The
45th Annual Reno Air Races
Total Miles: 240 miles
Mountain View, CA to Reno, NV
Tickets: 0
Mishaps: 0
Puckers: 0
We arrived in Reno around 3pm. By the time we found our campsite, set up camp and got organized, the day was pretty much over. We decided to walk the few blocks to the show itself and see what was there. Surprisingly enough, because it was so late in the day there was no one guarding the gates and we were able to walk right in. So we did. We toured the static display of planes (and some cars) and then out to the pit area where the competing planes were parked. Ha! We saved a bit of money by doing it this way. Now we wouldn't have to come back Sunday morning to see everything. Or so we thought...
I know very little about planes. Therefore I won't even attempt to name anything that has been pictured here, as I'll inevitably get it wrong.
Go to an air show and take pictures
of cars.
But they were beautiful cars...
This is about my size
I thought that this one looked awesome
Shinier than anything I own!
Bad Kitty indeed
Oh! oh! I think I know what this one
is!!!
More folded wing beauty
Think this would get along with my
car?
A long day at work
From the static display (above) we strolled
down behind the grandstands, looking at various booths selling everything
plane related. I scoffed at the silliness of it all until I thought of
the International Motorcycle Show. Oh well; everyone has their hobbies.
At the far end of the grounds was the Pit Area. Presumably, most (all?)
of these planes would be flying at some point during the show.
For dinner that night, Dan and I met up
with some fellow motorcyclists at a local pub. It was fun to hang out
with them. Not to mention that the steak was really good.
Our campsite in the yard of a local
church
The bicycle belongs to a man from
England who was touring here for a few weeks.
Sunday morning came. Dan suggested that
we watch the races that day instead of riding home. Sure, why not? We
took a long walk trying to find a place where we could view the planes
without having to pay to get in, but it looked like this would be a futile
effort. So we went back to gate, paid our monies and took some seats.
It was amazing how sitting at one end or the other of the seating area
could change your perspective of the planes as they flew by. And if you
left the seating area then you couldn't hear the announcers at all, which
was too bad, because they really helped in understanding what was going
on up there in the air.
The military's latest weapon: the
Raptor
The first race of the day, the bi-planes
I had no idea that the bi-planes were
so small!
Many races followed, usually with a stunt
show in between the races themselves. Each race was for a progressivly
faster class. There were pylons out in the fields that the pilots had
to be sure to go past, rather like bouys in a boat race. Cutting one short
would put you back a place after the race, as indicated by one pilot who
was really gunning for a better position before reaching the finish line
and missed the pylon. He was dropped back a place once the judges had
made this determination.
The planes flew quite close.
Even on the far side of the course the planes
were visible. The only time they were out of sight was just before the
race, when they circled overhead with the pace plane to get lined up for
the start
After the race, the planes would land and
taxi passed the grandstands. It was interesting to be able to see the
planes at less than 300 mph
Two stunt planes went up during this show
A little blurry, but you get the idea.
The stunt planes have landed and the planes
are already taking off for the next race.
The pack just after the official "start"
given by the pace plane
A couple of races were very close
Another stunt plane show
After a few races and stunt shows, the military
C17 (from Alaska) took off, only to drop three paragliders back down to
the runway. There was a grand speech about the Tuskegee
Airmen during this and the National Anthem was played.
Another race after the flag show
This was another close race
After the race there was a military "Heritage
Display" where planes from various wars all flew together. The announcer
did a great job of describing the planes and their fuctions during their
service.
And then the Raptor was set to take off.
There was a lot of military pomp going on around this plane while they
were getting ready for flight. It was interesting and amusing to watch.
This is a very fast and maneouverable
plane. It was impressive to see how tight it could turn and how it could
perform up in the air.
One more heritage shot
The military show was the last one for Dan and I. Even though there were more races planned, it was time for us to pack up and head home. It was an uneventful ride over a crowded I-80 and the hot tub was very welcome when we got home.