by admin | Nov 11, 2015 | Air Race News
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has released preliminary results for the 2015 National Championship Air Races and is projecting a profit of over $100,000. Results will be finalized at year-end. The original budget for 2015 called for a $630,000 loss, so the projected profit is very good news for the event.
Over 150,000 attended this year’s event with pilots racing in six classes, an airshow featuring Tora Tora Tora!, a reenactment of the events of Pearl Harbor, and many other displays including static aircraft and the expanded Drone Zone.
Mike Crowell was named president and CEO by the RARA board of directors in February of 2015, bringing to the organization his extensive sales, marketing and operations background with Coca-Cola where he managed bottling facilities in the United States, Middle East and Asia. Crowell credits the work of the board, staff and many volunteers for helping bring the RARA operational costs into control this year in the interest of sustaining this event that provides over $70 million in economic impact to the community.
“The STIHL National Championship Air Races is not only the fastest motor sport in the world and an event that is followed by aviation enthusiasts from around the world, but it’s a treasure for our community,” said Crowell. “Our goal for this year was to look at this event like a business and operate in such a way that would ensure it is around for many years to come. We had to make some tough decisions to get our costs in line, but with the support of our board, staff, event chairs and dedicated volunteers, we were able to turn a budgeted $630,000 loss for the year into a $100,000 projected profit, which is exactly what we needed to do.”
The 2015 event was a success in many other ways as well: there was tremendous support from sponsors, the weather was great, it was a safe event with no incidents and the many facets of the event drew people of all ages, young and old, and from literally every corner of the world.
Veteran Robert “Hoot” Gibson capped off the successful event by winning the coveted Unlimited Gold Race in Strega, unseating six-time winner, Steve Hinton, in Voodoo.
“To say we’re very pleased with the preliminary results of the 2015 National Championship Air Races is an understatement,” said John Agather, chairman of the RARA board of directors. “We’re already planning for a great event next year and are excited to have the Blue Angels returning in 2016.”
The 53rd National Championship Air Races will be held September 14-18, 2016. Tickets will go on sale after the first of the year.
# # #
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races:
Held every September just north of Reno, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. The 2015 event attracted more than 150,000 spectators and is expected to have generated more than $70 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets, visit www.airrace.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Valerie Glenn
The Glenn Group
775-686-7777
[email protected]
by admin | Nov 11, 2015 | Air Race News
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has released preliminary results for the 2015 National Championship Air Races and is projecting a profit of over $100,000. Results will be finalized at year-end. The original budget for 2015 called for a $630,000 loss, so the projected profit is very good news for the event.
Over 150,000 attended this year’s event with pilots racing in six classes, an airshow featuring Tora Tora Tora!, a reenactment of the events of Pearl Harbor, and many other displays including static aircraft and the expanded Drone Zone.
Mike Crowell was named president and CEO by the RARA board of directors in February of 2015, bringing to the organization his extensive sales, marketing and operations background with Coca-Cola where he managed bottling facilities in the United States, Middle East and Asia. Crowell credits the work of the board, staff and many volunteers for helping bring the RARA operational costs into control this year in the interest of sustaining this event that provides over $70 million in economic impact to the community.
“The STIHL National Championship Air Races is not only the fastest motor sport in the world and an event that is followed by aviation enthusiasts from around the world, but it’s a treasure for our community,” said Crowell. “Our goal for this year was to look at this event like a business and operate in such a way that would ensure it is around for many years to come. We had to make some tough decisions to get our costs in line, but with the support of our board, staff, event chairs and dedicated volunteers, we were able to turn a budgeted $630,000 loss for the year into a $100,000 projected profit, which is exactly what we needed to do.”
The 2015 event was a success in many other ways as well: there was tremendous support from sponsors, the weather was great, it was a safe event with no incidents and the many facets of the event drew people of all ages, young and old, and from literally every corner of the world.
Veteran Robert “Hoot” Gibson capped off the successful event by winning the coveted Unlimited Gold Race in Strega, unseating six-time winner, Steve Hinton, in Voodoo.
“To say we’re very pleased with the preliminary results of the 2015 National Championship Air Races is an understatement,” said John Agather, chairman of the RARA board of directors. “We’re already planning for a great event next year and are excited to have the Blue Angels returning in 2016.”
The 53rd National Championship Air Races will be held September 14-18, 2016. Tickets will go on sale after the first of the year.
# # #
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races:
Held every September just north of Reno, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. The 2015 event attracted more than 150,000 spectators and is expected to have generated more than $70 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets, visit www.airrace.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Valerie Glenn
The Glenn Group
775-686-7777
[email protected]
by admin | Sep 21, 2015 | Air Race News
Gibson unseats six-time gold winner Steve Hinton in “Voodoo” who did not finish the race
Reno, Nev. – The 52nd Annual National Championship Air Races came to a close today with Robert “Hoot” Gibson as the winner of the Unlimited Gold Race with a speed of 488.983mph in “Strega.”
Stewart Dawson flying “Rare Bear” was second (471.957) and Dennis Sanders in “Dreadnought” was third (420.361).
Steve Hinton, flying “Voodoo,” and who had won the Unlimited Gold Race the last six years in a row, did not finish the race.
Gibson, 68, is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and a retired NASA astronaut, as well as a professional pilot who currently races regularly at the annual Reno Air Races.
