The Reno Air Races, officially known as the National Championship Air Races, is a multi-day event tailored to the aviation community that takes place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada. Air racing is billed as "the world's fastest motor sport" and Reno is one of the few remaining venues. The event includes demonstrations by stunt pilots.
Video Reno Air Races
History
Begun in 1964, the Reno Air Races feature multi-lap, multi-aircraft races among extremely high performance aircraft on closed ovoid courses which range between about 3 miles (4.8 km) (Biplanes and Formula One) and about 8 miles (13 km) (Jet, Unlimited) in length per lap. The chief organizer is the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA).
The first Reno air races, in 1964 and 1965, were organized by World War II veteran Bill Stead. They took place at Sky Ranch airfield, a dirt strip barely 2,000 feet (610 m) long, which was located in present-day Spanish Springs. After Stead Air Force Base (20 miles to the west, and named in honor of Bill's brother, Croston Stead) was closed in 1966, that field was turned over for public use, and the races have been held there since then.
Aircraft in the Unlimited class, which consists almost entirely of both modified and stock World War II fighters, routinely reach speeds in excess of 400 miles per hour. In 2003, Skip Holm piloted Terry Bland's modified P-51D Mustang, Dago Red, and reached an all-time Unlimited class speed record of 507.105 mph in a six-lap race around the eight-and-a-half mile course. The recently added Sport Class racers, mostly homebuilt aircraft, are reaching speeds in excess of 400 mph. In 2009, Curt Brown set a record of 543.568 mph in his jet-engine L-29 Viper.
The Reno Air Races include two and one half days of qualifying, followed by four and a half days of multi-aircraft heat racing, culminating in the Unlimited Class Gold Race on Sunday afternoon. The event also features civil airshow acts and military flight demonstrations between races, plus vendor areas and a large civil and military static aircraft display.
Maps Reno Air Races
Classes
- Unlimited
- T-6
- Biplane
- Formula One
- Sport
- Jet
2016 Race Results
Unlimited Gold
- Race 5, Steven Hinton, Jr., Chino, California. "Voodoo" P-51D Mustang -- 460.306 mph
Jet Gold
- Race 5, Rick Vandam, Reno, Nevada. "American Spirit" L-39 -- 497.921 mph
T-6 Gold
- Race 14, Chris Rushing, Northridge, California. "Baron's Revenge" AT-6B -- 231.193 mph
Sport Gold
- Race 39, Jeff LaVelle, Mukilteo, Washington. "Race 39" Glasair III -- 383.397 mph
Biplane Gold
- Race 23, Jeff Rose, Carmichael, California. "Reno Rabbit" Mong Sport -- 217.858 mph
Formula One
- Race 31, Lowell, Slatter, Buhl, Idaho. "Fraed Naught" Gilbert DG2 -- 256.728 mph
Prior Unlimited champions
2015 Unlimited Gold
- Hoot Gibson, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. "Strega P-51D Mustang -- 488.983 mph
2014 Unlimited Gold
- Steven Hinton, Jr., Chino, California. "Voodoo" P-51D Mustang -- 462.926 mph
2013 Unlimited Gold
- Steven Hinton, Jr., Chino, California. "Voodoo" P-51D Mustang -- 482.074 mph
2012 Unlimited Gold
- Steven Hinton, Jr., Chino, California. "Strega" P-51D Mustang -- 477.523 mph
Significant participants
People
- Lee Behel
- Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson
- Darryl Greenamyer
- Steve Hinton
- Steven Hinton, Jr.
- Skip Holm
- Bob Hoover
- Gary Hubler
- Rod Lewis
- Doug Matthews
- Thom Richard
- Bill "Tiger" Destefani
Aircraft
- 232 September Fury
- Dago Red
- The Galloping Ghost
- Nemesis
- Nemesis NXT
- Precious Metal
- Rare Bear
- Red Baron
- Tsunami
- Voodoo
- Strega "Witch"
Fatalities
Before 2011
From 1964 through 2010, 19 aviators lost their lives due to crashes and collisions in the course of the competition and airshow. In 2007, three pilots died over the course of four days in separate incidents: Gary Hubler, Steve Dari, and Brad Morehouse. Racing was suspended for one day after the last of the three incidents.
2011 crash
On September 16, 2011, a heavily modified P-51D Mustang named "The Galloping Ghost," piloted by Jimmy Leeward, crashed near the stands during the Gold Heat of the race, killing Leeward and ten spectators, and injuring 69. Race organizers cancelled all remaining 2011 races after the accident.
2014
A custom built race plane named "Sweet Dreams" crashed on the course during qualifying for a Sport Class heat race on September 8, 2014, killing the pilot, Lee Behel.
References
External links
- Reno Air Racing Association
- Reno Air Race results, 1964-present
- International Formula One Air Racing
- 50 Years of Air Racing
- 1965 Sky Ranch Documentary
Source of article : Wikipedia
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