Renewal forms have gone out in the mail, to renew the seats you held in 2014. If you did not receive your form, please contact the RARA office at 775-972-6663. Tickets will go on sale to the public on March 3, 2015. You can purchase them from the Air Race website at www.airrace.org , you print them out and they are scanned at the gate, or call the RARA office at the number above. We look forward to seeing you in September!
Sept. 29, 2014 – The passion of our air race fans is truly unmatched and is reflected in the conversations that have gone on since the end of the 2014 National Championship Air Races. It’s unfortunate that the quality of racing during this year’s event has been overshadowed, for some, by the controversy surrounding the disqualification of Precious Metal in the Breitling Unlimited Gold Race. We have reviewed this issue thoroughly and fully support the decision of our contest committee, who followed the Reno Air Racing Association and FAA rules in every way. We will, however, work with our pilots and race classes to identify ways to further enforce the integrity of our event. This could include measures like adding more judges at critical points on the race course and/or looking at something like a transponder plot as a potential solution to minimizing controversy.
We at RARA are charged with strictly enforcing the race course boundaries that have been established by the FAA in order to ensure the safety of our spectators and surrounding residents. Any violation of any of those boundaries is an immediate disqualification, without grounds for appeal. This is different than a pylon cut, which is appealable. Each show line boundary is monitored by experienced members of our contest Committee positioned at carefully determined, strategic points along the line allowing them to monitor any violations. The pylons are set and monitored as the minimum standard for a competitive and fair race and they are monitored by experienced pylon judges positioned at the base of the pylon. As the pylons are primarily established for competitive balance, pylon violations can be protested. Again, since the show line is designed solely for safety, any violation of it cannot be protested.
We have seen Precious Metal’s cockpit video and it does give the appearance of a clean race. However, you cannot see the east show line in the video because it is somewhere under the center of the aircraft. The east show line is a specific line defined on the ground by a fence on the east boundary of the race course, which is also the east end of the Stead Airport boundary. RARA rules, which are in compliance with FAA guidance for air racing, state that any show line violation will result in a disqualification, which is not protestable (different than a pylon cut, which does not cause immediate danger to spectators). Undoubtedly, Precious Metal flew a good line and a good race on Sunday but, as it shows in the cockpit video, the beginning of lap two was wider than the rest of its passes. This is where the non-protestable violation was observed and the disqualification penalty was assessed.
We understand that controversy is an inherent part of sports and the STIHL National Championship Air Races is no different. The best pilots in the world travel here every year to celebrate their love for aviation and compete against each other to determine the national championship. We will continue to work with our pilots and race classes to do everything in our power to ensure fair, safe, competitive racing.
Reno, Nev. – Sunday, Sept. 14 concluded what was one of the most competitive National Championship Air Races in recent histories. Throughout the week, nearly 120 pilots, across six classes of airplanes, thrilled fans with racing that was intense and extremely close. Unfortunately, the results of Sunday’s thrilling Breitling Unlimited Gold Race have been called into question by some fans and pilots. Five-time reigning champion, Steve Hinton, won his sixth National Championship flying the P-51 Mustang “Voodoo.” Sherman Smoot and his Yak-11, “Czech Mate,” finished in second place. Unofficial race results had Thom Richard finishing in third place in the P-51 racer, “Precious Metal.” On Richard’s second lap, the Contest Committee Judge responsible for judging the East Showline ruled that Richard had crossed the showline. This is a violation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations and, according to official race rules, results in disqualification. This led to Dennis Sanders and “Dreadnought” finishing in third place.
According to the official race rules the ruling on a showline cut is not open to appeal. The Contest Committee Judges are positioned on the showline and have a clear view of the aircraft position and flight path relative to the showline. Due to the lack of calibration and standardization in the placement of cockpit cameras, cockpit video is not normally reviewed by the Contest Committee. In this case, the Contest Committee did review the aerial cockpit video from Precious Metal and determined that it clearly shows the flight path on lap 2 to be east of all the other laps flown. RARA works very closely with all six race classes, as well as the FAA, to ensure a safe and competitive event. And, as a National Championship event and the only one of its kind in the world, RARA is committed to working with all of its race officials and the class organizations to maintain the integrity of each race result. RARA has integrated new and advanced technologies into the timing and recording of the event and is committed to work with the FAA and the appropriate race classes to evolve race rules to maintain the highest degree of objectivity and accuracy in each and every race. We very much appreciate the support and engagement from all of our loyal and dedicated race fans. It is with their help that “the world’s fastest motorsport” will continue far into the future. # # #
Reno, Nev. – At approximately 3:30 p.m. today, Sport Class pilot Lee Behel, 64, from San Jose, Calif. was involved in a fatal accident during a qualifying heat of the STIHL National Championship Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airport. Behel was flying a GP-5, “Sweet Dreams.” This was single-plane incident and no other pilots or spectators were injured.
In addition to being one of the founders of the Sport Class and its current president, Behel was a retired Air Force fighter pilot and a loving father. Behel was a former Sport Class champion and longtime Air Race pilot.
