Unlimited Class

Marquee Historical Craft At High Speeds

With the exception of very few “scratch-built” aircraft, the Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters with the P-51 Mustangs, F-8F Bearcats and Hawker Sea Furies being flown most often. The Unlimited Class flies in speeds exceeding 500 mph.

JET CLASS

The Fastest class with speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour

The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 as an invitation-only class, featuring match racing with Czech-built Aerovodochody L-39 “Albatros” jets. Today the class has opened the field by adding other aircraft such as Provost, Iskra, L-29 and DeHavilland Vampires. This class truly stands for the “Fastest Motor Sport” with speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.

Formula 1 Class

Powered by a Continental O-200 engine

Formula 1 aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine (the same 100 hp engine used in a Cessna 150). The fastest Formula 1 aircraft exceed 250 mph on the 3.12-mile race course in Reno. Many Formula 1 aircraft are built by the pilots that race them and are a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of air racing.

Biplane Class

small, aerobatic aircraft

The Biplane Class, represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong and the Smith Miniplane, gives pilots a chance to apply their skills to racing on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph.

Sport Class

high-performance and innovative kit-built aircraft

The Sport Class highlights the new and innovative work being done in the development of high-performance kit-built aircraft. Competition in the Sport Class is fierce, with the rapid introduction of race-driven engine and airframe technology. Sport Class aircraft race on a 6.37-mile course at speeds reaching nearly 350 mph.

T-6 class

Strategy and pilot skill over raw horsepower

The T-6 Class features match racing between stock aircraft, including the original T-6 “Texan,” the Canadian-built “Harvard,” and the US Navy “SNJ” version aircraft. The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the 5.06-mile course at Reno. Because the aircraft are all of the same type, the T-6 Class provides some of the most exciting racing at Reno, with an emphasis on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower.

STOL DRAG Class

A Straight Line Drag Race Down And Back

With its independent spirit, STOL drag racing is purely about who gets to the finish line and stops first. STOL drag racers fly on a designated track, about 2,000 feet in each direction, landing on or after a while chalk line. Precision and perfect timing are crucial, as any aircraft that don’t make a complete stop between runs are disqualified.