Other race results:
UNLIMITED CLASS
Speed: 488.983
Plane: Strega
Pilot: Robert “Hoot” Gibson
JET CLASS
Speed: 502.370
Plane: Vampire
Pilot: Pete Zaccagnino
T-6 CLASS
Speed: 238.073
Plane: Midnight Miss III
Pilot: Dennis Buehn
SPORT CLASS
Speed: 377.403
Plane: Blue Thunder II
Pilot: John Parker
BI-PLANE CLASS
Speed: 245.109
Plane: Phantom
Pilot: Tom Aberle
FORMULA ONE
Speed: 239.432
Plane: Endeavor
Pilot: Steve Senegal
RECORDS BROKEN
Tom Aberle broke the speed record in his plane, Phantom, in the Biplane class in a qualifying race on Monday, September 14, with a speed of 284.454 mph. The previous record, set in 2014, was 274.091.
# # #
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races:
Held every September just north of Reno, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Last year’s event attracted more than 150,000 spectators and generated more than $66 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.airrace.org.
Media Contact:
Kelly Glenn
The Glenn Group
775-815-7779 (cell)
[email protected]
by admin | Sep 14, 2015 | Air Race News
Reno, Nev. – The 52nd Annual National Championship Air Races is the world’s premier air racing event, and a new record was set today, Monday, September 14.
RECORD BROKEN:
Pilot, Tom Aberle, set a new speed record in the Biplane class in Phantom, a Modified Mong Sport, with a speed of 284.454.
Tickets for the show are still available by phone at 775-972-6663 or online at www.airrace.org. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
# # #
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races:
Held every September just north of Reno, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Last year’s event attracted more than 150,000 spectators and generated more than $66 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.airrace.org.
Media Contact:
Kena Cataneso
The Glenn Group
775-686-7768
[email protected]
by admin | Sep 4, 2015 | Air Race News
With the kickoff of the STIHL National Championship Air Races only two weeks away, there are a few highlights to consider when purchasing tickets and coming out to the Reno-Stead Airfield Sept. 16-20. Check out the event information below and mark the calendar for this year’s air race and show.
Spectators will see six classes of planes including:
- Unlimited Class – Stock or modified WWII fighters with the P-51 Mustangs, F-8F Bearcats and Hawker Sea Fury being flown most often. The Unlimited Class flies in speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.
- Jet Class – Aero Vodochody L-39 “Albatros”jets, non-after-burning jet with less than 15 degrees of wing sweep. The Jet Class planes fly at racing speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour.
- Sport Class – Super Sport and Sport classes consist of kit-built aircrafts powered by a reciprocating engine with displacements of 650 cubic inches or fewer.
- T-6 Class – One of three different types World War II trainers: AT-6, Harvard’s, or SNJ’s. The racers who compete in this class on a 4.990-mile race course create some of the tightest competition seen at the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
- Formula One – A minimum dry empty weight of 500 pounds, non-retractable landing gear, a minimum wing area of 66 square feet, a fixed-pitch propeller constructed of either wood or composite materials and a 100 HP 200 cubic-inch Continental engine. The Formula 1 class has several races across the country throughout the year, with Reno serving as the site for their National Championship and their biggest purse. At Reno, the race course distance covers 3.1068 miles.
- Bi-Plane Class – Biplanes must have a minimum dry weight of 500 pounds, at least 30 percent of the required 75-square-foot wing area must be contained in the smaller of the two wings, non-retractable landing gear, a fixed pitch propeller, and the largest engine permitted is the 360-cubic-inch, 180 HP Lycoming engine.
Notable pilots this year include Robert “Hoot” Gibson in Strega and Steve Hinton in Voodoo, in a culmination of a years-long rivalry with wins from both planes for first and second place.
Notable military performers this year include the F-16 Viper Demo/Heritage Flight and USAFA Wings of Blue Jump Team. Notable civilian performers this year include the Breitling Jet Team, Tora Tora Tora, David Martin, Red Eagles, Falcon Demo, and B-25 Fly-by.
“This is arguably one of the most competitive fields in the history of the STIHL National Championship Air Races,” said Mike Crowell, CEO of the Air Racing Association (RARA). “Truly, with such a stacked racing field, our fans are in for an unforgettable experience.”
This year also includes an expanded Drone Zone and The Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Challenge, the famed “Big D and Bubbah”, and a bevy of individual air performances from some of today’s most talented aerial stunt pilots, including Breitling Jet Team and Tora Tora Tora.
“The Drone Zone was wildly successful with people of all ages at last year’s event. We’re thrilled to offer even more unmanned aerial vehicle opportunities this year, and it’s been a great way to get visitors excited about the event and advancements in UAV technology,” said John Agather, Chairman of the Board for RARA.
The 52nd annual National Championship Air Races is the world’s premier air racing event. Qualifying events for the race take place Sunday, Sept. 13 through Wednesday morning, Sept. 16. The races kick off Wednesday afternoon Sept. 16, and continue through Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Reno-Stead Airfield. The tentative schedule is available on www.airrace.org for a complete list of events.
Tickets are available by phone at 775-972-6663 or online at www.airrace.org. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
# # #
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races:
Held every September just north of Reno, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Last year’s event attracted more than 150,000 spectators and generated more than $66 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.airrace.org.
Media Contact:
Kena Cataneso
The Glenn Group
775-686-7768
[email protected]
by admin | Jun 3, 2015 | Air Race News
Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) recently received the 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This award is based on a 5-point rating from guests on TripAdvisor. Thanks to all Reno Air Race fans and guests on TripAdvisor for this honor.
