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Biplanes line up on the runway prior to their qualifing round. The Biplanes along with the Formula 1 class fly early in the morning before the wind picks up
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An L-39 "Albatross" takes off for a flight around the plyons.Seven of these aircraft race at the same time on the course |
A P-63 "Kingcobra" flies for the crowd on Tuesday. The owner and pilot of the P-63 used to play on it in the late 1960s on the airport where it sat for decades |
Crews work hard at Reno on both the race and the display aircraft. Here the crew washes down a B-25 "Mitchell" bomber after arrival |
L39s diving onto the course at pylon 1 |
A restored PT-17 sits in the morning sun. One of the basic flight trainers used before and during World War II to train pilots |
The second-place finisher in the Formula One Gold, owned by the legendary Ray Cote |
Super Sea Fury Critical Mass after suffering a landing gear collapse |
Crew members put the finishing touches on Merlin's Magic prior to the Unlimited Gold Final |
Not all modifications go to the unlimited. Will has modified his plane's engine with an addition of a turbo charger behind the pilot's seat |
The crew of Race 5 of the Formula 1 class stand proud next to their plane. Crew sizes for a Formula 1 can range from a single person up to a dozen people |
The pilot of the Mustang "Dove of Peace" waves to the race fans as he exits the active on the way back to the pits |
A Yak 3U (originally a Yak 11) races down the backside of the course. Even though it is running the smaller Allison engine the Yak itself is a smaller and lighter plane which keeps it competitive |
Sponsorship of aircraft helps maintain the sport. Aeroshell is a sponsor of aircraft in each race category. Here an AT-6 Race number 90 piloted by Gene McNeeley passes overhead in the landing pattern |
In the unlimited races there is always someone behind you trying to catch up as this "Sea Fury" is trailed by a P-51in the turn behind |
David Rose's Biplane Gold winner |
Bill Rheinschild's fast Mustang |
Dago Red's crew making final adjsutments |
"Precious Metal," with the Giffin powered contra-rotating props, powers by on the backside of the course during a heat race |
"Old Yeller," once owned by R.A. "Bob" Hoover, lands after a race. Being a stock Mustang aircraft this P-51 will land in the Silver or Bronze race |
AT-6s round the first pylon after leaving the chute at the start of a race. The qualifying times determine the heat races and the heat races determine if the plane and pilot will race in the Bronze, Silver, or Gold race |
