Images of the Reno Air Races

Until about the last 5 years or so, I had been a regular attendee here – from the early 1980s. The modern Reno Air Races started in 1964, in an era when one could buy a P51 Mustang for $7,500-$10,000. Today with about 100 left in flying status the value of these planes  are in the millions, as are their British counterpart, the Spitfire.

Come to think of it, if it weren’t for the British wanting to try a Rolls Royce Merlin to replace the decent-but-not-spectacular Allison V12, The Mustang would in all probability been another footnote in WW2 aviation.

Point is, with a few exceptions, the Mustang has dominated the winner’s circle at Reno since 1964.

With One exception.

Well, 2.

Some entrepreneurs have followed the (aeronautical equivalent) path of Sydney Allard in the 50s and Carroll Shelby in the 60s –  mating a British chassis with a powerful American engine – and put the 4,000+ hp P & W R4360 radial into a formidable airframe – the Hawker Sea Fury. The result is a piston plane capable of 500+ mph speeds.

Then, there was Lyle Sheldon’s Rare Bear – a Grumman Bearcat. This plane, on the drawing boards during WW2, never saw combat before the Pacific war ended.

But what a machine. It would have made a formidable opponent to the Zero.

We had a little discussion on the FB page – which aviation piston engine sounds cooler? Well, I’ll have to say on the start up – a radial. One cylinder, 2, 3 all start to fire until all are going in a mechanical symphony.

But at speed – flying over the deck at maybe 200’ – and nearly 500 mph?

The Rolls Royce Merlin would be my vote.

By the way, the original Merlin had a standard horsepower rating of almost 1500 hp – while the teams are pretty right-lipped as to their work results, ratings of 3,400 –3,500 hp keep coming up.

The Europeans like to cite Formula 1 as the ultimate sport in speed – but to see these magnificent planes – in a tight bank, full throttle over the desert – over 2x as fast as any Michael Schumacher – well, to me that is the ultimate.

Think these are just a bunch of souped up old planes? Competition is pretty serious – there is even a guy, retired from the famed Lockheed Skunk Works, who helps the teams.

So, if you can’t join me this September, here is the next best thing.

How the race starts – the planes take off, group up at 2,000′ or so, and fly north of the course. A chase plane is up about another 500-1,000 feet. When they are abeam the stands the pilot in the chase plane says on the radio, “Gentlemen, you have a race”.

The chase plane also helps aircraft with mechanical problems make emergency landings.

When the races started, the chase plane was a P51 Mustang. Because of such increases in speed, the chase plane is now a T33 jet.

The Canadian Snowbirds usually make an appearance – what their little Tuder jets  lack in the power of an F16 or F18, they more then make up in the grace they fly these 9 planes – truly aerial ballet.

One of the mighty Sea Furies – when one appeared in the mid 80s (I think – Dreadnaught) – with the mighty P & W R4360 it swatted away the Mustangs like pesky flies – now you will see several up there. At over 4,000 hp I’d hate to know the GPH flow rate…but then, if you hafta ask….

Not all the aircraft are there for competition – some are on static display…

…a very rare Mustang

You pay an extra $40 or so and you get to wander around in the pit area. The proceeds help the teams pay for the costs of running these thirsty beasts.

This is one of my favorites, Voodoo

This is Strega – it has won numerous times…

BTW (relying on my sometimes flaky memory) – but Strega means witch in Italian – that is what is hanging from the rafter

…pretty much applicable to any form of competition

…Love that Merlin. BTW while Packard didn’t change the design of the Merlin they changed the way it was manufactured – impressing even Rolls Royce if I recall. It is a shame this preeminent automobile company went bankrupt post war, due to bad management.

…one of the Sea Furies

The Sea Fury had the Bristol Centaurus engine originally – 2500 HP and a 5 blade prop.

This is a Navy Tigercat – like the Bearcat (and I think the Sea Fury) – came out after the war.

I am sure the Royal Navy never anticipated this paint scheme

The Tigercat was not a competitor – just for display and demo. I think its owner owns one of the Sea Furies.

The Skyraider was on static display

…Look at the bottom of the crankshaft here – I guess the result of 3,000 hp and a broken connecting rod . My late friend, Bob Sanigar, transplanted Brit – a master mechanic – said that up until the early 60s one could buy a still-crated-in-cosmolene Packard-Merlin for a pittance.

Now of course they are like gold.