T-6 Class Gets Stronger at Reno 2012
By Alan Smith
Nick Macy on way to Gold race victory. (Victor Archer)As the only “one design” class at the National Championship Air Races, high performance in the AT-6 class has, for years, been primarily dependent on pilot skill that minimize wasted distance on the oval race course and puts one airplane into the lead. There are, however, permitted airframe “cleanups” that, when properly done, can significantly increase the top speed of a T-6.
For example, the stock T-6 wing skins are riveted in place with domed rivets. For racing, these are replaced with flathead rivets flushed into the wing. Landing lights are removed and the wing fiberglassed back to the main spar. There are many other small things that can be done to reduce drag and increase speed. And, of course, a racing T-6 has been repainted in vivid colors and is highly polished. I have been told, by some racing T-6 owners, that even selecting the right polishing compound can have a positive effect.
Weight is a factor too, and most T-6 race pilots only put fuel in the left wing tank (all turns on the course are left turns) and usually just enough to complete the race, plus a small reserve for safety reasons. The back seat may be removed to save a few more pounds. The result of the permitted modifications and very careful preparation has gradually increased race speeds through the years.
The stock AT-6 is rated at a top speed of 208 mph. It began its life on the first of April, 1935, and its primary function was as an advanced trainer for military pilots. It is powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney radial of 1,340 cubic inch displacement. Through the years it has served in the air forces of more than 60 nations, sometimes as an armed combat aircraft or spotter for other combat aircraft and, of course, as a trainer.
The advent of the jet age put the AT-6 into military retirement, but it is very much alive at Reno every September, and this year saw some new racing speed records. 2012 saw seventeen entries including veterans like Greg McNeely in his Undecided, Nick Macy in Six Cat, and Dennis Buehn in his Midnight Miss III. Joey “Gordo” Sanders was there with his #5 Big Red along with other experienced race pilots. Missing of course was the late Al Goss and his Warlock. Al was killed near Bakersfield, Calif. in the crash of Warlock on St. Patrick’s Day in 2010 and he’s still missed by all T-6ers.
As qualifying concluded on Wednesday, we thought we would see a duel in the Gold between Dennis Buehn and Nick Macy; they had both qualified less than one mph apart, with Macy at 241.089 mph and Buehn at 240.279 mph. However that was not to happen as we shall see.
The Bronze was dominated by Rob Sanders in his Honest Entry. He started out in the first heat at a little more than 208 mph, got it up to 221-plus in the second and won the Bronze medal at 221.657 mph. In the first Silver heat, McNeely cut pylon 3 on the first lap and was nailed with a 10 second penalty. He was one of two T-6 cuts with Michael Pfleger cutting pylon 5 on the first lap of the first Bronze heat. (The worst offenders on pylon cuts were the jets with ten pilots cutting including one in the Gold.)
The Silver heat races and the medal race were owned by “Gordo” Sanders in his #5 Big Red. He put the medal in his pocket at 228.151 mph. His best time was 232.219 in heat two. As winner of the Silver, he was entitled to surrender that victory and enter the Gold medal race on Sunday and he chose to do that.
We looked forward to the coming battle between Dennis Buehn and Nick Macy in the championship Gold medal race. Macy had the pole position with Buehn right next to him. Next came John Lohman in his blue Radial Velocity followed by Lee Oman in Fred Telling’s grey Baby Boomer.” Telling had listed Oman as an alternate pilot and had decided to let him have a run at the Gold. Chris Rushing had the number five spot in his Baron’s Revenge and Gordo Sanders in Big Red was number six.
We knew that Macy had been the leader throughout the Gold heat races and Buehn had been right there in second spot behind him. As the lineup headed down for the start, Macy appeared to be pushing up on the pace plane. When the pace pulled up and the dive to the starting line began, Macy looked to already have something of a lead. We were told later that Macy had jumped the start, but cannot say that for sure. In any case no one complained about the start and Macy moved out into the lead and stayed there. Buehn did the best he could but no wingtip to wingtip duel ever materialized and Macy went on to win at the record setting speed of 247.317 mph. Dennis Buehn finished second at 244. 948 mph. The rest followed just as they had been lined up for the start with “Gordo” Sanders in Big Red finishing last at 223.614 mph.
All in all, it was a great return to air racing with no serious problems. There were a few maydays and immediate landings and that happens every year. The weather was fine, the airplanes were too, and the sizeable crowd had a good time.
