Since 1964, the National Championship Air Races have drawn aviation enthusiasts from around the world to witness amazing piloting, high-performance aircraft and a peek into the past when flying was for the fearless. Each September, thousands of spectators gather at Reno Stead Airport (KRTS), a small airfield about 12 miles north of Reno, Nevada, a gambling town whose motto proclaims it, "The Biggest Little City in the World".
Although smaller than its more famous cousin to the south, Las Vegas, the excitement and stakes are no less in Reno when the air races are underway. Six classes of aircraft - Biplane, Jet, T6, Formula One, Sport and Unlimited - compete on courses that measure 3 to 8 miles depending on the class. Racing around 50 foot pylons, the aircraft will reach speeds of 150 miles per hour to 500 mph! The racer with the fastest time is declared the winner of his or hers respective class.
In addition to the action in the skies above, the tarmac at the airport is covered with civilian and military aircraft of all types on static display. Vendors hawk their wares, mainly aviation-related, of course. Solo aircraft and demo flight teams entertain the audience with feats of aerobatics and precision flying. In some years, fan favorites the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds have even performed at the event.
This year, the National Championship Air Races take place 08 - 14 September. For more information about this one-of-a-kind event, visit the official website: http://airrace.org. Oh, if you will be attending the races and happen to see the guy in the RocketRoute shirt, don't forget to say "hi".