Reno Racing - 2010/08

RACING GETS my blood pumping. It doesn’t matter what’s being raced; any
close competition will do it. I remember racing scat cats for the first time and
how exciting it was.
If you’re like me and want to get your blood pumping, fast is what you
need. I suggest full-scale air racing—Reno, Nevada, style. It’s the fastest
motorsport in the world, and the sound that goes with it can’t be beat; it fills
you up better than a Reno buffet.
I was honored to be able to attend the 2009 Reno Air Races as a
photojournalist. I not only got to capture the event, but also the
pilots, their crews, and spectators. I was even allowed to take
pictures from several of the pylons. Valerie Miller, director of
marketing and public relations, does a tremendous job of getting
access for photographers.
That was the 46th National Championship Air Races, held
September 16-20. It also marked the 100th year of recorded air
racing history. In 1909, Leon Delagrange was crowned the first air
race champion—at a respectable speed for the times of 21 mph.
Reno Racing by Michael Brown
Left: What do you think this young guy wants to be when he
grows up? Judging by the hat, it looks like he’s already vying for
Team Voodoo.
Opposite page, top: Scott Nelson flew his Sbach 342,
Thunderbolt, in Sport class. He earned an 8th-place standing
and had a top speed of almost 219 mph.
Opposite page, bottom left: Many people know Rare Bear, but
now it sports a new color scheme. Pilot John Penney couldn’t
get the Bear to do what it needed to overtake Strega in the
Gold race and took second. Maybe this year …
18 MODEL AVIATION
Opposite page, bottom right: Jon Sharp in his Nemesis NXT
dominated the Super Sport Gold race with a top speed run of 407.061
mph. Many AMA pilots fly Q-40 aircraft modeled after this Reno class.
20 MODEL AVIATION
Patty Wagstaff, a three-time World Aerobatic Champion, was a featured air show performer at the 2009 Reno Air Races. She’s the first
woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic Champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Right: Seven of the eight jets in
Sunday’s Gold race fly through the gate
for a race start. The L-29 Delfin and L-
39 Albatros are preferred, with a
beautiful de Havilland Vampire
rounding out the lineup.
Since that contest (in which only
four aircraft flew and none finished the
course), air racing has earned the title
of “the fastest and hottest form of
motor sports in the world,” with speeds
in excess of 500 mph. Seven classes
race at Reno during the five days, with
Sunday’s Gold races determining the
all-out winners.
Each fall, hundreds of thousands of
spectators converge on Stead Airport
in Reno to witness the seven classes of
aircraft race. In 2009, the stands were
packed, as always, for the Gold races.
Along with the contest, there were
several aerobatic performances with
Patty Wagstaff as the headliner. The
August 2010 21
Above: Phil Fogg flies this L-39, Fast
Company Race 8, owned by Warbirds LLC.
Reno Jets reach almost 500 mph without
much sweat.
Right: The AT-6 class might be a bit
slower than the rest, but these aircraft fly
close and down low. Spectator
appreciation is high.
Red Eagles put on a heck of a show with
their red biplanes, and David Martin had
some nice moves. The military had several
exhibitions, ranging from the huge C-130
and its parachute jumpers performing for the
opening ceremonies to a C-17 tactical demo.
The Blue Angels Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron was back at the
races to top off the military’s show, and they
did not disappoint. At the start of the Blue
Angels’ show on Sunday, the crowd
Classes of Reno Aircraft
Biplane:With a 3.81-mile course, you commonly
see Pitts Specials, Mongs, and Smith Miniplanes,
but the highly modified Mong Sport called
“Phantom” is the one to beat. With a qualifying
speed of 249.884 mph, it is in a class of its own.
Formula One: Usually built by the pilots who race
them, these aircraft are fast! Their few restrictions
include exactly 66 square feet of wing area, a weight
of at least 500 pounds empty, fixed landing gear, a
fixed-pitch propeller, and a Continental O-200
engine.
The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost
250 mph on the 3.12-mile racecourse. Cassutts are
popular in this category, along with the GR-7 and
the super-fast Arnold AR-6 named “Endeavor.” The
Gold in 2009 went to Thom Richard in his Cassutt
Invictus, with a speed of 241.046 mph.
Sport: Stepping up speeds to exceed 350 mph on
the 6.37-mile course, racing in these manufactured
airplanes is fierce.
The Glasair was the top qualifier in 2009 with a
speed of 357.863 mph, and the 2nd-place-qualifying
Lancair was a close second at 350.520 mph. But
David Sterling in his Lancair Legacy, named “Race
8,” went on to win with a top speed of 352.662 mph.
AT-6:With the emphasis on strategy and skill
rather than horsepower, this category offers some of
the closest racing. Last year five airplanes qualified
within 10 mph of each other, and the six in the Gold
race were within 11 mph. The top qualifier, at
239.350 mph—Six Cat—was also the top finisher,
with a peak speed of 237.557 mph.
Jet: This division was started in 2002, by invitation
only, and has become popular, with current speeds
in excess of 500 mph. The L-29 Delfin and L-39
Albatros are preferred jets, with a beautiful de
Havilland Vampire rounding out the
2009 lineup.
Curt Brown, with his Viper,
was 2 seconds faster than Mike
Mangold, with his L-29 Euro
Burner, with a speed of 513.521
mph. Curt qualified at a blazing
538.052 mph.
Unlimited: This division is open
to any piston-driven aircraft with
an empty weight of more than
4,500 pounds. Aside from a few
“scratch-built” racers, the Unlimited
category has generally been
populated by stock or modified
World War II fighters. The mostoften-
flown types include the P-51
Mustang, F-8F Bearcat, and Hawker
Sea Fury. Speeds in this class reach
500 mph.
