by admin | Sep 9, 2014 | Air Race News
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.
by admin | Sep 2, 2014 | Air Race News
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.
by admin | Aug 28, 2014 | Air Race News
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 Ashley.Conner.2@us.af.mil or by cell phone 808-277-3713.
by admin | Aug 26, 2014 | Air Race News
August 26, 2014 (Reno, NV)- Reno Mayor Bob Cashell has taken it upon himself to organize the largest ALS Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser the city has seen. On Thursday, August 28 from 11am-3pm, the community is invited to dunk leaders of local event and community organizations and charities in the Ultimate Ice Bucket Challenge Dunk Tank at Pinocchio’s Bar & Grill on 5995 S. Virginia St. with all proceeds benefitting ALS of Nevada.
“The Ice Bucket Challenge has brought an overwhelming amount of exposure to this debilitating disease,” said Steve Duque, Executive Director of the Reno Rodeo Association. “As leaders in the community, we wanted to find a fun way to show our support of the cause and most importantly continue to momentum to raise funds for ALS of Nevada.”
The community and charity leaders participating in the Ultimate Ice Bucket Challenge include:
Andrew Clinger – Manager, City of Reno
Pete Copeland – Executive Director, Great Reno Balloon Race
Teresa Di Loreto – Executive Director, Nevada Military Support Alliance Steve Duque – Executive Director, Reno Rodeo Association
Tony Marini – Executive Director, Hot August Nights
Mike Wurm – Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Jennifer Mannix – Marketing Director, Artown
JP/Barbara Pinocchio – Founders, Mom’s on The Run
Chris Hoff – Executive Director, Barracuda Championship
Mary Beth Sewald – National Championship Air Races
CONTACT
Dan Morgan President/CEO Innerwest Advertising & Public Relations 775-530-6500
Participants will be perched on top of a dunk tank and anyone who wishes to donate will have the opportunity for an attempt. The cost will be $10 per attempt, 3 attempts for $20 and 5 attempts (with a guaranteed dunk) for $100. Mayor Bob Cashell hopes to raise at least $15,000 for ALS of Nevada through the event.
“We are expecting a great turnout,” said Tony Marini, Executive Director of Hot August Nights. “Come on down to Pinocchio’s, have a great lunch, and support a great cause.”
For more information on the event, please contact Dan Morgan at 775-530-6500.
by admin | Aug 20, 2014 | Air Race News
Reno, Nev. – With help from partner Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide, the STIHL National Championship Air Races will be home to the first-ever Small UAS Challenge during this September’s 51st event. The challenge, which is free to enter and takes place Sept. 12 – 14, will test a number of skills and demonstrate a variety of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The Small UAS Challenge is just the latest in a number of new and returning entertainment that is planned for this year’s Reno Air Races, which take place Sept. 10 – 14, joining previously announced acts like Melissa Pemberton, one of the world’s top female aerobatic pilots, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, the L-39 Patriot Jet Team, the return of the ‘Car Drop,’ and more.
“To have a worldwide leader in aeronautics like Embry-Riddle hold such a unique and fun event like the Small UAS Challenge at the Air Races is a thrill for us and is something that our fans won’t be able to see anywhere else in the world,” said Mike Major, chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA). “Unmanned aircraft have received a lot of attention in the news, especially in Nevada, and this is a one-of-a-kind chance for people to get up close and personal with this technology in a fun and challenging environment.”
As one of the world’s foremost institutes for aviation and aeronautical education, Embry-Riddle – Worldwide created the Small UAS Challenge as a way to “promote and recognize the emerging UAS industry.” The competition, which is free and open to private and commercial participants, will feature an obstacle course, time trial and a dead lift, testing speed, agility and strength. Eligible aircraft must be able to perform a vertical takeoff and landing and can be no larger than 36 inches and 10 pounds. The number of participants is limited, and early registration is encouraged. All participants will receive free admission to the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
“We look forward to presenting this challenge during the STIHL National Championship Air Races,” said David Thirtyacre, assistant professor of aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. “As a leader in aviation and aeronautical education, Embry-Riddle Worldwide recognizes the importance of the UAS industry in both the state of Nevada and throughout the country.”
To register for the Small UAS Challenge:
sUAS Competition Registration
sUAS Challenge Rules
sUAS Competition Fact Sheet
by admin | Jul 16, 2014 | Air Race News
On the heels of a record-setting Pylon Racing Seminar, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have released its full entertainment lineup for the 51st event to be held Sept. 10-14 at the Reno Stead Airfield. In addition to an expected full field of elite race pilots in the world’s fastest motorsport, military demonstration teams and several of the world’s top aviation performers will ‘race on’ to awe hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts and curious spectators. This year, in addition to the already announced F-22 Raptor, L-39 Patriot Jet Team and top female aerobat Melissa Pemberton, will be Breitling stunt pilot and world aerobatic champion David Martin, Mark Peterson and his Alpha Jet, the famed John Klatt Airshows team featuring the Jack Link’s Jet Waco “Screamin’ Sasquatch,” the poignant Heritage Flight, a UAV drone demonstration (pending FAA approval) and the Bentley Car demonstration and race. This year’s event will also mark the return of the wildly-popular car drop, where a car is actually dropped from a helicopter flying high above the race course.
