According to race officials, all seven classes of airplanes will take to the sky.

“We are incredibly excited as an organization for this monumental step in air racing history as we begin to execute our plan for the 2025 National Championship Air Races,” said Tony Logoteta, president and chief operating officer of the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA). “We’re invigorated by the fact that we’re hosting the air races in a brand-new venue in Roswell. It’s going to be amazing to see this iconic event put on again and see our September family.”

Race organizers have visited Roswell several times in recent months to meet with airport staff, emergency services, and city officials to design a new course for the races, review safety protocols, and establish partnerships with the community, according to the organization. Contractors have also been secured for construction of race infrastructure, such as a grandstand.

New Racing Challenges

Air race pilots are expected to visit the area to fly the proposed course in advance of the Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS) scheduled to be held in May in Roswell.

Race officials said the new venue will make for different challenges for the racers, but that “attendees can expect the same spirit of camaraderie, competition and classes of planes that are hallmarks of NCAR.”

Ticket sales and race details will be available in months to come. 

“Reuniting with our September family for the first air races in a new venue will be a historic and emotional moment for our organization as we eagerly prepare for next year alongside our partners in Roswell,” said Fred Telling, RARA chairman and chief executive officer.

• READ MORE: Taking in the Reno Air Races’ Final Lap

The National Championship Air Races traces its roots back to the Cleveland Air Races of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. 

The event, billed as the fastest motorsport around, moved to Nevada in 1964. It was first held at Sky Ranch airfield near Spanish Springs, before it moved to Stead Air Force Base, which was later renamed Reno-Stead Airport (KRTS) after the base closed.

In September 2023, fans gathered at the Nevada airport for the last air race at that location, which local officials said was a venue no longer able to accommodate the growing sport. Over the decades, homes and subdivisions encroached upon the airport that had once been remote, sparking concerns about potential accidents that could harm area residents. 

The air races have become an end of summer institution for aviation enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to attracting hundreds of aircraft, pilots and support crews, the event also features large displays of static aircraft along with demonstrations of military and civil aircraft.

The National Championship Air Races are set for September 10-14, 2025.

The post Plans Advance for 2025 National Championship Air Races appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), the event will feature performances of both U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, along with the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team. A list of other planned performances may be found here. 

• READ MORE: Taking in the Reno Air Races’ Final Lap

The event, which is sponsored by the RARA, will begin with an airshow Friday night (October 4), and there will be many static displays of both civilian and military aircraft, and a STEM discovery zone.

“This year’s airshow celebrates our aviation heritage and the boundless potential for the future ahead,” said Fred Telling, RARA CEO and chairman. “We are honored to have made Reno the home of air racing over the last six decades. While we look forward to our organization’s future in air racing. This year, we welcome fans to enjoy an airshow that draws from experiences at the National Championship Air Races to create a one-of-a-kind event.”

• READ MORE: Early Analysis of Fatal Reno Accident Offers Lessons

This year marks the first time in the annual Reno aviation event’s history that air racing will not be featured. In September, the last Reno Air Race took place at KRTS, as community leaders had determined that encroachment by homes and other non-race entities were creating too much of a risk. The last races of that event were canceled after two pilots died in a midair collision.

RARA is reviewing proposals from six cities interested in hosting the National Championship Air Races next year. The organization expects to announce the new location later this spring.

• READ MORE: Three Locations Vie for National Championship Air Races

“We are so thankful for our fans and community that have supported us over the decades,” said Tony Logoteta, RARA chief operating officer. “And we are excited to produce our 60th aviation event in Reno. We will miss racing this year but have been blessed with an incredible performer lineup and are hard at work to ensure the Reno Air Show provides a unique and exhilarating experience that also celebrates our history.”

More information about the 2024 event and ticket sales may be found here.