Steven “Stevo” Hinton won the
Brietling Gold race, as reported in the
main article text, with a speed of
491.822 mph. The announcer read each
lap time during the race, and Steven
actually slowed the P-51D—most likely
to protect its engine, since it was well in
front of competitors. MA
—Michael Brown
22 MODEL AVIATION
The Phantom, a modified Mong Sport,
won the Gold in 2008 and 2009 in the
Biplane class. Tom Aberle pilots Race 62.
Kyosho Models makes a 40-size ARF
version that’s a joy to fly.
Don and Sylvia Hatten, as are many spectators, are huge Rare Bear fans. Don
is also a fan of RC! He flew from Alaska to watch the races at Reno.
August 2010 23
Right: Sly Dog piloted by R. G. “Smokey” Young and Yellow Peril
piloted by Doug Bodine mix it up in Formula One. This class is
replicated in aeromodeling with USRA rules.
Below: Steven Hinton in Strega claims victory after winning the
Breitling Unlimited Gold. The P-51D Mustang flew the 67-mile
course (eight laps) in less than nine minutes, and its top speed was
just less than 492 mph.
Photo by the author
witnessed the last JATO (Jet-fuel Assisted Take Off) to ever be done by
Fat Albert: the show team’s huge transport aircraft.
The theme for 2009 was “Wings of Honor”: “a dedication to the
courageous men and women who dared challenge the laws of nature and
revel in the unparalleled feeling of flight.”
The biplanes are the first to race, in the mornings, followed by either
Formula One or Sport. You can hear the airplanes coming from the pylons,
and then see them appear over the top of the sagebrush, flying fast and
low. It’s exciting!
L-R: Craig Greening, Peter Goldsmith, and
Travis Flynn regularly compete in USRA
events. The experience
and sound are heart
pounding, as are the
full-scale Reno races.
24 MODEL AVIATION
In most of the races, early in the week at
least, it seemed that there was clearly a faster
airplane, so the real battle was for the 2nd or
3rd and 3rd or 4th spots. The pilots pushed their
aircraft, trying to qualify for the Gold race.
As the week progresses, the faster
airplanes enter the Gold Medal group and the
next slower fliers make their way into the
Silver Medal cluster, followed by the Bronze
Medal lineup. All others are done for the year.
I spent a bit of time with Jeff Lo and his
biplane race team—for Miss Diane. It was
interesting to watch and listen to the things
they were doing to make the aircraft go
faster. In one heat the airplane went 180.686
mph, but it needed more speed.
So after waxing the aircraft, the crew
covered every seam and rivet line with 2-inch
clear tape and put an extremely thin piece of
approximately 2-inch stainless steel across the
aileron hinge gap, to reduce drag, Jeff won the
Silver race with a speed of 185.558.
The first three classes are cool, but the AT-
6, Unlimited, and Jet classes are a new
experience altogether. The AT-6s fly just
faster than 220 mph in most cases, but they
are big aircraft and their radial engines make a
body-thumping sound. You can see every
detail on an AT-6 as it thunders by.
The Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) is the official sanctioning and
rules body for the sport of Giant Scale Air Racing. Founded in 1994, its purpose is
to provide its membership’s special interests with a clear, definitive set of rules and
procedures. Its mission is also to effectively separate those racing rules and
procedures from the promotional aspects of the racing-event organizers, thereby
allowing uniform application of rules and procedures at all events.
Tom Easterday and Cliff Adams created Giant Scale Air Racing in 1991,
patterning it after the Reno National Air Races, as a way to bring the excitement,
sound, color, and history of air racing up close to the public and RC enthusiasts.
Since its inception, Giant Scale Air Racing has steadily evolved into a sport in
which speed and technology advancements know no bounds.
RC racing now encompasses seven classes: Unlimited, AT-6 Texan, Formula
One, Biplane, Experimental, Thompson Trophy, and the entry-level Sundowner.
Thompson Trophy is the latest addition to the racing divisions, and it adds the rich
history, traditions, and glamour of the Cleveland National Air Races to Giant Scale
Air Racing.
It is the intent of the USRA and each racing-event organizer to continue to
advance and expand the activity, thereby increasing awareness of our deeply rooted
aviation heritage and the sport of air racing worldwide. MA
—MA Staff
Sources:
Unlimited Scale Racing Association
www.usrainfo.org
What is Giant Scale
Air Racing?
www.WingedShadow.com
$49 00
New! From the makers of the
How HighTM and the How Fast TM The Simple Way to Better Soaring!
• Wags the rudder & rocks the wings to indicate lift
• Installs between your receiver and rudder servo
• Controlled from any extra transmitter channel
• Finds location, size, & movement of thermals
• Smaller than a postage stamp; only 1/8 oz.
