September 10, 2008 — Mention “races” in most places and people will probably think NASCAR or Indy cars. But in Reno, Nevada, races mean air racing. The 45th National Championship Air Races & Air Show, or more commonly the Reno Air Races, start today and go through Sunday, September 14.
Featuring five days of air racing by six classes of airplanes, the air races have been run since 1964 near Reno, and are currently held at Reno Stead Field. This year about 150 pilots will compete for $1 million in prize money.
The days prior to the races have been filled with qualifying runs with pilots flying as fast as 474 mph in the unlimited class and 512 mph in the jet class. But they were also filled with sadness when commercial pilot Erica Simpson, 32, flying a Cassutt IIIM "Little Lynn," died Sept. 6 when her aircraft’s wings apparently broke off as she was performing a roll during a practice flight. Simpson last competed in the race’s biplane class in 2006, and this year was planning to compete in the Formula One class.
A tribute for Simpson was planned for the opening ceremonies of the races.
The air races are open to the public and admission is charged. In addition to the air races, people can visit the pits and watch race teams work on their aircraft or browse the vendors for aviation-related merchandise. The event also includes an air show featuring the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds and other aerobatic performers, military and civil flight demonstrations, and a large display of static aircraft.
For the latest race results, click here.
The six classes
§ The Biplane Class is represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, with pilots flying at speeds exceeding 200 mph.
§ Formula One aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine and weights and sizes of every major engine part must be within stock limits. The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost 250 mph on the 3.12-mile course.
§ The Sport Class highlights the new and innovative work being done in the development of high performance kit-built aircraft. Sport Class aircraft race on a 6.37-mile course at speeds reaching nearly 350 mph.
§ The T-6 Class features match racing between stock aircraft, including the original T-6 "Texan", the Canadian-built "Harvard" and the US Navy "SNJ" version aircraft. The aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the 5.06-mile course.
§ The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 and planes race at speeds in excess 400 mph.
§ The Unlimited Class is open to any piston-driven aircraft with an empty weight greater than 4,500 pounds. Aside from a very few "scratch-built" aircraft, the Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters. Aircraft speeds reach 500 mph.
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