The post Airshow Plans Advance in Reno appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

After my employer, Flying Media Group, acquired the aviation marketplace Aircraft For Sale, I began writing short daily articles about listed aircraft, including history about the featured make and model and details about the specific listed aircraft. This is a great way to keep track of pricing, availability, and other market trends, as well as being an encouraging reminder of how many interesting and unique aircraft are out there looking for new homes.

As the owner of a Commander 114B, I am familiar with the question, “What type of airplane is that?” and the joy of providing the answer, especially the long version. While flying a rare airplane can be a lot of fun, it is not without a measure of concern regarding parts and service support, not to mention the potential added expense of keeping such “orphans” airworthy.

Spending a lot of time perusing Aircraft For Sale, I realized that my Commander is relatively mainstream and plentiful compared with some of the machines that crop up on the site, like the 1967 Nanchang CJ-6A, a Chinese military trainer that made its way to the U.S. or the former Soviet 1991 Antonov An-2 utility biplane now outfitted like a recreational vehicle. I often wonder how owners of these aircraft go about sourcing spare parts, but mostly I think about how much fun they must have traveling in these rare birds.

The following are a few that caught my attention – and held it – during the past year.  

1951 Hawker Sea Fury ‘Furias’

Have you ever considered air racing? There are several ways to get involved, but buying a genuine racing aircraft with a long history seems like the most direct route. Spotting Furias for sale brought back memories of watching the aircraft in action for decades during the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada.

1980 North American Sabreliner

Speaking of Reno makes me think of R.A. Bob Hoover, the legendary test pilot and aviator extraordinaire who for many years paced the Unlimited racers at Reno and gave memorable aerobatic demonstrations between races in a variety of seemingly unlikely aircraft including a Saberliner. On the practical side, this aircraft would make a fine family or business transporter.

1943 Douglas DC-3

The DC-3 is such a legend that every pilot I know wants a type rating in the airplane. A few have that honor already. The versatile twin transport is known for many things, such as being the first profitable airliner, but the fact that many of them are still operating, hauling goods and making money, might be the most impressive thing about the aircraft.

1954 de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Mk I

While the Beaver is far from common, there are quite a few of them plying the skies around Alaska and throughout Canada’s rural territories. One problem for would-be buyers is that owners rarely give up their beloved Beavers if they can possibly avoid it. For pilots seeking an outdoor lifestyle full of aerial backcountry exploration, the right Beaver is worth the wait.  

1975 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2

The Great Lakes is a classic “sport biplane” design, meaning it is meant to be flown with vigor, often as an aerobatic trainer. Indeed, many well-known pilots flew and competed in Great Lakes biplanes into the 1960s before monoplane designs took over. This colorful example would make an exciting personal transport for a solo pilot or one with a single, special passenger.

The post A Shopper’s Market: 5 Interesting Rare Birds from 2023 on ‘AircraftForSale’ appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The RARA circulated a formal request for proposal earlier this year following its announcement that 2023 would be the final year for the races at Reno Stead Airport (KRTS) in Nevada. The responding cities are: Buckeye, Arizona; Casper, Wyoming; Pueblo, Colorado; Roswell, New Mexico; Thermal, California; and Wendover, Utah.

Officials from those cities submitted more than 1,500 pages of documents supporting their case for why each should be the next host, the RARA said.

“Seeing the interest to host the National Championship Air Races at each of these unique venues gives me great hope for the future of air racing,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the RARA. “We’re looking for our next home, somewhere we can celebrate many more anniversaries, so we’ve assembled an expert committee that is putting an extreme amount of care and diligence into choosing our next location.”

Often referred to as the Reno Air Races or simply Reno, the event began in 1964 at nearby Sky Ranch and moved to Reno Stead in 1966. Over time it developed into a singular motorsports gathering—a festival, really, celebrating high performance and camaraderie within the aviation community. It has also become a major economic boost for the local tourism industry.

“In the past 10 years alone, the event has attracted more than 1 million visitors to the region, generated more than $750 million for the economy, and contributed significant aviation related education and outreach to schools and nonprofits all around the area,” the RARA said.

