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The Pylon Place: Pylon Racing Seminar 2016
By Marilyn Dash
The International Formula 1 PRS 2016 Class (Anthony Taylor/warbirdfotos.com)In 1997, it was decided there should be a better way to help prepare pilots for the National Championship Air Races held each year in September, in Reno, Nev. Previously, hopeful race pilots may arrive a few days early in September and be taken through a series of air maneuvers the weekend before the races. As the races started to attract more classes and more racers, a better, more structured training became necessary.
This June marked the 19th Pylon Racing Seminar AKA Rookie School. And—for the fourth year in a row—a record number of participants were in attendance. Between the six race classes, 79 airplanes and 130 participants from all over the world made their way to Stead to practice, qualify, and have fun.
The Pylon Place: Air Racers Keeping Busy in the Off-Season…
By Marilyn Dash
While we wait for Air Racing Season to begin again, several of our Racers are keeping busy in the off-season.
Setting Records…
Phil Goforth in Knotty Girl (Tim Adams)Last year, Elliott Seguin and his team put together the Mojave Experimental Fly-In to showcase experimental aviation, maybe go for a few records and then hang out with a bunch of cool people for the weekend.
Andy Chiavetta and his Team Chia together with Elliot, Lynn Farnsworth, and the Super Legacy tentatively* broke two Speed Records and two Time to Climb Records over the Mojave weekend. The 3,000 Meter Time to Climb was completed in under two minutes. That’s a 1,500 meters per minute climb! (For those who don’t believe in the metric system that’s more 4,900 feet per minute).
2014 Reno Report
Story and Photos By Pete Shirk
Race 5 Voodoo - the winner of the 2014 Unlimited Gold. If your idea of good air racing is competition among several fairly matched runners, rather than repetitive domination by a favored past winner, then 2014 was your year at Reno. Great racing did happen but actually more on Saturday than Sunday. Not that the Gold Race on Sunday was boring, but by then, events had narrowed the field. Good air racing took place the entire week, but Saturday’s Unlimited Gold Heat 3 was a finish unlike anything I can remember, having been going there since 1965.
The Pylon Place - April 2014
Saving the Reno Air Races
By Marilyn Dash
T6s battling it out on the racecourse. (Bruce Croft/20 West)What can be done to save the Reno Air Races? This is the question posed to me by so many air-racing fans. We know changes are being made – but – are they enough? Are these changes coming too late? What are the signs we should be looking for to see if the changes are working?
RARA has made several announcements lately – including the dismissal of Michael Houghton, the President and the paring down of the paid staff to six individuals. Recent news adds a reduction in the Board of Directors from more than 20 members to a total of seven.
The Pylon Place - January 2014
The Future of the Reno Air Races…
By Marilyn Dash
(Bruce Croft)Since the Galloping Ghost crash of 2011, the Air Races have been plagued with financial concerns and rumors about closing the doors.
In the last few months, Michael Houghton, RARA President, has been talking about this year’s event being in jeopardy if $500,000 was not raised by Dec. 15. Just in the nick of time, we were told the event is back on. This leaves many people wondering about the long-term viability – and if this will continue to be a year-to-year endeavor.
Legendary P-51 Mustang Strega to compete at 50th National Championship Air Races
The Pylon Place - May 2013
Sequester and Airshows
By Marilyn Dash
(Photos Courtesy of Bruce Croft)We recently learned that the Blue Angels, the USAF Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights and all the military demo teams have cancelled their entire Airshow season due to the Sequester. The military will not take part in airshows in any way – not static displays, not flying, nothing. This information has sent the airshow industry back to their drawing boards to see how they can move on from here.
The military demonstration teams are an enormous draw for these events. Military teams can increase attendance by up to 30 percent while bringing many attendees from long distances which increase tourism for their cities. The draw for the communities is estimated to be a minimum of $2M in tourism, hotels, restaurants, etc.
Editorial: Reno Air Races 2012: Remembering a Tragedy and Experiencing a Rebirth
By Nicholas A. Veronico
The highly modified P-51D Strega has been in the winner’s circle 11 times, seven times with owner Bill “Tiger” Destefani at the controls and since 2009 with Steven Hinton at the stick. Here Strega awaits its pilot for the 2012 Unlimited Gold race with the class trophy gleaming in the afternoon sun. (Nicholas A. Veronico)The tragedy of 2011’s air races was still fresh in the minds of those in attendance at this year’s Reno National Championship Air Races. Others were visibly angry one year later, directing their hostilities toward the Galloping Ghost’s pilot, the air race organizers, and the sport of air racing in general. However, the majority in attendance sought to remember those that were lost while at the same time looking forward to years of safe air racing.
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) held solemn ceremonies in remembrance of the victims and in honor of the first responders. RARA also recognized the relatives of those who lost their lives, enabling these family members to achieve some semblance of closure. The majority of those in attendance at the races gave RARA high marks for how they handled this emotional anniversary.
