Wikinews visits the 2009 Reno Air Races

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Welcome to Reno Stead Airport

The Reno Air Races are one of the few remaining air racing events, taking place each year in Nevada, USA. This year, the Reno Air Races had enough competitors in its classes to warrant an extra day of racing heats, which started on Wednesday. Fortunately, this did not diminish the crowds or the excitement for the weekend. The culmination of the week's events, proved to be an extremely busy Sunday with 12 races and 7 air show performances. These performances included the Red Eagles biplane acrobatics, Patty Wagstaff in her Extra 300S, a C-17 Globemaster III tactical demonstration, and the Blue Angels. For any serious attendee of the air races, the defining event of the week was the Unlimited Gold race at the end of Sunday.

The winner of this year's Unlimited Gold race was the returning champion from 2008, Strega. Strega was flown by Steven Hinton this year, and at 22 years old, he is the youngest to ever win the National Championship Air Races. His chief competitor for the Gold race was expected to be Will Whiteside flying Voodoo. Unfortunately, Voodoo had mechanical difficulties and was forced to pull out of the race midway through. The second place finisher for the Gold race was John Penney in Rare Bear, who called a mayday after the race finished, though he did land safely.

Gallery

In the pits

Head on of the Blue Angels	Head on an F-15 Eagle	Head on a A-10 Warthog
An A-10 Warthog being towed to the flight line	The inside of a GAU-8/A on an A-10 Warthog	Rear view of a CH-53 Super Stallion
The front of a CH-53 Super Stallion	A CH-47 Chinook	A KC-10 Tanker
An MQ-1 Predator UAV	A special Topgun F-16 Fighting Falcon	A US Air Force cargo lifter
An NHP Cessna	Patty Wagstaff's Extra 300S	Race 8, winner of the Sport class gold race, in the pits
Six-Cat, winner of the T-6 class gold race, in the pits	Strega, winner of the Unlimited class gold race, in the pits

Races

Voodoo and Strega before the Unlimited class gold race	Voodoo overtaking another racer in the Unlimited class gold race	Strega winning the Unlimited class gold race
Rare Bear making an emergency landing after the conclusion of the Unlimited class gold race	Strega in the winners circle	The start of the T-6 class gold race
Six-Cat winning the T-6 class gold race	Viper winning the Jet class gold race	Invictus winning the Formula 1 class gold race
Nemesis on the ground after winning the Super Sport class gold race

Demonstration flights

Blue Angels C-130 "Fat Albert" overflying the crowd	Blue Angels synchronized start up	Blue Angels 5 & 6 making a high speed opposing pass.
The Blue Angels prepare for a formation split	All 6 Blue Angels making a split	Blue Angels formation taxi at the end of their demonstration show
A C-130 making a salute to Section 3	A C-17 Globemaster 3 making a low flyby	The C-17 demonstrating a "tactical" landing (Less than 1500 ft)
Two F-15's breaking formation.	Patty Wagstaff making a hammer head turn	Patty Wagstaff using her Extra 300S to cut a ribbon
The US Air Force demonstration rocket car	The rocket car racing a biplane

Other

Two parachute jumpers carrying the United States and Alaskan flags.	US Army color guard during the opening ceremonies	The US Marine Corp recruiters
An F-22 Raptor replica trike for children	Section 3	Every time a mayday is called, emergency services rolls out onto the tarmac