46th National Championship Air Races and Air Show

The six Classes are as follows;

Biplanes: small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong, and the Smith Miniplane, racing on a 3.11-mile course at speeds reaching 250 mph.

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     Biplane Class

The Biplane Class is represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong, and the Smith Miniplane, giving pilots a chance to apply their skills to racing on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph.

Biplane Class aircraft race on an oval course. Unlike the larger aircraft from other classes, the Biplanes begin racing at take-off. Aircraft are positioned on the East-West runway [Runway 8/26] two abreast according to their Qualifying position.

A flagman positioned at the south side of the runway releases each pair of aircraft, with a short delay between pairs. If prevailing winds determine that the preferred takeoff direction is eastbound [the "normal" condition], pairs of aircraft accelerate past the home pylon and turn left at Pylon 1 onto the race course. If the preferred takeoff direction is westbound, aircraft must circle around the Scatter Pylon at the west end of the runway, and then fly back eastbound to enter the course at Pylon 1.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical Biplane Class race typically takes from five to eight minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

 Biplanes: small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong, and the Smith Miniplane, racing on a 3.11-mile course at speeds reaching 250 mph.   

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  Formula One: built according to strict technical specifications. The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost 250 mph on the 3.11-mile race course at Reno. 

Formula One aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine (the same 100 hp engine used in a Cessna 150). Weights and sizes of every major engine part must be within stock limits. The cam profile and carburetion are strictly controlled. Race aircraft must have 66 square feet of wing area, weigh at least 500 pounds empty, and have a fixed landing gear and fixed pitch propeller. The fastest Formula One aircraft can reach 250 mph on the 3.19-mile race course at Reno. Many Formula One aircraft are built by the pilots that race them and are a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of air racing.

Formula One Class aircraft race on an oval course. Unlike the larger aircraft from other classes, the Formula One aircraft begin racing at take-off. Aircraft are positioned on the East-West runway [Runway 8/26] two abreast according to their Qualifying position.

A flagman position at the south side of the runway releases each pair of aircraft, with a short delay between pairs. If prevailing winds determine that the preferred takeoff direction is eastbound [the "normal" state of affairs], pairs of aircraft accelerate past the home pylon and turn left at Pylon 1 onto the race course. If the preferred takeoff direction is westbound, aircraft must circle around the Scatter Pylon at the west end of the runway, and then fly back eastbound to enter the course at Pylon 1.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical Formula One Class race typically takes from five to eight minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

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 Sport:high-performance, commerically-available kit-built aircraft, reaching speeds of over 400 mph on the 6.39-mile course at Reno.

     Sport Class

The Sport Class highlights the new and innovative work being done in the development of high performance kit-built aircraft. Competition in the Class is fierce, with the rapid introduction of race-driven engine and airframe technology. Eligible aircraft include production model kit-built aircraft, of which 5 or more kits have been produced and delivered to customers by the manufacturer, powered by a reciprocating engine of 650 cu in. or less. All aircraft must have a current FAA issued airworthiness certificate.

Sport Class aircraft race on a roughly circular course at speeds of over 300 mph. They generally take off about ten to fifteen minutes before the race start, and follow the pace aircraft which flies in a sweeping left turn towards Peavine, the large mountain south of Reno Stead Field. Over Peavine heading roughly eastbound, the aircraft assemble in a line-abreast formation to the right of the pace aircraft, as it makes its final left turn northward towards "the chute", an imaginary path onto the Race Course [gray shaded area on diagram]. After the final turn, the formation begins to descend as the pace aircraft advises the racers to adjust their positions to maintain a straight line abreast.

Once the pace aircraft pilot is comfortable that the formation is in a good position to start, he makes the call, "Gentlemen, you have a race!" and pulls the pace aircarft into a climbing left turn, separating from the formation. For the remainder of the race, the pace aircraft generally circles well above the racers unless needed to assist if trouble arises.

As the racing aircraft continue down the chute, they keep the Start Pylon [located between Pylons 3 and 4] to their left, and the east deadline to their right. Reaching the Start Pylon, the aircraft turn left onto the Race Course heading northwest. They continue to fly the course in a counter-clockwise direction, always making left turns around the pylons, keeping to the outside lest they be penalized for a pylon cut, and remaining above the height of the pylons lest they be penalized for low flying.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical Sport Class race typically takes from seven to ten minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

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 AT-6: "stock" T-6 Texan, Harvard, or SNJ aircraft. The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds in the 210-220 mph range on the 4.99-mile course at Reno.

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.

All of the T-6 variants are powered by the Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340-AN-1 air-cooled radial engine, which develops about 600 horsepower, and all have essentially the same airframe.

Originally built by North American Aviation, the 15,495 aircraft that were manufactured over the life of the model served primarily as advanced trainers, helping pilots bridge between basic trainers and front-line tactical aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang.

The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the ovoid 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.

