In 1964, Bill Stead organized an air race near Reno, Nevada, and the Reno National Championship Air Races were born. Since then, Reno Air Races, officially known as the STIHL National Championship Air Races, takes place every September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada with races in 6 classes and demonstrations by airshow pilots.
The History
The late Bill Stead, a World War II flying ace, world-class hydroplane racer, and Nevada rancher, came up with the idea of resurrecting the defunct Cleveland National Championship Air Races and bringing them to Northern Nevada, In November 1964, the first Reno National Championship Air Races was off the ground from a dirt runway at Sky Ranch off Pyramid Highway. The initial race included a cross-country race and racing on a closed course with pylons. Later races moved to the Reno Stead Airport, which was converted from the former Stead Air Force Base (named in honor of Bill's brother, Croston Stead).
How Does It Work?
In the Reno Air Races, six different race plane classes compete at just 60 feet from the ground, with the Unlimited and Jet classes reaching speeds over 500 mph! The Reno Air Races include two and a half days of qualifying, followed by four and a half days of multi-aircraft heat racing, culminating in the finals on Sunday.
In addition to the races, enthusiasts can see the racing aircraft up close and meet the pilots and crews in the “pits.” The annual event also includes a world-class air show, military display, and demonstrations, aircraft display, and fun souvenirs.
The six racing plane classes are Unlimited, Jet, Formula 1, Biplane, Sport, and T-6. They will be introducing STOL Drag as a new racing class in the 2021 STIHL National Championship Air Races.
Unlimited Class
The Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters with the P-51 Mustangs, F-8F Bearcats, and Hawker Sea Fury being flown most often. The Unlimiteds are the racers fans love most with 4,500-pound-or-heavier warbirds flown at speeds exceeding 500 mph.
Jet Class
The Jet Class was introduced in 2002 as an invitation-only class, featuring match racing with Czech-built Aerovodochody L-39 “Albatros” jets and others such as the Provost, Iskra, L-29, and DeHavilland Vampires. Like Unlimited, jet racers also fly at speeds exceeding 500mph.
Formula 1 Class
Formula 1 aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine (the same 100 hp engine used in a Cessna 150). The fastest Formula 1 aircraft exceed 250mph on the 3.12-mile race course in Reno. Many Formula 1 aircraft are built by their pilots and it's a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy air racing.
Biplane Class
The Biplane Class, represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong, and the Smith Miniplane, gives pilots a chance to apply their skills to racing on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph.
Sport Class
The Sport Class highlights the new and innovative work being done in the development of high-performance homebuilt aircraft. Competition in the Sport Class is fierce, with the rapid introduction of the race-driven engine and airframe technology. Sport Class aircraft race on a 6.37-mile course at speeds reaching nearly 350 mph.
T-6 Class
The T-6 Class features match racing between stock aircraft, including the original T-6 “Texan,” the Canadian-built "Harvard," and the US Navy "SNJ" version aircraft. The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the 5.06-mile course at Reno. Because the aircraft are all of the same type, the T-6 Class provides some of the most exciting racing at Reno, with an emphasis on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower.
"Save the Races" Campaign
In 2020, the 57th for the National Championship Air Races was cancelled and moved to September 15-19, 2021 because of SARS2-COVID-19. Because of this, the Reno Air Racing Association had to refund most of their tickets, which led to uncertainty on organizing future events because of the massive financial gap. Although they raised enough to move forward with this year's race, the organizers still need support to ensure the safety of our pilots, volunteers, fans, and community.
You can also help by making a donation to ensure that the National Championship Air Races endures for generations to come. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and can be made at the link here or by check and mailed to 14501 Mt. Anderson St. Reno, NV 89506, USA. They also regularly share updates on their website at www.airrace.org
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