Air Race brings fliers to Northern Nevada

Aircraft enthusiasts will converge on Northern Nevada with the beginning of the Reno Air Races today.

Air Race president and chief executive officer Mike Houghton said organizers hope to see 200,000 people during the four-day event.

"We had a great year last year, but we have the Thunderbirds here this year, and we expect a lot of people to come out to watch Nevada's own perform," he said. "We are guaranteeing a $1 million purse for the racers. We are firmly convinced we are back and are on solid ground and a much firmer position after last yea's race."

Houghton said organizers are expecting a good year thanks to the Las Vegas-based U.S. Air Force jet fighter demonstration team.

"We expect to see the largest number on Saturday and Sunday," he said.

For the second year, the jets won't just be part of the demonstration team.

Jet racing was added as an official category last year. This year, six L39 Albatroses are signed up. The former Czech jet fighters posted top speeds of 450 mph last year.

The main event for the air race is the unlimited class, featuring mostly World War II-era, piston-engine fighter aircraft going head to head.

Last year's winner, Dago Red, took the race with an average speed of 466 mph. The P-51 Mustang piloted by Skip Holm edged out a Hawker Sea Fury. Four of the top five aircraft last year were flying Mustangs.

"Skip Holm is always a favorite -- and he's on a roll," Houghton said.

Reno team Rare Bear is back after blowing an engine several years ago. The Grumman F8F Bearcat flown by John Penney is back after the crew raised money from local sources.

"Rare Bear is a heartthrob winner," Houghton said. "But the Bear is back thanks to a local effort."

Biplanes, Formula 1, sport and T-6 Texans will also compete.

Biplanes are small aerobatic aircraft running about 200 mph. There are two dozen pilots in the category. Formula One racers use 100-horsepower engines to achieve speeds of up to 250 mph.

About two dozen pilots are registered to race in the sport class, which is set aside for kit-built aircraft. The planes reach speeds of 350 mph.

The Texan class features the World War II trainer restored for racing.

Races are interspersed through the day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Sunday. For information, visit www.airrace.org.

AIR RACES SCHEDULE

Today

8 a.m. Formula One race

8:25 a.m. Biplane race

8:45 a.m. U.S. Navy search-and-rescue helicopter

8:55 a.m. Formula One race heat 1B - 8 laps

9:25 a.m. Sport race heat 1B - 6 laps

9:40 a.m. Golden Age Racers 4 laps E

10 a.m. Formula One race heat 1A - 8 laps E

10:20 a.m. Biplane race heat 1B - 5 laps

10:40 a.m. Gene Soucy Airshow act E

11:05 a.m. T-6 race heat 1C - 5 laps

11:30 a.m. Unlimited race heat 1C - 5 laps

11:45 a.m. Kirby Chambliss - Kent Pietsch airshow act

Noon National Anthem, C-130 jumpersE

12:03 p.m. F-16 Fighting Falcon Flyby Arkansas Air National Guard

12:17 p.m. Nevada Army Air National Guard car dropE

12:20 p.m. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds E

1:20 p.m. Sport race heat 1A - 6 laps

1:35 p.m. A-10 Thunderbolt II/Heritage flight, U.S. Air Force E

2 p.m. B-52 Stratofortress E

2:10 p.m. T-6 race heat 1B - 5 laps E

2:25 p.m. Skip Holm SAAB JAS-35 Draken E

2:50 p.m. Unlimited race heat 1B - 6 laps

3:05 p.m. Wingwalker Gene Soucy - Teresa Stokes E

3:20 p.m. Simulated dogfight L-39 Albatros/Strikemaster E

3:45 p.m. Jet race heat 1A - 6 laps

4 p.m. Kirby Chambliss - Scott Hammack Edge 540 vs. AFRC jet car E

4:15 p.m. F-16 Fighting Falcon

4:40 p.m. Unlimited race heat 1A - 7 laps

Friday

8 a.m. Formula One race heat 2C - 8 laps

8:25 a.m. Biplane race heat 2C - 5 laps E

8:45 a.m. U.S. Navy search-and-rescue helicopter

8:55 a.m. Biplane race heat 2B - 8 laps, biplane

9:25 a.m. Sport race heat 2B - 6 laps, sport

9:40 a.m. Demo Race Golden Age Racers 4 laps E

10 a.m. Formula One race heat 2A - 8 laps E

10:20 a.m. Biplane race heat 1A - 5 laps

10:40 a.m. Wingwalker Gene Soucy - Teresa Stokes

11:05 a.m. T-6 race heat 1A - 5 lap

11:30 a.m. Unlimited race heat 2C - 5 laps

11:45 a.m. Edge 540 vs. AFRC jet car Kirby Chambliss - Scott Hammack

Noon Opening ceremony C-130 jumpers - National Anthem E

12:03 p.m. Arkansas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon

12:17 p.m. Nevada Army Air Guard car drop E

12:20 p.m. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcon E

1:10 p.m. Sport race heat 2A - 6 laps E

1:35 p.m. U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II/Heritage flight E