• For all R/C gliders and motorgliders
Visualize Thermals with the Thermal Scout TM
Thermal ScoutTM
Lift Finder for R/C Gliders
Winged Shadow Systems • PO Box 432 • Streamwood, IL 60107
• 630-837-6553 • Made in the USA •
August 2010 25
!""#$%!&!$'()$*&!+$,-$.*/$0!$1!-$)2$3(&$1-!!&4/5$(&$.*1-(&4/5+$,-$
.(6!1$74-%$*$.%(4.!$(3$-7($1-!!&4/5$12&4/58*&61$9-%!$0!/-:)2$!/;$
1462"'$5")!1$4/-($-%!$&);;!&<+$=($"4/>*5!1$#$/($.(/-&("$%(&/1#$/($
;&*5$3&(6$!?-&*$%*&;7*&!+$@/;$-%!$1.&!71$*&!$4/.");!;+
A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-1$*&!$*C*4"*0"!$4/$3()&$7!45%-$&*/5!1#$.(C!&4/5$
6(;!"1$3&(6$D$"01$-($EF"01+$
!"#$%&'("
)%(*!""(#+,)-." /
!"#$$%&'()*+,#-."!-+/
!"#$%&'(#)*+"!#,'-#.#/*0'12%&"#.#34#.#56557#.#8,9#####
:(;#76<=>?5=?@<<#.#A*B;#76<=?5>=>77?#
!""#$%&"'($)&*+""&'%#$,-"!'!+$!'$%./#%.'
.+/,-.'!/'!+"'$)#0#$1"'2'!/'!+"'."#3/4
GHFI$G%(7/
A*4"7%!!"$=(-$,/.");!;
G462"4.4-'+
G)""4C*/$A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-+
The Unlimited aircraft not only have an
even stronger sound, but they fly close to 500
mph and right on the deck. It’s great!
The Jets are even faster than that, but their
sound is clean compared with the other big
airplanes—not that it’s a bad thing. They sound
cool; it just doesn’t make your body vibrate the
way the AT-6s and Unlimiteds do. And the Jets
generally fly a bit higher than the rest of the
racers.
With all of the qualifying and other heats
run, it comes down to Sunday’s final
competition. Last year, Tom Aberle smoked the
Biplane class in his Phantom by almost 20 mph
and 24 seconds. Sport was closer, but not by
much.
Nemesis and Invictus in Super Sport and
Formula One respectively finished at nearly the
same time. The real contests were mostly for
2nd and 3rd. The AT-6 Gold race wasn’t all that
exciting either, with only five airplanes and 5
seconds of separation between 1st and 2nd
places, but they looked and sounded fantastic
finishing.
The best competition might have been the
Jet Gold race, which had eight airplanes. Mike
Mangold in his Euro Burner tried his best to
outfly Curt Brown’s Viper, but he couldn’t do
it. Curt won with a blazing 513.521 mph.
The Unlimited Breitling Gold race consisted
of nine airplanes. Their teams lined up in front
of the grandstands and received thunderous
cheers as they were announced one at a time.
The venue took on the air of a huge sporting
event.
One by one, the airplanes started their
engines and taxied out to the end of the runway.
Steven Hinton’s Strega, with its 12-cylinder,
3,600-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650,
was the clear favorite after winning every heat
race with ease. However, Voodoo and Rare
Bear fans were confident and cheered as loudly
and as hard as they could.
The race started close, with Will Whiteside
piloting Voodoo giving Strega a run for its
money. John Penney in Rare Bear was right on
his six.
But smoke in the Voodoo cockpit caused it
to pull out of the race, giving Rare Bear the
chance to catch Strega. Young “Stevo” Hinton
was having nothing of it and kept his record
spotless, as he led the field all the way to the
checkered flag.
At the age of 22, Steven Hinton became the
youngest Unlimited champion in Reno Air
Racing history. In a letter received from a Rare
Bear sponsor, John Penney, a Rare Bear race
team member, gave congratulations to the
young victor.
John also assured Rare Bear fans that the
airplane would be back faster next year. He said
that it actually ran with an all-but-stock engine
and will have a Cornell conversion blower in
this newly broken-in engine for this year’s race.
So don’t get too comfortable, Stevo; the
Bear is coming for your title in 2010! I can’t
wait to see it. Care to join me? MA
Michael Brown
[email protected]
Sources:
Reno Air Racing Association
(775) 972-6663
www.airrace.org

RACING GETS my blood pumping. It doesn’t matter what’s being raced; any
close competition will do it. I remember racing scat cats for the first time and
how exciting it was.
If you’re like me and want to get your blood pumping, fast is what you
need. I suggest full-scale air racing—Reno, Nevada, style. It’s the fastest
motorsport in the world, and the sound that goes with it can’t be beat; it fills
you up better than a Reno buffet.
I was honored to be able to attend the 2009 Reno Air Races as a
photojournalist. I not only got to capture the event, but also the
pilots, their crews, and spectators. I was even allowed to take
pictures from several of the pylons. Valerie Miller, director of
marketing and public relations, does a tremendous job of getting
access for photographers.
That was the 46th National Championship Air Races, held
September 16-20. It also marked the 100th year of recorded air
racing history. In 1909, Leon Delagrange was crowned the first air
race champion—at a respectable speed for the times of 21 mph.
Reno Racing by Michael Brown
Left: What do you think this young guy wants to be when he
grows up? Judging by the hat, it looks like he’s already vying for
Team Voodoo.
Opposite page, top: Scott Nelson flew his Sbach 342,
Thunderbolt, in Sport class. He earned an 8th-place standing
and had a top speed of almost 219 mph.
Opposite page, bottom left: Many people know Rare Bear, but
now it sports a new color scheme. Pilot John Penney couldn’t
get the Bear to do what it needed to overtake Strega in the
Gold race and took second. Maybe this year …
18 MODEL AVIATION
Opposite page, bottom right: Jon Sharp in his Nemesis NXT
dominated the Super Sport Gold race with a top speed run of 407.061
mph. Many AMA pilots fly Q-40 aircraft modeled after this Reno class.
