Reno Air Races

[NICKYPOO]

Sweet! Where are they trucking it from?

I'm so pleased with that news, here's a shot for you. Odegards #57 Corsair and the always popular P-51 Sparky.

[NICKYPOO]

I know, I know, I'm livin' in the past, just wanted to slap up a couple links to some photos from this year.

The point-n-shoot specials:
http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showt...6&page=1&pp=10

The Alien:
http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=3731

Some vids and pics from my next door neighbor for that week:
http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=3859
*Note- the last pic is of me and my Father.

Misc vids:
http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=3795

Theres a ton more on there if you dig around a bit. Theres like 5 pages of topics from Reno '06.

[Tequilasun]

Nicky:


That Alien is that a race plane? I mean are all the planes they race former military or do they have specific race planes?

[NICKYPOO]

Haha, no the Alien is the photographer, Victor Archer. Known as the Alien for his "Prop Circles". The first plane in that thread is Strega, which is Italian for "Whitch". Pretty far from a true P-51D, but that is what it started life as. The second is a Hawker Sea Fury by the name of September Fury. Once again, pretty F'n far from stock.

All of the Unlimiteds at this time are former "warbirds" athough very few ever saw any real duty. There have been some one off designs, but unfortunately they, nor their pilots at the time of their demise are with us any longer. The only restrictions in that class are that they must meet the minimum weight requirement and be piston engined, propeller driven. Beyond that, "Run What Ya' Brung". The only other class that runs "warbirds" is the T-6 class. The T-6 Texan was a WWII trainer that became available in surplus at the end of the war. Great aircraft that was built for abuse. They are kind of like watching IROC. Everybody runs just about the same speed all week long. The Sport class is all "kit" planes such as Lancairs, Glassairs and such. Must have a two place cockpit, piston engine, propeller driven and a 570 Cu.In. (soon to be bumped to 720) max. All the real innovation is in this class. In the last 5 years, the top average race speed has risen 30mph. There's a big difference between 340 and 370. I can't wait 'till they put the big motors in. Then there's the jet class. Once again, IROC, only more so. With a field of pilots that reads like a who's who of accomplished pilots all running the L-39 Albatross, a former Soviet Union jet trainer. They all run in the 440 range. The only mods allowed are to the airframe in order to clean them up as best as possible. All run the same motors with no mods, just like T-6. The two smallest classes are F-1 and Biplane. F-1 are single seat home builts, and the Biplanes are mostly Pitts Specials, although there are a few real trick ones that are considerably faster that any Pitts has ever hoped to be. I'm not sure on restrictions but they are few and far between. Pretty sure it's just a Cu.In. restriction though.

[sparky216]

Nick will you be sporting these tags soon????


They will get you free parking at the air races.....

[NICKYPOO]

Soon, very soon. The parking thing doesn't really mean much to me. The days that I actually go "inside" are qualifing days. Not too many lookyloos around for that, just the hardcores, so parking isn't really an issue. Come race days, I'm a Fenceliner. I just like the fact that I can get plates with a race plane on them. And what a race plane it is, Miss America.

[sparky216]

LOVIN IT

[Original Wing Nut]

Nickypoo, I had a cousin over for mothers day get together. He had video of pylon races at Monument Valley, is this the same thing? It looked awesome and and the scenery there was killer. I would love to see this in person if this is the same thing, it looked like insane to me. One guy hit a pylon and headed straight up to get clear of the cliff walls, great reation time as any slower could have been ugly. Anyways wondering when are they in Reno this year? It might be time to start planning a trip that way for me?

[Original Wing Nut]

Try looking at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJG_YEnaWBs
okay I don't know if that link will work, try youtube and search for Red Bull Air Race held in Monument Valley

[Original Wing Nut]

Another one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nyS1...elated&search=

[NICKYPOO]

They had those at the National Championship Air Races one year. They are not however what the Air Races are about. Not even close. Well, besides the fact the are in hot rod aircraft. The Red Bull Air Races are more of a time trial with a few aroebatics thown in. The NCAR is all about closed course heat races with highly modified WWII fighters (P-51, Seafury, Bearcat, ect), WWII trainers (T-6), Homebuilt racers (F-1), Sport Biplanes (Pitts, ect.) and Jets (L-39 Albotros). Do a search for Reno Air Races on youtube and you'll get stuff like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAgJuwSdAgE

OWN- If you do come out, tell me. To get the full experience, it takes experience. I'll make sure you have great time.

[NICKYPOO]

http://aafo.com for all things Air Racing. Real air racing that is. Hanger Talk is the forum.

http://airrace.org for HQ.

[Tanner]

A gentleman I just built a house for used to compete in this stuff. Doubt he does anymore as he's in his late 80's. But I know he still has his planes... I wonder if he still enters in his planes just w/ a new pilot.

[Original Wing Nut]

Nickypoo what's up? I called a buddy today to see if he would come out on the Tigé tomorrow and he said he was on his way to Reno for the Air Races. Usually you have posted about it. I am trying to get out of work and on my way, but don't know if I can pull it off. I heard there has been two deaths recently on this, what's up? Hope it is a great week end of racing with no accidents. Take lots of pics and share as I don't know if I can make it, I'm tryng, but it is an 8 hour drive and I didn't plan on it until this morning.

[Original Wing Nut]

I just did a search and found this.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296742,00.html