1:50 p.m. T-6 race heat 1B - 5 laps

2:05 p.m. SAAB JAS-35 Draken Skip Holm E

2:30 p.m. Unlimited race heat 2B - 6 laps

2:45 p.m. Airshow act: Gene Soucy - Scott Hammack; Extra 300S vs. AFRC jet car

3 p.m. Military flight: F/A-18 Hornet, U.S. Navy

3:25 p.m. Jet race heat 2A - 6 laps

3:40 p.m. Extra 540 - S-1 Cadet Kirby Chambliss - Kent Pietsch E

3:55 p.m. Arkansas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon

4:20 p.m. Unlimited race heat 2A - 7 laps

Saturday

8 a.m. Formula One race Heat 2A - 8 laps

8:25 a.m. Biplane Race Bronze - 5 laps

8:45 a.m. U.S. Navy search-and-rescue helicopter

8:55 a.m. T-6 race heat 2C - 5 laps

9:25 a.m. Sport race heat 3B - 6 laps E

9:40 a.m. Demo Race Golden Age Racers 4 laps E

10: a.m. Formula One race Bronze - 8 laps E

10:20 a.m. Biplane race heat 2A - 5 laps E

10:40 a.m. Airshow act: Wingwalker Gene Soucy - Teresa Stokes

11:05 a.m. T-6 race heat 2B - 5 laps E

11:30 a.m. Unlimited race heat 3C - 5 laps

11:45 a.m. Airshow act: Kirby Chambliss - Scott Hammack, Edge 540 vs. AFRC jet car E

Noon Opening ceremony C-130 jumpers - National Anthem E

12:03 p.m. Flyby: F-16 Fighting Falcon, Arkansas Air National Guard E

12:17 p.m. Military flight car drop by Nevada Army Air Guard E

12:20 p.m. Military flight F-16 Fighting Falcon U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds 1:10 p.m. Sport race heat 3A - 6 laps E

1:35 p.m. Military flight A-10 Thunderbolt II/Heritage flight U.S. Air Force 1

1:50 p.m. T-6 race heat 2A - 5 laps E

2:05 p.m. Airshow act: Skip Holm SAAB JAS-35 Draken E

2:30 p.m. Unlimited race heat 3B - 6 laps

2:45 p.m. Airshow act: Gene Soucy - Scott Hammack, Extra 300S vs. AFRC jet car E

3 p.m. Military flight F/A-18 Hornet, U.S. Navy

3:25 p.m. Jet race heat 3A - 6 laps

3:40 p.m. Airshow act: Kirby Chambliss - Kent Pietsch, Edge 540 - S-1 Cadet E

3:55 p.m. Military flight F-16 Fighting Falcon, Arkansas Air National Guard

4:20 p.m. Unlimited race heat 3A - 7 laps

Sunday

8 a.m. Formula One race Silver - 8 laps

8:25 a.m. Biplane race Silver - 5 laps E

8:45 a.m. U.S. Navy search-and-rescue helicopter

8:55 a.m. SAAB JAS-35 Draken Skip Holm E

9:25 a.m. Sport race Silver - 6 laps

9:40 a.m. Demo Race Golden Age Racers 4 laps E

10 a.m. Formula One race Gold - 8 laps; biplane race Gold - 5 laps;

wingwalker Gene Soucy - Teresa Stokes

11 a.m. T-6 race Silver - 5 laps

11:30 a.m. Unlimited race Bronze - 5 lap

11:45 a.m. Kirby Chambliss - Scott Hammack Edge 540 vs. AFRC Jet Car E

Noon Opening Ceremony C-130 Jumpers - National Anthem E

12:03 p.m. Arkansas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon

12:17 p.m. Nevada Army Air Guard car drop E

12:30 p.m. Sport race Gold - 6 laps

12:45 p.m. U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II/Heritage flight E

1:10 p.m. T-6 race Gold - 5 laps

1:50 p.m. Unlimited race Silver - 6 laps

2:05 p.m. Gene Soucy - Scott Hammack, Extra 300S vs. AFRC jet car

2:20 p.m. U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet

2:45 p.m. Jet race Gold - 6 laps

3 p.m. Kirby Chambliss - Kent Pietsch Edge 540 - S-1 Cadet E

3:15 p.m. Arkansas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon

3:30 p.m. Ceremony, introductions, unlimited Gold Racers E

4:20 p.m. Unlimited race Gold - 9 laps E