20 MODEL AVIATION
Patty Wagstaff, a three-time World Aerobatic Champion, was a featured air show performer at the 2009 Reno Air Races. She’s the first
woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic Champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Right: Seven of the eight jets in
Sunday’s Gold race fly through the gate
for a race start. The L-29 Delfin and L-
39 Albatros are preferred, with a
beautiful de Havilland Vampire
rounding out the lineup.
Since that contest (in which only
four aircraft flew and none finished the
course), air racing has earned the title
of “the fastest and hottest form of
motor sports in the world,” with speeds
in excess of 500 mph. Seven classes
race at Reno during the five days, with
Sunday’s Gold races determining the
all-out winners.
Each fall, hundreds of thousands of
spectators converge on Stead Airport
in Reno to witness the seven classes of
aircraft race. In 2009, the stands were
packed, as always, for the Gold races.
Along with the contest, there were
several aerobatic performances with
Patty Wagstaff as the headliner. The
August 2010 21
Above: Phil Fogg flies this L-39, Fast
Company Race 8, owned by Warbirds LLC.
Reno Jets reach almost 500 mph without
much sweat.
Right: The AT-6 class might be a bit
slower than the rest, but these aircraft fly
close and down low. Spectator
appreciation is high.
Red Eagles put on a heck of a show with
their red biplanes, and David Martin had
some nice moves. The military had several
exhibitions, ranging from the huge C-130
and its parachute jumpers performing for the
opening ceremonies to a C-17 tactical demo.
The Blue Angels Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron was back at the
races to top off the military’s show, and they
did not disappoint. At the start of the Blue
Angels’ show on Sunday, the crowd
Classes of Reno Aircraft
Biplane:With a 3.81-mile course, you commonly
see Pitts Specials, Mongs, and Smith Miniplanes,
but the highly modified Mong Sport called
“Phantom” is the one to beat. With a qualifying
speed of 249.884 mph, it is in a class of its own.
Formula One: Usually built by the pilots who race
them, these aircraft are fast! Their few restrictions
include exactly 66 square feet of wing area, a weight
of at least 500 pounds empty, fixed landing gear, a
fixed-pitch propeller, and a Continental O-200
engine.
The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost
250 mph on the 3.12-mile racecourse. Cassutts are
popular in this category, along with the GR-7 and
the super-fast Arnold AR-6 named “Endeavor.” The
Gold in 2009 went to Thom Richard in his Cassutt
Invictus, with a speed of 241.046 mph.
Sport: Stepping up speeds to exceed 350 mph on
the 6.37-mile course, racing in these manufactured
airplanes is fierce.
The Glasair was the top qualifier in 2009 with a
speed of 357.863 mph, and the 2nd-place-qualifying
Lancair was a close second at 350.520 mph. But
David Sterling in his Lancair Legacy, named “Race
8,” went on to win with a top speed of 352.662 mph.
AT-6:With the emphasis on strategy and skill
rather than horsepower, this category offers some of
the closest racing. Last year five airplanes qualified
within 10 mph of each other, and the six in the Gold
race were within 11 mph. The top qualifier, at
239.350 mph—Six Cat—was also the top finisher,
with a peak speed of 237.557 mph.
Jet: This division was started in 2002, by invitation
only, and has become popular, with current speeds
in excess of 500 mph. The L-29 Delfin and L-39
Albatros are preferred jets, with a beautiful de
Havilland Vampire rounding out the
2009 lineup.
Curt Brown, with his Viper,
was 2 seconds faster than Mike
Mangold, with his L-29 Euro
Burner, with a speed of 513.521
mph. Curt qualified at a blazing
538.052 mph.
Unlimited: This division is open
to any piston-driven aircraft with
an empty weight of more than
4,500 pounds. Aside from a few
“scratch-built” racers, the Unlimited
category has generally been
populated by stock or modified
World War II fighters. The mostoften-
flown types include the P-51
Mustang, F-8F Bearcat, and Hawker
Sea Fury. Speeds in this class reach
500 mph.
Steven “Stevo” Hinton won the
Brietling Gold race, as reported in the
main article text, with a speed of
491.822 mph. The announcer read each
lap time during the race, and Steven
actually slowed the P-51D—most likely
to protect its engine, since it was well in
front of competitors. MA
—Michael Brown
22 MODEL AVIATION
The Phantom, a modified Mong Sport,
won the Gold in 2008 and 2009 in the
Biplane class. Tom Aberle pilots Race 62.
Kyosho Models makes a 40-size ARF
version that’s a joy to fly.
Don and Sylvia Hatten, as are many spectators, are huge Rare Bear fans. Don
is also a fan of RC! He flew from Alaska to watch the races at Reno.
August 2010 23
Right: Sly Dog piloted by R. G. “Smokey” Young and Yellow Peril
piloted by Doug Bodine mix it up in Formula One. This class is
replicated in aeromodeling with USRA rules.
Below: Steven Hinton in Strega claims victory after winning the
Breitling Unlimited Gold. The P-51D Mustang flew the 67-mile
course (eight laps) in less than nine minutes, and its top speed was
just less than 492 mph.
Photo by the author
witnessed the last JATO (Jet-fuel Assisted Take Off) to ever be done by
Fat Albert: the show team’s huge transport aircraft.
The theme for 2009 was “Wings of Honor”: “a dedication to the
courageous men and women who dared challenge the laws of nature and
revel in the unparalleled feeling of flight.”
The biplanes are the first to race, in the mornings, followed by either
Formula One or Sport. You can hear the airplanes coming from the pylons,
and then see them appear over the top of the sagebrush, flying fast and
low. It’s exciting!