The committee researching the proposals includes RARA personnel specializing in operations, safety, security, business development, and more. Representatives from the race classes are also “an integral part of the selection process,” according to the organization. The selection committee is vetting the proposals and plans to make site visits later this year. The RARA said it expects to announce a decision early next year.

The post 6 Cities Competing to Host Next National Championship Air Races appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I also knew that I had only myself to blame for waiting too long to address the dirty buildup. Had I taken the time to wipe down the airplane thoroughly after every flight I could have avoided the discomfort of lying underneath in a semi-stress position, rag in hand. I have a creeper that makes scooting across the hangar floor easier, but it cannot help me scrub.

• READ MORE: Maintaining Your Ideal Aircraft: What Can a Pilot Do?

My reason for tackling the cleaning project stems from a trip to the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, earlier this month. While there I spent a lot of time observing the crew of Miss Trinidad, a Russian Yak-3U Unlimited class racer. I noticed that they cleaned the airplane several times a day, not just after each flight but in between flights. Cleaning and polishing were part of the long checklist it used to make sure the Yak was always ready to fly.

Earlier I had shown a picture of Annie to the Yak’s crew chief, John Dowd, a career agricultural pilot and longtime racer I have written about before. Dowd pointed to the remains of hundreds of insects on the leading edge of the wing and reminded me that keeping the airplane clean would help aerodynamically in addition to simply being the right thing to do. He was correct, and, yes, the bugs really were visible in the photo. It was a bit shameful.

The Reno experience reminded me that owning an airplane is a major commitment, and cleaning off bugs, soot, and grass fragments is just a tiny part of the overall responsibility. After all, cleaning and checking every part of your aircraft helps ensure that you do not miss potential problems like airframe damage, corrosion, fluid leaks, or loose fasteners.

• READ MORE: Acquiring the Right Airplane Does Not Preclude Dreaming

After returning from the air races, I began writing a personal checklist consisting mostly of tasks to complete at the conclusion of each flight and during nonflying time spent in the hangar. It is a living document. I add items to the list as they come to mind. You will not find them in the typical POH, but they are vital, and we tend to forget them without a checklist. 

The efficient work of the volunteer crew taking care of Miss Trinidad also illustrated the importance of taking a consistent, professional approach to aviation. While I always seek to give my family a smooth, secure, airline-style experience when we travel in Annie, I know that I need to improve my briefing style and try not to be nervous when speaking with ATC. Becoming the best PIC one can be is always a work in progress.
For now at least one thing is certain: Annie will not have to overcome the drag of accumulated insects on our next flight.

The post Remember the Importance of Keeping Your Ideal Aircraft Clean appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The final National Air Races at Reno, Nevada are on hold following a two-airplane accident.

Reno Air Racing Association released a statement (see below) saying the pilots of the two aircraft involved are both deceased.

Identification of pilots has been held while the race organization contacts the next of kin. However, witness reports say that the two aircraft came together while recovering following the race.

The aircraft met such that the tail of one aircraft was severed followed by both aircraft falling to the ground at steep angles. There are no reports of anyone on the ground being involved; one aircraft appears to have crashed on open airport property, the other off airport also in open land between two sets of housing.

Whether the Unlimited and Sport Gold races will be run or concluded on the basis of previous heat races remains to be determined.

Statement regarding incident during final day of National Championship Air Races

Reno, Nev. – It is with great sorrow that the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announces that around 2:15 p.m. this afternoon, at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race, upon landing, two planes collided and it has been confirmed that both pilots are deceased. The RARA Board of Directors and the T-6 class president are working to notify next of kin and ensure families have all of our support. There were no civilian injuries and we’re in the process of confirming additional details around the incident. Additional information will be released as soon as it is available. All racing operations are currently suspended.