“Lee was a very talented pilot but, more importantly, an enthusiastic and compassionate friend and the entire Air Race family will miss him deeply,” said Mike Major, chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association. “This is a difficult day for all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with Lee’s family and friends.”
At this time, the Reno Air Racing Association will not speculate on the cause of the accident, which is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB). As is standard procedure, we will evaluate all race planes prior to returning to the race course.
Qualifying for the 51st annual National Championship Air Races will resume, as scheduled, at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9 and the event officially opens to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 10. A tribute for Behel is currently being planned and will take place later this week. More details will be provided as they become available. Please visit www.airrace.org for more information.
Reno, Nev. – With the kickoff of the STIHL National Championship Air Races less than two weeks away, the historic aviation event released its complete list of pilots and planes scheduled to compete for Air Racing gold. The lineup features nearly 120 pilots and planes and is headlined by a highly anticipated rivalry that pits two of the winningest Unlimited pilots in Air Race history head-to-head in the event’s most recognizable racing class. Coming out of retirement in an effort to regain Air Racing gold is famed racer and seven-time Unlimited Gold Champion Bill “Tiger” Destefani, racing his wildly popular P-51 Mustang “Strega.” This marks the first time that Destefani will race against five-time reigning champion, 26-year-old Steve Hinton, who won his first four national championships flying “Strega” as a part of Tiger’s racing team. Hinton now flies an equally popular and well-recognized P-51 Mustang, “Voodoo.” The event takes place Sept. 10 -14 at the Reno-Stead Airfield and tickets are on sale now.
“We couldn’t be more excited by the incredible lineup of racers and planes, in addition to the world class group of performers, we have scheduled for this year’s event,” said Mike Major, chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association. “To have Tiger and Steve headlining our Unlimited Division is the equivalent of some of the top rivalries in sports and we expect to see some pretty intense and awesome racing.”
In addition to Hinton and Destefani, the lineup also includes the return of perennial fan favorites “Rare Bear,” “Czech Mate,” “Dreadnought” and more. Former space shuttle commander Robert “Hoot” Gibson and the Hawker Sea Fury “232” and Thom Richard flying the Breitling-sponsored “Precious Metal” will also be competing in the Unlimited Class trying to play spoiler to the favorites Hinton and Destefani. All told, there are 15 planes scheduled to compete in this year’s Unlimited Class. Another notable highlight is a record-setting 39 planes in the Sport Class. For a complete list of registered pilots, visit www.airrace.org.
“Overall, this is arguably one of the most competitive fields in the history of the STIHL National Championship Air Races and it features some extremely intriguing storylines that we’ve never really had before,” said Major. “Truly, with such a stacked racing field, our fans are in for an unforgettable experience.”
In addition to six classes of some of the most experienced and talented racers flying in the “World’s Fastest Motorsport,” this year, attendees can expect thrilling entertainment including the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, the L-39 Patriot Jet Team, aerobatic prodigy Melissa Pemberton, Breitling stunt pilot and world aerobatic champion David Martin, the Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Challenge and the introduction of a brand new entertainment area called “The Drone Zone,” Mark Peterson and his Alpha Jet, the famed John Klatt Airshows team featuring the Jack Link’s Jet Waco “Screamin’ Sasquatch,” and a bevy of individual air performances from some of today’s most talented aerial stunt pilots.
The 51st annual National Championship Air Races is the world’s premier air racing event. The races kick off Wednesday, Sept. 10, and will continue through Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Reno-Stead Airport. Tickets for the show 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.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Lt. Col. Kevin Sutterfield, an Air Force Reserve F-22 pilot, will be delivering an F-22 to the 51st Annual Reno National Championship Air Races and then making his debut in a 1942 AT-6 Texan during the competition Sept. 10-14.
“It’s a real privilege to fly these amazing aircraft and to be part of this legendary aviation event,” said Sutterfield. “For a kid that grew up looking through the airport fence, this is a dream come true.”
Sutterfield learned to fly before he had a driver’s license- soloing on his 16th birthday near his home in Tampa, Fla. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1997, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt and attended pilot training. While at pilot training, Sutterfield swept the awards, winning the Distinguished Graduate (1# Order of Merit), Outstanding Flying Award, and the AETC Commander’s trophy. Sutterfield was then hand-picked to fly the Air Forces’ top air-superiority fighter, the F-15C, for 10 years throughout the Middle East and Asia. In 2004, Sutterfield attended the prestigious Fighter Weapons School and in 2007, he was selected to fly the F-22 Raptor.
Earlier this month it was announced that Sutterfield would take command of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, one of the USAF’s ten front-line combat F-22 squadrons. The most experienced of all the F-22 squadrons, the 302nd Fighter Squadron has a proud heritage as one of the original Tuskegee Airmen squadrons from World War II.
As the commander, Sutterfield will be responsible for preparing and leading Airmen into combat operations world-wide in partnership with the 90th and 525th fighter squadrons, also stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Media interested in interviewing Sutterfield will have the opportunity when he lands at Reno Stead Field Sept. 9 at approximately 3:30 p.m. For more information or to set up an interview contact Maj. Ashley Conner, 477th Fighter Group Chief, Public Affairs, at [email protected] or by cell phone 808-277-3713.