L-R: Craig Greening, Peter Goldsmith, and
Travis Flynn regularly compete in USRA
events. The experience
and sound are heart
pounding, as are the
full-scale Reno races.
24 MODEL AVIATION
In most of the races, early in the week at
least, it seemed that there was clearly a faster
airplane, so the real battle was for the 2nd or
3rd and 3rd or 4th spots. The pilots pushed their
aircraft, trying to qualify for the Gold race.
As the week progresses, the faster
airplanes enter the Gold Medal group and the
next slower fliers make their way into the
Silver Medal cluster, followed by the Bronze
Medal lineup. All others are done for the year.
I spent a bit of time with Jeff Lo and his
biplane race team—for Miss Diane. It was
interesting to watch and listen to the things
they were doing to make the aircraft go
faster. In one heat the airplane went 180.686
mph, but it needed more speed.
So after waxing the aircraft, the crew
covered every seam and rivet line with 2-inch
clear tape and put an extremely thin piece of
approximately 2-inch stainless steel across the
aileron hinge gap, to reduce drag, Jeff won the
Silver race with a speed of 185.558.
The first three classes are cool, but the AT-
6, Unlimited, and Jet classes are a new
experience altogether. The AT-6s fly just
faster than 220 mph in most cases, but they
are big aircraft and their radial engines make a
body-thumping sound. You can see every
detail on an AT-6 as it thunders by.
The Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) is the official sanctioning and
rules body for the sport of Giant Scale Air Racing. Founded in 1994, its purpose is
to provide its membership’s special interests with a clear, definitive set of rules and
procedures. Its mission is also to effectively separate those racing rules and
procedures from the promotional aspects of the racing-event organizers, thereby
allowing uniform application of rules and procedures at all events.
Tom Easterday and Cliff Adams created Giant Scale Air Racing in 1991,
patterning it after the Reno National Air Races, as a way to bring the excitement,
sound, color, and history of air racing up close to the public and RC enthusiasts.
Since its inception, Giant Scale Air Racing has steadily evolved into a sport in
which speed and technology advancements know no bounds.
RC racing now encompasses seven classes: Unlimited, AT-6 Texan, Formula
One, Biplane, Experimental, Thompson Trophy, and the entry-level Sundowner.
Thompson Trophy is the latest addition to the racing divisions, and it adds the rich
history, traditions, and glamour of the Cleveland National Air Races to Giant Scale
Air Racing.
It is the intent of the USRA and each racing-event organizer to continue to
advance and expand the activity, thereby increasing awareness of our deeply rooted
aviation heritage and the sport of air racing worldwide. MA
—MA Staff
Sources:
Unlimited Scale Racing Association
www.usrainfo.org
What is Giant Scale
Air Racing?
www.WingedShadow.com
$49 00
New! From the makers of the
How HighTM and the How Fast TM The Simple Way to Better Soaring!
• Wags the rudder & rocks the wings to indicate lift
• Installs between your receiver and rudder servo
• Controlled from any extra transmitter channel
• Finds location, size, & movement of thermals
• Smaller than a postage stamp; only 1/8 oz.
• For all R/C gliders and motorgliders
Visualize Thermals with the Thermal Scout TM
Thermal ScoutTM
Lift Finder for R/C Gliders
Winged Shadow Systems • PO Box 432 • Streamwood, IL 60107
• 630-837-6553 • Made in the USA •
August 2010 25
!""#$%!&!$'()$*&!+$,-$.*/$0!$1!-$)2$3(&$1-!!&4/5$(&$.*1-(&4/5+$,-$
.(6!1$74-%$*$.%(4.!$(3$-7($1-!!&4/5$12&4/58*&61$9-%!$0!/-:)2$!/;$
1462"'$5")!1$4/-($-%!$&);;!&<+$=($"4/>*5!1$#$/($.(/-&("$%(&/1#$/($
;&*5$3&(6$!?-&*$%*&;7*&!+$@/;$-%!$1.&!71$*&!$4/.");!;+
A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-1$*&!$*C*4"*0"!$4/$3()&$7!45%-$&*/5!1#$.(C!&4/5$
6(;!"1$3&(6$D$"01$-($EF"01+$
!"#$%&'("
)%(*!""(#+,)-." /
!"#$$%&'()*+,#-."!-+/
!"#$%&'(#)*+"!#,'-#.#/*0'12%&"#.#34#.#56557#.#8,9#####
:(;#76<=>?5=?@<<#.#A*B;#76<=?5>=>77?#
!""#$%&"'($)&*+""&'%#$,-"!'!+$!'$%./#%.'
.+/,-.'!/'!+"'$)#0#$1"'2'!/'!+"'."#3/4
GHFI$G%(7/
A*4"7%!!"$=(-$,/.");!;
G462"4.4-'+
G)""4C*/$A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-+
The Unlimited aircraft not only have an
even stronger sound, but they fly close to 500
mph and right on the deck. It’s great!
The Jets are even faster than that, but their
sound is clean compared with the other big
airplanes—not that it’s a bad thing. They sound
cool; it just doesn’t make your body vibrate the
way the AT-6s and Unlimiteds do. And the Jets
generally fly a bit higher than the rest of the
racers.
With all of the qualifying and other heats
run, it comes down to Sunday’s final
competition. Last year, Tom Aberle smoked the
Biplane class in his Phantom by almost 20 mph
and 24 seconds. Sport was closer, but not by
much.
Nemesis and Invictus in Super Sport and
Formula One respectively finished at nearly the
same time. The real contests were mostly for
2nd and 3rd. The AT-6 Gold race wasn’t all that
exciting either, with only five airplanes and 5
seconds of separation between 1st and 2nd
places, but they looked and sounded fantastic
finishing.