The Pylon Place - September 2012
Reno Air Racing Prep - 2012
By Marilyn Dash
Keeping up with the news surrounding the Reno Air Races this year has been exhausting. Racers and fans alike have so many questions, i.e., are we racing, what changes will we see, who will be there, who won’t, will the fans notice any changes? These are all good questions. I hope that I have, through this column, helped everyone understand what the process has been following the horrific event of September 16, 2011. I have tried to listen to the questions the fans have been asking and answer them here.
The Pylon Place - July 2012
Rancho Murieta Airshow is BACK!
By Marilyn Dash
Argonaut with the smoke generators - always exciting to watch. (Ken Linde)Twenty-five years ago, the Rancho Murieta Airshow was legendary. This small privately owned airport southeast of Sacramento was centrally located to several military bases. Because of this proximity, during their heyday they were able to attract military acts from Mather, McClellan, and Beale to name a few. Pictures from those days show U2s, B-52s and even an SR-71 making appearances to the delight of crowds.
This year the new airport owner, Bradley Beer, along with Air Boss, Mike Smith joined together with local businesses and airport tenants to bring back the glory days in celebration of Armed Forces Day. With only three months to plan and put on the show, this was a great event all around.
Reno National Championship Air Races introduces Blue Ribbon Review Panel; Announces Dates for 2012 Event
In a press conference to discuss the future of the National Championship Air Races, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced on Jan. 4 the formation of a Blue Ribbon Review Panel to study the event. The panel will examine any possible changes or modifications that could be made to enhance the already high level of safety established by the FAA and existing RARA procedures.
RARA also announced that, despite many challenges in the near and long‐term future, they are planning to hold the 49th Annual National Championship Air Races at the Reno‐Stead Airfield, Sept. 12 – 16, 2012.
NTSB Plans Public Hearing on Air Race, Air Show Safety
The Pylon Place - November 2011
What Happens Next?
By Marilyn Dash
(Tim Adams)It’s just over a month since the horrible incident which ended the 2011 National Championship Air Races at Reno. My email has been filled with requests for information about the future of Air Racing.
To tell you the truth, I don’t know – yet. But, I will tell you what I do know.
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has been putting together a top notch event for 48 years. This is over twice as long as the Cleveland Air Races. They have seen other competitive races come and go through the years. In good times and bad times, they made it work.
RARA has leaned heavily on the use of volunteers. Very few people are actually paid employees of the Races. Many volunteers are highly trained, including the timers, pylon judges and scorers. The contest committee is led by a retired USAF General, Ron Fogleman. The board is filled with retired military and local business leaders. At one point I heard they use more than 1,500 volunteers each year to make it work.
The Pylon Place - October 2011
September 16, 2011 – The Saddest Day
By Marilyn Dash
Peace Jimmy (Tim Adams)By now most of you have heard of our tragedy at the Reno Air Races on September 16. I have still not come to a point where I can talk about what I saw and what I experienced. But, I wanted to tell you a story.
They say that extraordinary people do extraordinary things. And I will say that every single one of the pilots and crew at the Reno Air Races are extraordinary people. They breathe a little deeper, love a little harder, stand closer to the edge. We know there are dangers in doing what we do – but we never thought our activities would hurt anyone else. Losing one of our own is a tragedy. Losing people who were only there to cheer us on is a catastrophe. Sometimes, these extraordinary things go extraordinarily wrong.
The Pylon Place - March 2011
The Women of Reno Air Racing
By Marilyn Dash
No surprise, Formula One has had the second highest number of women racers. (Tim Adams)Last month, we talked about Women in Aviation and I shared with you some of my mentors along my path. This month, I’d like to share with you a little about the women who have raced at Reno.
Since there is really no definitive source on all of this, I’m relying on the facts I have been able to gather through RARA and through conversations with other racers. If any of this is incorrect, I apologize – and contact me with the correct information.
The Pylon Place - November 2010
Part 2
Reno Air Races : The Lesser Known Stories
By Marilyn Dash
Last month we looked at some of the highlights and lowlights of the 2010 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev. This month, I wanted to look at some of the lesser known stories and answer some of the questions being asked by the fans.
There is some amazing racing going on, but not always for the Gold. How many of you were able to catch some of these epic races hidden away in the background.
The Pylon Place - March 2010
So, You Want To Go Air Racing?
By Marilyn Dash
Ruby Red Racing
The third most frequently asked question I hear about Air Racing is “how do I get started?” I thought I would share with you how I get started and tell you how to go about moving from the stands to the pits.
At one time, every race pilot went to the races and thought; I want to do that! Each of us had to make some decisions and focus on the goal. And while the process has become more structured in recent years with the creation of the Pylon Racing Seminar, it’s still a process.