely must plan on returning next year with my son as he was born in 94.
When I was also living in the Carson City area I went to the Fallon Naval Air Station Show, thats kickass! Like watching a napalm run and I think but not sure there was also a Warthog chain gun flyby at ground targets, awesome and yet just a fraction of the capabilities these machines can do.
The Mustangs seem to have the edge.
Note also that for 2009 there are two Warhawks and Wildcat entered in unlimited.
(Oh well, the thunderboats are racing in San Diego so I don't feel entirely left out - and you can see the entire course.)
Morning,
Needless to say I won’t make it this year...
Have a good one.
D.
I will call you later.
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