Reno Air Races 2019 - 1

[IckyATLAS]

I put here a few pictures (see at the end of the text) selected from the 2'000 or so I made during the last three days of the Reno Air Races last week.

Some famous racers for those that follow like me since nearly 30 years these races, Strega, Rare Bear, Vodoo, Dago Red etc.. were not part of these races. The reason seems to be mainly financial. 

 

Unfortunately the sea fury Sawbone exploded its cockpit windshield and by chance and good airmanship landed the aircraft without other damage, but could not continue racing. You can see the shattered windshield nearby the plane, basically the whole cockpit cover flew away and nearby the plane you see the pieces that they were able to recover in the fields. The pilot was really lucky not to get hit or just loose concentration from the windshock, as you would plough the ground at 400 MPH which is lethal. He did what a well trained pilot must do whatever happens, "first fly the plane".

It is not clear if they will be able to race next year. Thy have a spare windshield, but the whole metail frame and rails have been destroyed and to remanufacture them or find spares is not an easy task besides the cost.

Miss America P51D made it to the Gold Race but had to quit after three laps and to do an emergency landing with engine gone. It was the only able to take the crown from Dreadnought. And in fact during the first laps they were neck to neck. Argonaut had also to leave the race. The pace plane an old T38 with Steve Hinton broke down on the taxiway, and could not fly. So as per the rules one of the contenders played the pace plane role and said the magic words: "Gentlemen you have a race".

 

You have the Unlimited start line with all engines running, one picture of the plane in race passing in front of the stands, and finally the three winners, Dreadnought (Sea Fury), 924G (Sea Fury), Goldfinger (P51D). The winner pilot Dennis Sanders, the plane and his family.

 

It seems that the days of the Unlimited category are counted, and will slowly become something of the past. The number of participants has fallen to about six (a dozen many years ago), and with many engine failures, raising costs, and nearly nothing in terms of prize money. Planes are over 70 years old and keeping them not just flying but as a race plane is financially becoming unbearable.

The category that seems may become the new star is the Sports category with speeds of 390 MPH for the Gold race winner a Lancair Super legacy. To compare Dreadnought did 403 MPH.

The financial investments  between the two categories in just not comparable. Pushing to the limit a Lancair Lycoming engine is not as financially risky than blowing up a Merlin engine. So you can feel that pilots in the unlimited category take no mechanical risk and call the race.

 

Eight planes competed in the Gold race of the Sport category with speeds from 312 to 390 MPH and all raced to the end without any failure. Six planes competed in the Gold race of the Unlimited category with speeds from 239 (The fastest T6 made 235) to 403 and 2 left the race on mechanical failure, only four made it to the checkered flag.