The best competition might have been the
Jet Gold race, which had eight airplanes. Mike
Mangold in his Euro Burner tried his best to
outfly Curt Brown’s Viper, but he couldn’t do
it. Curt won with a blazing 513.521 mph.
The Unlimited Breitling Gold race consisted
of nine airplanes. Their teams lined up in front
of the grandstands and received thunderous
cheers as they were announced one at a time.
The venue took on the air of a huge sporting
event.
One by one, the airplanes started their
engines and taxied out to the end of the runway.
Steven Hinton’s Strega, with its 12-cylinder,
3,600-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650,
was the clear favorite after winning every heat
race with ease. However, Voodoo and Rare
Bear fans were confident and cheered as loudly
and as hard as they could.
The race started close, with Will Whiteside
piloting Voodoo giving Strega a run for its
money. John Penney in Rare Bear was right on
his six.
But smoke in the Voodoo cockpit caused it
to pull out of the race, giving Rare Bear the
chance to catch Strega. Young “Stevo” Hinton
was having nothing of it and kept his record
spotless, as he led the field all the way to the
checkered flag.
At the age of 22, Steven Hinton became the
youngest Unlimited champion in Reno Air
Racing history. In a letter received from a Rare
Bear sponsor, John Penney, a Rare Bear race
team member, gave congratulations to the
young victor.
John also assured Rare Bear fans that the
airplane would be back faster next year. He said
that it actually ran with an all-but-stock engine
and will have a Cornell conversion blower in
this newly broken-in engine for this year’s race.
So don’t get too comfortable, Stevo; the
Bear is coming for your title in 2010! I can’t
wait to see it. Care to join me? MA
Michael Brown
[email protected]
Sources:
Reno Air Racing Association
(775) 972-6663
www.airrace.org

RACING GETS my blood pumping. It doesn’t matter what’s being raced; any
close competition will do it. I remember racing scat cats for the first time and
how exciting it was.
If you’re like me and want to get your blood pumping, fast is what you
need. I suggest full-scale air racing—Reno, Nevada, style. It’s the fastest
motorsport in the world, and the sound that goes with it can’t be beat; it fills
you up better than a Reno buffet.
I was honored to be able to attend the 2009 Reno Air Races as a
photojournalist. I not only got to capture the event, but also the
pilots, their crews, and spectators. I was even allowed to take
pictures from several of the pylons. Valerie Miller, director of
marketing and public relations, does a tremendous job of getting
access for photographers.
That was the 46th National Championship Air Races, held
September 16-20. It also marked the 100th year of recorded air
racing history. In 1909, Leon Delagrange was crowned the first air
race champion—at a respectable speed for the times of 21 mph.
Reno Racing by Michael Brown
Left: What do you think this young guy wants to be when he
grows up? Judging by the hat, it looks like he’s already vying for
Team Voodoo.
Opposite page, top: Scott Nelson flew his Sbach 342,
Thunderbolt, in Sport class. He earned an 8th-place standing
and had a top speed of almost 219 mph.
Opposite page, bottom left: Many people know Rare Bear, but
now it sports a new color scheme. Pilot John Penney couldn’t
get the Bear to do what it needed to overtake Strega in the
Gold race and took second. Maybe this year …
18 MODEL AVIATION
Opposite page, bottom right: Jon Sharp in his Nemesis NXT
dominated the Super Sport Gold race with a top speed run of 407.061
mph. Many AMA pilots fly Q-40 aircraft modeled after this Reno class.
20 MODEL AVIATION
Patty Wagstaff, a three-time World Aerobatic Champion, was a featured air show performer at the 2009 Reno Air Races. She’s the first
woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic Champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Right: Seven of the eight jets in
Sunday’s Gold race fly through the gate
for a race start. The L-29 Delfin and L-
39 Albatros are preferred, with a
beautiful de Havilland Vampire
rounding out the lineup.
Since that contest (in which only
four aircraft flew and none finished the
course), air racing has earned the title
of “the fastest and hottest form of
motor sports in the world,” with speeds
in excess of 500 mph. Seven classes
race at Reno during the five days, with
Sunday’s Gold races determining the
all-out winners.
Each fall, hundreds of thousands of
spectators converge on Stead Airport
in Reno to witness the seven classes of
aircraft race. In 2009, the stands were
packed, as always, for the Gold races.
Along with the contest, there were
several aerobatic performances with
Patty Wagstaff as the headliner. The
August 2010 21
Above: Phil Fogg flies this L-39, Fast
Company Race 8, owned by Warbirds LLC.
Reno Jets reach almost 500 mph without
much sweat.
Right: The AT-6 class might be a bit
slower than the rest, but these aircraft fly
close and down low. Spectator
appreciation is high.
Red Eagles put on a heck of a show with
their red biplanes, and David Martin had
some nice moves. The military had several
exhibitions, ranging from the huge C-130
and its parachute jumpers performing for the
opening ceremonies to a C-17 tactical demo.
The Blue Angels Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron was back at the
races to top off the military’s show, and they
did not disappoint. At the start of the Blue
Angels’ show on Sunday, the crowd
Classes of Reno Aircraft
Biplane:With a 3.81-mile course, you commonly
see Pitts Specials, Mongs, and Smith Miniplanes,
but the highly modified Mong Sport called
“Phantom” is the one to beat. With a qualifying
speed of 249.884 mph, it is in a class of its own.