Aircraft participating in a particular race generally take off about ten to fifteen minutes before the race start, and follow the pace aircraft, which flies northward away from the airfield. The aircraft form up and make a sweeping turn back south remaining well west of the field. Making their final turn eastward, they assemble in a line-abreast formation to the right of the pace aircraft, and the formation begins to descend as the pace plane pilot advises the racers to adjust their positions to maintain a straight line abreast.

As the formation descends over the approach end of Runway 26 [West end of the field], and once the pace aircraft pilot is comfortable that the formation is in a good position to start, he makes the call, "Gentlemen, you have a race!" and pulls the pace aircarft into a climbing left turn, separating from the formation. For the remainder of the race, the pace aircraft generally circles well above the racers unless needed to assist if trouble arises.

The racing aircraft continue eastbound, remaining just north of the runway, and make their first left turn after passing the Home Pylon. They continue to fly the course in a counter-clockwise direction, always making left turns around the pylons, keeping to the outside lest they be penalized for a pylon cut, and remaining above the height of the pylons lest they be penalized for low flying.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical T-6 Class race typically takes from seven to nine minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

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 Jet: racing between jets, racing on a 8.355-mile course

     Jet Class

The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 as an invitation-only class, featuring match racing with Czech-built Aerovodochody L-39 "Albatros" jets, racing at speeds in the 400+ mph range. In 2004, sponsorship and interest had developed to the point where the Class was opened to participation by any qualified pilot and aircraft.

In 2007, the Class was further expanded to allow participation by any non-afterburning jet with less than 15° of wing sweep - aircraft like the Fouga Magister, North American T-2 Buckeye, Lockheed T-33, etc.

Jet Class aircraft generally take off about ten to fifteen minutes before the race start, and follow the Pace Jet, which flies in a sweeping left turn towards Peavine, the large mountain south of Reno Stead Field. Over Peavine heading roughly eastbound, the aircraft assemble in a line-abreast formation to the right of the Pace Jet, as it makes its final left turn northward towards "the chute", an imaginary path onto the Race Course. After the final turn, the formation begins to descend as the Pace Pilot advises the racers to adjust their positions to maintain a straight line abreast.

Once the Pace Pilot is comfortable that the formation is in a good position to start, he makes the call, "Gentlemen, you have a race!" and pulls the pace aircarft into a climbing left turn, separating from the formation. For the remainder of the race, the pace aircraft circles well above the racers unless needed to assist if trouble arises.

As the racing aircraft continue down the chute, they keep the Start Pylon [located between Pylons 3 and 4] to their left, and the east deadline to their right. Reaching the Start Pylon, the aircraft turn left onto the Race Course heading northwest. They continue to fly the course in a counter-clockwise direction, always making left turns around the pylons, keeping to the outside lest they be penalized for a pylon cut, and remaining above the height of the pylons lest they be penalized for low flying.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to set up for landing.

A typical Jet Class race typically takes from six to eight minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

 Unlimited: open to any piston-driven aircraft with an empty weight greater than 4500 pounds, generally including stock or modified WWII fighters like the North American P-51 Mustang, Grumman F-8F Bearcat, and Hawker Sea Fury. Speeds in the Unlimited Gold Race on Sunday reach 500 mph on the 8.355-mile course.

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     Unlimited Class

The Unlimited Class is open to any piston-driven aircraft with an empty weight greater than 4500 pounds [the weight restriction was added in 2005]. Aside from a very few "scratch-built" aircraft, the Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters, the most-often-flown types including the P-51 Mustang, F-8F Bearcat, and Hawker Sea Fury. Aircraft speeds in the Unlimited Class reach 500 mph.

Unlimited Class aircraft race on an ovoid course whose narrower end is North. They generally take off about ten to fifteen minutes before the race start, and follow the Pace Jet, a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star flown by Steve Hinton, which flies in a sweeping left turn towards Peavine, the large mountain south of Reno Stead Field. Over Peavine heading roughly eastbound, the aircraft assemble in a line-abreast formation to the right of the Pace Jet, as it makes its final left turn northward towards "the chute", an imaginary path onto the Race Course [gray shaded area on diagram]. After the final turn, the formation begins to descend as the Pace Pilot advises the racers to adjust their positions to maintain a straight line abreast.

Once Hinton is comfortable that the formation is in a good position to start, he makes the call, "Gentlemen, you have a race!" and pulls the pace aircarft into a climbing left turn, separating from the formation. For the remainder of the race, Hinton circles well above the racers unless needed to assist if trouble arises.

As the racing aircraft continue down the chute, they keep the Start Pylon [located between Pylons 3 and 4] to their left, and the east deadline to their right. Reaching the Start Pylon, the aircraft turn left onto the Race Course heading northwest. They continue to fly the course in a counter-clockwise direction, always making left turns around the pylons, keeping to the outside lest they be penalized for a pylon cut, and remaining above the height of the pylons lest they be penalized for low flying.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical Unlimited Class race typically takes from seven to nine minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.

Sorce:www.airrace.org