Safety is the foremost concern of RARA and we work year round to host the safest event possible. As we always do, we are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA and all local authorities to identify the cause of the accident and ensure that all of our pilots, spectators and volunteers have the necessary support during this time.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story.

The post Reno Races on Hold Following Collision appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

During the last race on Saturday officials said John Maloney, pilot of the Yak-3U Miss Trinidad flew above the maximum allowed altitude on part of the course during the Unlimited Class Heat 3A. The resulting penalty is expected to place Maloney in Sunday’s Unlimited Silver Race instead of the Gold, according to members of Miss Trinidad’s crew.

Altitude regulations instituted by the FAA after the 2011 crash of racer Jimmy Leeward in the P-51 Mustang Galloping Ghost set the maximum racing altitude at 400 feet agl for Unlimited competitors in the Bronze Race, 325 feet in the Silver, and 250 feet in the Gold. Minimum altitude for each race is 50 feet agl.

Some pilots have long criticized the altitude rules for making them feel hemmed-in while flying. Others have called the rules “political” weapons often used to harass competitors and to deny or nullify their victories. Earlier this week Brent Hisey, owner and pilot of the P-51 Miss America, received a penalty for flying too high and was bumped down to a subsequent heat filled with slower aircraft. The penalty essentially forces pilots to race their way back into the competition.

After racing ended on Saturday the pit area buzzed as annoyed as pilots and crew members, annoyed and frustrated, discussed possible strategies to eliminate the maximum altitude rules and even talked about staging a walkout to compel officials to amend the rules or at least develop a system for applying them more consistently.

As of Saturday evening the issue had not been settled and Reno Air Racing Association’s contest committee was meeting to consider the penalty and perhaps the objections.

The final day of racing begins at 7:45 a.m. and the Unlimited Bronze is scheduled for 12:25. Unlimited Silver kicks off at 2:15 p.m. and Gold begins at 4:55. The P-51 Bardahl Special flown by Steven Hinton is favored to win the Gold. The Hawker Sea Fury ‘Dreadnought’ remains sidelined for the final.

The post Air Race Pilots Say Altitude Rules at Reno Have Not Improved Safety appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

While essentially accurate, this description fails in my opinion because it makes the event sound regimented, predictable, and perhaps even a bit boring, which it is not.

An analogy that works better, especially for nonaviation folks, is an old-fashioned soap opera with a generous dash of the action adventure genre. A cast of characters including pilots, mechanics, officials, sponsors, and spouses mixes with an unbelievable collection of meticulously cultivated horsepower. The result is a unique chorus of engines, power tools, and raised voices.

• READ MORE: Reno Air Races Reveal Final List of Participating Pilots, Aircraft

Workers open hatches and crawl deep inside fuselages to work on hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their voices echo as they shout for tools. Colleagues run back and forth between the airplane and support trailer, searching for this wrench or that screwdriver. A spool of safety wire occasionally gets loose and rolls across the ramp.  

One thing that makes the Reno races special is that the machines rarely manage to overshadow the people, though they try. Earlier this week, a Hawker Sea Fury named Dreadnought, a big, beautiful Unlimited racer that has competed here for decades, suffered an engine failure during a qualifying run at well over 400 mph (I have never heard “knots” mentioned in reference to Reno—a nod to its motorsports history).

• READ MORE: Regional Growth Forces Reno Air Races To Look for New Home

Talk about drama. Pilot Joel Swager raised the nose, quickly trading airspeed for altitude as Dreadnought’s huge Pratt & Whitney 4360 radial uttered awful, explosive sounds before going silent. Pilots who race at Reno train for this type of emergency, but a deadstick landing in any World War II-era fighter that has been modified for racing is a difficult endeavor. Swager was cool, making the landing look easy, or at least routine. A lot of video sharing went on after the incident.

It is unclear whether the Sea Fury can be made airworthy again in time to return to the competition. There have been cases of last-minute repairs and overnight engine overhauls performed on the tarmac at Reno/Stead Airport (KRTS), but the word in the pits Wednesday was that Dreadnought was out of the event.