Formula One: Usually built by the pilots who race
them, these aircraft are fast! Their few restrictions
include exactly 66 square feet of wing area, a weight
of at least 500 pounds empty, fixed landing gear, a
fixed-pitch propeller, and a Continental O-200
engine.
The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost
250 mph on the 3.12-mile racecourse. Cassutts are
popular in this category, along with the GR-7 and
the super-fast Arnold AR-6 named “Endeavor.” The
Gold in 2009 went to Thom Richard in his Cassutt
Invictus, with a speed of 241.046 mph.
Sport: Stepping up speeds to exceed 350 mph on
the 6.37-mile course, racing in these manufactured
airplanes is fierce.
The Glasair was the top qualifier in 2009 with a
speed of 357.863 mph, and the 2nd-place-qualifying
Lancair was a close second at 350.520 mph. But
David Sterling in his Lancair Legacy, named “Race
8,” went on to win with a top speed of 352.662 mph.
AT-6:With the emphasis on strategy and skill
rather than horsepower, this category offers some of
the closest racing. Last year five airplanes qualified
within 10 mph of each other, and the six in the Gold
race were within 11 mph. The top qualifier, at
239.350 mph—Six Cat—was also the top finisher,
with a peak speed of 237.557 mph.
Jet: This division was started in 2002, by invitation
only, and has become popular, with current speeds
in excess of 500 mph. The L-29 Delfin and L-39
Albatros are preferred jets, with a beautiful de
Havilland Vampire rounding out the
2009 lineup.
Curt Brown, with his Viper,
was 2 seconds faster than Mike
Mangold, with his L-29 Euro
Burner, with a speed of 513.521
mph. Curt qualified at a blazing
538.052 mph.
Unlimited: This division is open
to any piston-driven aircraft with
an empty weight of more than
4,500 pounds. Aside from a few
“scratch-built” racers, the Unlimited
category has generally been
populated by stock or modified
World War II fighters. The mostoften-
flown types include the P-51
Mustang, F-8F Bearcat, and Hawker
Sea Fury. Speeds in this class reach
500 mph.
Steven “Stevo” Hinton won the
Brietling Gold race, as reported in the
main article text, with a speed of
491.822 mph. The announcer read each
lap time during the race, and Steven
actually slowed the P-51D—most likely
to protect its engine, since it was well in
front of competitors. MA
—Michael Brown
22 MODEL AVIATION
The Phantom, a modified Mong Sport,
won the Gold in 2008 and 2009 in the
Biplane class. Tom Aberle pilots Race 62.
Kyosho Models makes a 40-size ARF
version that’s a joy to fly.
Don and Sylvia Hatten, as are many spectators, are huge Rare Bear fans. Don
is also a fan of RC! He flew from Alaska to watch the races at Reno.
August 2010 23
Right: Sly Dog piloted by R. G. “Smokey” Young and Yellow Peril
piloted by Doug Bodine mix it up in Formula One. This class is
replicated in aeromodeling with USRA rules.
Below: Steven Hinton in Strega claims victory after winning the
Breitling Unlimited Gold. The P-51D Mustang flew the 67-mile
course (eight laps) in less than nine minutes, and its top speed was
just less than 492 mph.
Photo by the author
witnessed the last JATO (Jet-fuel Assisted Take Off) to ever be done by
Fat Albert: the show team’s huge transport aircraft.
The theme for 2009 was “Wings of Honor”: “a dedication to the
courageous men and women who dared challenge the laws of nature and
revel in the unparalleled feeling of flight.”
The biplanes are the first to race, in the mornings, followed by either
Formula One or Sport. You can hear the airplanes coming from the pylons,
and then see them appear over the top of the sagebrush, flying fast and
low. It’s exciting!
L-R: Craig Greening, Peter Goldsmith, and
Travis Flynn regularly compete in USRA
events. The experience
and sound are heart
pounding, as are the
full-scale Reno races.
24 MODEL AVIATION
In most of the races, early in the week at
least, it seemed that there was clearly a faster
airplane, so the real battle was for the 2nd or
3rd and 3rd or 4th spots. The pilots pushed their
aircraft, trying to qualify for the Gold race.
As the week progresses, the faster
airplanes enter the Gold Medal group and the
next slower fliers make their way into the
Silver Medal cluster, followed by the Bronze
Medal lineup. All others are done for the year.
I spent a bit of time with Jeff Lo and his
biplane race team—for Miss Diane. It was
interesting to watch and listen to the things
they were doing to make the aircraft go
faster. In one heat the airplane went 180.686
mph, but it needed more speed.
So after waxing the aircraft, the crew
covered every seam and rivet line with 2-inch
clear tape and put an extremely thin piece of
approximately 2-inch stainless steel across the
aileron hinge gap, to reduce drag, Jeff won the
Silver race with a speed of 185.558.
The first three classes are cool, but the AT-
6, Unlimited, and Jet classes are a new
experience altogether. The AT-6s fly just
faster than 220 mph in most cases, but they
are big aircraft and their radial engines make a
body-thumping sound. You can see every
detail on an AT-6 as it thunders by.
The Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) is the official sanctioning and
rules body for the sport of Giant Scale Air Racing. Founded in 1994, its purpose is
to provide its membership’s special interests with a clear, definitive set of rules and
procedures. Its mission is also to effectively separate those racing rules and
procedures from the promotional aspects of the racing-event organizers, thereby
allowing uniform application of rules and procedures at all events.
Tom Easterday and Cliff Adams created Giant Scale Air Racing in 1991,
patterning it after the Reno National Air Races, as a way to bring the excitement,
sound, color, and history of air racing up close to the public and RC enthusiasts.
