Midair at Reno Air races
- Thread starter Fixtur
- Start date
Box hauler
Well-Known Member
As cool as pylon racing is the record sure isn’t great.
trafficinsight
Well-Known Member
Stream cut off and I feared the worst. Friend who was there said after the T-6 gold race 2 T-6's clipped during the cooldown lap. Both crashed.
Looks like it was Six Cat and Baron's Revenge.
Doesn't look good for either.
Looks like it was Six Cat and Baron's Revenge.
Doesn't look good for either.
Conrad
Well-Known Member
Just posted on RARA Facebook:
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.
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.
BravoHotel
Well-Known Member
One of the T6 debris fell on the property where I have viewed the races for the past 10 years. No one on the property was hurt but damn close.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
Sad. Looks like 2 dead.
This BS needs to stop. Enough is enough.
This BS needs to stop. Enough is enough.
knot4u
Repeat Offender
How did this hurt you? Why should your opinion matter? You're pathetic, your interest in aviation goes no further than your wallet. Tell me about air racing and its inherent difficulties, dangers and rewards.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
4 fatal crashes since 2011. The fact this was the last year for these air races, with one of those reasons stated being safety. Now they're looking for a new home and skipping 2024.
WacoFan
Bigly
I would argue not so much "safety" as "cost" and "insurance". The entire reason they aren't at Cleveland anymore is because of Bill Odoms wreck in Bequine - a modified P-51 (weird, left-wing shorter than the other I believe) - anyway - he crashed into a neighborhood and killed a mom and her kid I think). Anyway...Cleveland was a YUGE spectacle/event. Then they were dormant a while. Then Mojave. Then Reno. I think they had some in Florida at some point - not sure. Anyway, they come and go. People have consistently been killed air racing since the 20's when big races started. They have gotten better/safer, but still people die. And will continue to die as long as they race. But they'll always race. It's just a thing.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
Dang. I’d never heard of that crash before, and I grew up 90 minutes from CLE. Thanks for giving me reading material, I have to catch up on this one.
Murdoughnut
Well sized member
The insurance industry is usually a pretty good barometer for the sensibility of risk when we're too close to something to rationally evaluate it. Racing airplanes at the same time (versus time trials) always struck me as a bad idea. I'm in the camp of believing people should be able to kill themselves however they see fit, but no way should this be something the public is anywhere near.
WacoFan
Bigly
There is a book called September Champions that details the Cleveland Air Races. Back in the late 20's/30's they'd outdraw the Indy 500 every single day for a week or so. Just a YUGE event, and air racing was a YUGE deal.
FlyingAccountant
Well-Known Member
I hear Wake Island is nice this time of the year.
WacoFan
Bigly
I was wrong - they weren't asymmetrical wing lengths, they had relocated the radiators to the wingtips and smoothed the belly. Apparently this affected the roll-stability in a negative way. Anyway - killed a wife and baby. Sad deal. It was a pretty airplane - a "C" model Mustang, British racing green with gold trim. Airplane was owned by Jacqueline Cochran and flown by Bill Odom.
knot4u
Repeat Offender
I guarantee someone here will suspect the pods on the wingtips are engines. Can’t fix stupid. I never understood why Beguine had that mod, “Hey Guys, I’ve got a great idea. Let’s double the drag on the plane and paint the notes from my favorite song on the side!”. My perspective is based on mid ‘90s thinking 50 years later, they were pushing the envelope back in the late ‘40s.
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