September 9, 2008

Planes were buzzing pylons Tuesday at the Reno-Stead Airport as qualifying began for the 45th annual National Championship Air Races. More than 150 pilots will attempt to post the fastest times before racing action begins at noon on Wednesday.

“The Air Races are a time for family and fun, and when people come out to the Reno-Stead Airport, we all become friends and friends become family” said Air Race president and CEO Michael Houghton. “It’s all about the aviation and air racing community coming together with Reno-Sparks community; it’s what makes it such a special event.”

This event kicks off Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Friday’s schedule will include a ceremony honoring Erica Simpson, who crashed during a check flight before qualifying began. Members of the T-6 class of airplanes will honor Simpson with a Missing Man Formation Flyover and members of the Formula One and Biplane classes will fly a Final Lap ceremony at approximately noon during the welcoming ceremonies.

“Our pilots come from across the country and around the world to take to the skies over the Reno Stead Airport,” Houghton said. “They come to Reno because it’s the last place on earth where they can race head-to-head, but they also come because of the great tradition of the Reno Air Races.”

The Air Races features six classes of airplanes, some reaching speeds of more than 500 miles per hour, as pilots vie for their share of a 1 million dollar purse. In addition to the fastest speeds in motorsports, the air races will feature performances by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds on Thursday and Friday and exhibitions by the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team Thursday through Sunday. For a complete schedule of Reno Air Races activities visit www.airrace.org.