Since its inception, Giant Scale Air Racing has steadily evolved into a sport in
which speed and technology advancements know no bounds.
RC racing now encompasses seven classes: Unlimited, AT-6 Texan, Formula
One, Biplane, Experimental, Thompson Trophy, and the entry-level Sundowner.
Thompson Trophy is the latest addition to the racing divisions, and it adds the rich
history, traditions, and glamour of the Cleveland National Air Races to Giant Scale
Air Racing.
It is the intent of the USRA and each racing-event organizer to continue to
advance and expand the activity, thereby increasing awareness of our deeply rooted
aviation heritage and the sport of air racing worldwide. MA
—MA Staff
Sources:
Unlimited Scale Racing Association
www.usrainfo.org
What is Giant Scale
Air Racing?
www.WingedShadow.com
$49 00
New! From the makers of the
How HighTM and the How Fast TM The Simple Way to Better Soaring!
• Wags the rudder & rocks the wings to indicate lift
• Installs between your receiver and rudder servo
• Controlled from any extra transmitter channel
• Finds location, size, & movement of thermals
• Smaller than a postage stamp; only 1/8 oz.
• For all R/C gliders and motorgliders
Visualize Thermals with the Thermal Scout TM
Thermal ScoutTM
Lift Finder for R/C Gliders
Winged Shadow Systems • PO Box 432 • Streamwood, IL 60107
• 630-837-6553 • Made in the USA •
August 2010 25
!""#$%!&!$'()$*&!+$,-$.*/$0!$1!-$)2$3(&$1-!!&4/5$(&$.*1-(&4/5+$,-$
.(6!1$74-%$*$.%(4.!$(3$-7($1-!!&4/5$12&4/58*&61$9-%!$0!/-:)2$!/;$
1462"'$5")!1$4/-($-%!$&);;!&<+$=($"4/>*5!1$#$/($.(/-&("$%(&/1#$/($
;&*5$3&(6$!?-&*$%*&;7*&!+$@/;$-%!$1.&!71$*&!$4/.");!;+
A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-1$*&!$*C*4"*0"!$4/$3()&$7!45%-$&*/5!1#$.(C!&4/5$
6(;!"1$3&(6$D$"01$-($EF"01+$
!"#$%&'("
)%(*!""(#+,)-." /
!"#$$%&'()*+,#-."!-+/
!"#$%&'(#)*+"!#,'-#.#/*0'12%&"#.#34#.#56557#.#8,9#####
:(;#76<=>?5=?@<<#.#A*B;#76<=?5>=>77?#
!""#$%&"'($)&*+""&'%#$,-"!'!+$!'$%./#%.'
.+/,-.'!/'!+"'$)#0#$1"'2'!/'!+"'."#3/4
GHFI$G%(7/
A*4"7%!!"$=(-$,/.");!;
G462"4.4-'+
G)""4C*/$A*4"7%!!"$B&*.>!-+
The Unlimited aircraft not only have an
even stronger sound, but they fly close to 500
mph and right on the deck. It’s great!
The Jets are even faster than that, but their
sound is clean compared with the other big
airplanes—not that it’s a bad thing. They sound
cool; it just doesn’t make your body vibrate the
way the AT-6s and Unlimiteds do. And the Jets
generally fly a bit higher than the rest of the
racers.
With all of the qualifying and other heats
run, it comes down to Sunday’s final
competition. Last year, Tom Aberle smoked the
Biplane class in his Phantom by almost 20 mph
and 24 seconds. Sport was closer, but not by
much.
Nemesis and Invictus in Super Sport and
Formula One respectively finished at nearly the
same time. The real contests were mostly for
2nd and 3rd. The AT-6 Gold race wasn’t all that
exciting either, with only five airplanes and 5
seconds of separation between 1st and 2nd
places, but they looked and sounded fantastic
finishing.
The best competition might have been the
Jet Gold race, which had eight airplanes. Mike
Mangold in his Euro Burner tried his best to
outfly Curt Brown’s Viper, but he couldn’t do
it. Curt won with a blazing 513.521 mph.
The Unlimited Breitling Gold race consisted
of nine airplanes. Their teams lined up in front
of the grandstands and received thunderous
cheers as they were announced one at a time.
The venue took on the air of a huge sporting
event.
One by one, the airplanes started their
engines and taxied out to the end of the runway.
Steven Hinton’s Strega, with its 12-cylinder,
3,600-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650,
was the clear favorite after winning every heat
race with ease. However, Voodoo and Rare
Bear fans were confident and cheered as loudly
and as hard as they could.
The race started close, with Will Whiteside
piloting Voodoo giving Strega a run for its
money. John Penney in Rare Bear was right on
his six.
But smoke in the Voodoo cockpit caused it
to pull out of the race, giving Rare Bear the
chance to catch Strega. Young “Stevo” Hinton
was having nothing of it and kept his record
spotless, as he led the field all the way to the
checkered flag.
At the age of 22, Steven Hinton became the
youngest Unlimited champion in Reno Air
Racing history. In a letter received from a Rare
Bear sponsor, John Penney, a Rare Bear race
team member, gave congratulations to the
young victor.
John also assured Rare Bear fans that the
airplane would be back faster next year. He said
that it actually ran with an all-but-stock engine
and will have a Cornell conversion blower in
this newly broken-in engine for this year’s race.
So don’t get too comfortable, Stevo; the
Bear is coming for your title in 2010! I can’t
wait to see it. Care to join me? MA
Michael Brown
[email protected]
Sources:
Reno Air Racing Association
(775) 972-6663
www.airrace.org