Varifrank: Reno Air Races

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Reno Air Races - 2006

Stead Field Tower. The main entrance gate. Todays entry process took 30 minutes to complete. Its a sure sign that this years Air Races will be one with a good turn out.

The lineup for the Jet Races. The Jet class is much like the T-6 Class, in that only one type of jet is in the race class. I have to say that the Jet Class has really proven itself to be a "crowd pleaser".

Here's what keeps Osama up at night. A General Atomics Predator Drone with two "Hellfire" missiles mounted for display only. Beale AFB is right across the Sierras from Stead Field and serves as the home of the Global Hawk and many other aircraft like the Predator.

The wing of the Predator is about 6 feet long from tip to root and all of a foot wide. What I found most striking was its simplicity. The navigation light is an off the shelf part that you can buy from any avionics catalog. As someone who spent several thousand hours sanding fiberglass and resin into wing shapes, I have to tell you this wing is a thing a beauty.

Psst. hey buddy, wanna buy a MIG? Reno is the home of several outfitters who have purchased MIGs from the "former Soviet Union" and other parts of the third world. This is a two seat variant of the MIG-21. This one goes for 240k. Considering a new Cessna goes for 172K, its not a bad deal...

This is Strega. This is one of the most successful aircraft in the Unlimited Class of racers. Once upon a time, this was a P-51 Mustang. I doubt theres much left on this aircraft that is actually from a P-51 except its general shape.

Not just a Corsair, but a "Super Corsair". Notice the Bubble Canopy. This is one of the very rare Super Corsairs that were produced right at the end of WWII. This is an outstanding aircraft.

One of the reasons why I rarely show shots of the races themselves is that standard home use cameras really stink at taking pictures of fast moving objects. Shutters need to respond quickly and you need multiple shots of the pass to find one that holds up as a still later on. This is a rather unique flyby of an F-15, F-4 and two P-51's.

The same four as before, only directly overhead. It was nice to see an F-4 in the air again.

This looks like a Chevy Trucks advertisement. "Chevy Trucks - Like A Rock..."

This P-40k just came back from Oshkosh with a major award. Even for people who arent big time aircraft freaks like me,everyone seems to like the P-40. I always stop to point out the fabric covered control surfaces and the "ring and bead" sights. This may be a WWII aircraft, but its just an inch away from Ricthofen. Compare this 1941 aircraft to the 1945 Super Corsair and you get a real education in just how fast things changed during the war.

So, what was that you were saying about sensible gun control laws?

You half expected the box to say "ACME" didnt you?

The business end of the Harrier Jump Jet.

Three F-15 Eagles during engine startup ( notice everyone with their hands over their ears?). Me? I dig this sound. Let my ears bleed. I survived a decade of "Deep Purple", I can handle the sweet sound of jet engines.

This is the area known as the "Rat Ramp" those of us too cheap to pay for reserved seating often sit down under the visiting aircraft instead of getting crammed into the general admission seats. I love this part of the field during the races. In this area, I've stood under the wing of a B-29, a B-24, and many, many other aircraft since I first starting coming to the Air races back in 1980. I saw my first B-2 from this location. It took my breath away.

In 1964, I was just a kid and I lived on the other side of that ridge on the horizon. In those days I could not have been more remote from the world if I had lived on the dark side of the moon. I had no idea back then what the future would hold in store for me. I have to say that much to my surprise that things turned out pretty well.

Coming back to the Reno Air Races every year is a much about taking part in the "cult of aviation" as it is a way for me to see just how far I've come since the days when I lived in a single wide trailer in Panther Valley Nevada, just over there on the other side of that ridge.

Posted @ September 16, 2006 09:57 PM | Aviation

Nice planes. So are you ever going to tell us what you saw while walking down in the path in the park?

Posted by: vjmaury at September 17, 2006 05:25 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I wish I could have been there. Your pictures and commentary helped immeasurably.

Posted by: mostly cajun at September 17, 2006 07:49 AM

I attended the 2005 races in Reno, my first. Thanks for the photo's. I'm now upset I did not attend this year. I'll book my room and get my tickets for 2007. It is truely an amazing week I will always remember. Rare Bear was my favorite.

Posted by: Jeff at September 26, 2006 07:04 PM

Awesome shots. Can you send me copies of the photo's you took of the predator. I beleive that's me standing with my back to the camera. Do you have any others? I don't think I could have answered any more questions. I loved how shocked people were when I told them it had a Rotax 914 motor in it. I spoke of the Reno DVD about the predator but was nervous and totaly butchard it. If they keep the footage you'll get to see lol,... and laugh. I'll be there again next year, probably answering the same questions again haha. If there were any you weren't able to ask or that you thoguht of now, feel free to e-mail me.

Thanks for your support!
SSgt. Justin Fluegel

p.s. you're the only person on the wb I can find that posted pics of our static desplay, thank you for that.

Posted by: Justin, MQ-1B Crew Chief at October 3, 2006 11:48 PM