• READ MORE: Pilot Killed During Reno Air Races Engine Test

A lot of people will miss that aircraft because they are accustomed to its presence as a reliable strong runner. This year many saw Dreadnought as perhaps the only serious challenger to the Bardahl Special, a P-51 Mustang owned and flown by late racing legend Chuck Lyford. Lyford and the Bardahl airplane were fixtures for many years after the Reno races got going in the mid-1960s, and the aircraft returned last year after a long absence. Following major upgrades during the past year, and with Reno whiz Steven Hinton at the controls, it is favored to win Sunday’s Gold Race.

Anything can happen in racing, though, and there are several Unlimited heats to come before the final. So much can happen between now and Sunday. And the Unlimiteds are but one theme in the broad Reno saga. The other classes, from Formula One to Jets, will also see aircraft tweaked, revised, and rebuilt, often by swarms of volunteer technicians who will put them back together and button up the access panels just in time to taxi for the next race.

As for the Unlimiteds, their heat races begin Thursday afternoon.

The post Drama High as Unlimited Heats at Final Reno Air Races Gain Intensity appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The timeline promises to be challenging, in part because the Las Vegas Spaceport has not been built yet. A parcel of land between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada, is earmarked for the facility, though, and the event’s organizers say they will bring the necessary elements together in time.

• READ MORE: Regional Growth Forces Reno Air Races to Look for New Home

The announcement follows the news from earlier this year that the World Championship Air Races held in Reno, Nevada, for decades will not continue after the 2023 event. While the spaceport group says its planned races include classes like warbirds, jets and formula one aircraft, it is not clear whether they intend to create an event with essentially the same cast as the outgoing Reno races. The Reno Air Racing Association, or RARA, has not responded to a request for comment.

According to the recent announcement the Las Vegas races will include more than 500 vendors and will accommodate more than 25,000 people. Events will include live music, drone races, and rocket launch demonstrations.

• READ MORE: Reno Air Races Reveal Final List of Participating Pilots, Aircraft

“Ensuring safety is paramount as we execute our plan to draw visitors to the Las Vegas Spaceport and establish our brand,” said Robert Lauer, CEO of the Las Vegas Spaceport. 

“Our upcoming Air Races event in the coming year will serve as a demonstration, not only for the FAA but also for the public, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to safety compliance. We look forward to hosting this event for many years to come.”

The post Las Vegas Spaceport to Host Air Racing Event in October 2024 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1951 Hawker Sea Fury Mk II

With the final running of the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, coming up September 13-17, it seems like a good time to point out a longtime Reno racer that is on the market.

Furias, campaigned by veteran race pilot Lloyd Hamilton during the 1980s, was a fixture at Reno for many years and finished second in the 1986 Gold race. After posting the top qualifying time during the 2012 Reno races, the aircraft sustained damage when its landing gear collapsed and it skidded off the runway. Furias is looking for a new owner to get it back into the air and back to competition.

Originally flown by the Royal Australian Navy, the aircraft was imported into the U.S. during the 1970s. Sea Furies were advanced piston-engine fighters that arrived too late for World War II but have been popular as modified air racers. Early on, Furias traded its original Bristol radial engine for a Pratt & Whitney R-4360, known as the Wasp Major. With four rows of cylinders, the engine also earned the nickname “corn cob.”

This Sea Fury has several racing modifications, including anti-detonation injection, or ADI, a boil-off oil cooling system, and telemetry. Its panel includes a Garmin GPS, transponder and an oxygen system.

Aircraft enthusiasts interested in racing, historic aircraft, warbirds, or classic restoration should take a look at this unique machine, which is available for $375,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the airplane through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

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The post Today’s Top AircraftForSale Pick: 1951 Hawker Sea Fury ‘Furias’ appeared first on FLYING Magazine.