It is with great sorrow that the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announces that around 2:15 p.m. this afternoon, at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race, upon landing, two planes collided and it has been confirmed that both pilots are deceased. The RARA Board of Directors and the T-6 class president are working to notify next of kin and ensure families have all of our support. There were no civilian injuries and we’re in the process of confirming additional details around the incident. Additional information will be released as soon as it is available. All racing operations are currently suspended.
Safety is the foremost concern of RARA and we work year-round to host the safest event possible. As we always do, we are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA and all local authorities to identify the cause of the accident and ensure that all of our pilots, spectators and volunteers have the necessary support during this time.
Thank you for tuning into the announcement we’ve all been waiting for – the full racer lineup for the 2023 National Championship Air Races!
Below you’ll find details about who will be taking to the skies for the Final Flag at Reno Stead Airport, September 13-17. Please note that, to our great disappointment, the Biplanes will not be able to race this year.
Among those that are in the mix, you’ll find some fresh faces, as well as some EPIC returns. This show will not only be memorable because it’s the last in Reno, but also because of the tremendous matchups sure to bring fans to their feet throughout the event!
The lineup for Unlimited features another exciting showdown between Dreadnought and Miss America, plus we welcome back several historical racers and 7-time Gold champion Steven Hinton. Will either of these top contenders pull away on the final stretch, or is there a sleeper waiting in the wings to take the trophy home?
Justin Meaders and Lowell Slatter have traded championships for the better part of the last decade, and now sit tied with three F1 trophies each. All eyes will be on Limitless and Fraed Naught to see if either can come out on top, or if a new title holder will take over.
#3: Ross Killin – The Kraken
#6: Carl Robinson – Budde Special
#9: Scott Holmes – Outlaw
#14: Matt Moore – ACME Special II
#15: Jeremy Heidinger – Last Lap Player
#17: Pushkrag “Push” Wagh – Annie
#21: Jen Watson – Black Jack
#26: Paul Newman – Fast and Easy
#31: Josh Watson – Fraed Naught
#34: Justin Meaders – Limitless
#37: Stephen Coleman – Slab Dog
#39: JP O’Dell – Monkey Ninja
#40: Dave Holmgren – Miss USA
#48: Blaire Hamilton – Atomic Pumpkin
#52: Trent Woodworth – Feisty
#72: Dominic Cacolici – The Sky Addict
#73: Steve Temple – Pooder
#74: Shaun Milke – Phat Ass Cass
#76: Tom Siegler – Dog House
#79: Justin Phillipson – No Strings Attached
#81: Drew Keenan – Sleeper
#82: Austin Shaw – Cheap Thrills
#85: Eric Dienst – Deja Vu
#99: Tim Cone – What Airplane Honey?
Alternate pilots not already flying
Jeffrey Lo
After a few years away from the trophy, the air racing world looks forward to seeing if 7-time champion aircraft American Spirit can cross the line first, one more time in Reno.
#1: Bob McCormack – Johanna
#2: Bob McCormack – Athena
#5: Michael Steiger – American Spirit
#8: David Sterling – Race 8
#11: Jerry “Jive” Kerby – Team Race 11
#12: Matt Guthmiller – Alpine Thunder
#16: J. Kevin Roll – Gray Wolf
#17: Al “Cool Breeze” Hoover – Texas Fouga
#19: Charlie (Squid) Camilleri – Delfin Devil
#24: Pete Zaccagnino – Just Lucky
#55: Nathan Harnagel – Spirit of Freedom
#61: Tammy Camilleri – Miss Independance
#84: Scott Gusakov – Tumbling Goose
#90: Mark E Davis – Chechmate
Pace 73: Cyrill Wipfli – Hawker Pace
Pace 555: Rick Vandam
Jet Pace: Jay Obernolte
Alternate pilots not already flying
Joe “Face Punch” Swindel
George Ryan
Mark Johnson
Last year’s winner – Mathias Haid/Clas Thunder One – is back to defend his crown, but Jeff Lavelle and Andy Findlay have dominated the Sport Class for years, and will add fierce competition to the race. With this being the most packed class of racers, there’s no doubt we’ll see other pilots in the mix, set to rise in the standings.
#2: Vince Walker – Modo Mio
#3: Sean VanHatten – Mojo
#4: Tom McNerney – Too Much
#5: Conrad Huffstutler – Breathless
#6: Joe Coraggio – Ramp Rat’s Ride
#7: Kevin Eldredge “Skids”
#8: David Sterling – Race 8
#10: Timothy Slater – Cruse Missile
#15: Vicky Benzing – Lucky Girl
#21: Alan R. Crawford – BLACKJACK
#22: Rick Vandam – GREEN STREAK
#23: Bijan Victor Maleki – Reno Bear
#28: Pete Zaccagnino – Coming in Hot
#30: Andrew Findlay – One Moment
#34: John Flanagan – Screamin Mimi
#39: Jeff Lavelle – Race 39
#44: Peter Balmer – Race 44
#45: Doug Glover – KXP Racing
#49: Bob Mills – Rocket Six
#51: Mathias Haid – Clas Thunder One
#52: Colleen Sterling – Aquila
#55: Nick Biondo – Unleashed
#56: George Catalano – Bad DINGO
#60: Dee Child – Miss’d Tuesday
#69: James Webb – Leading Edge
#76: Jason Rovey – Race 76
#80: Skylor Piper – Miss Ruby S
#88: Bob Wolstenholme – NA
#92: David Robinson – “Top Shelf”
#96: Chris McMillian – Sarah Smile
#101: Lee Ulrich – General Lee
#130: Olivier Langeard – Zebulon
#314: Scott Prewitt
#744: Tommy Ishii – Millennial Falcon
#777: Matt Ramsey – Guardian Angel
#888: Neil Wischer – Triple Eight
Pace 17: Chris Schaich
Pace 69: Malte D Bruegmann – Pace 69
Alternate pilots not already flying
Neil Parkinson
Ralf Aue
Nearly every racer from last year’s thrilling lineup is back – plus a few more – as each participant looks to leave their mark on the newest class in air racing. Among this full field of racers, Steve Henry has the edge, but absolutely no one is going to make it easy on him.
The history of winning to be found in this year’s T-6 Class is an absolute site to behold. Between Baron’s Revenge, Radial Velocity, Midnight Miss III, Six Cat, and Miss TNT – each have won multiple trophies, and 25 combined. This makes for a truly historic final competition. It’s time to see if any of these champions can add one more in Reno.
After an incredible 46 years with the RARA Towing Group, 17-year Ramp Chief veteran Jimmy Cassidy is retiring from the National Championship Air Races.
Cassidy’s exceptional leadership as Ramp Chief included:
The management of ramp pit parking
Race plane towing requirements associated with race staging and returning aircraft to their pit area
Recovery of disabled aircraft
Race plane refueling
Jim has always been a complete team player, committed to ensuring that his team safely accomplished its responsibilities. A year-round contributor to RARA’s complex requirements, he was always available to assist with the planning needs essential to successful execution of the yearly Pylon Racing Seminar and the National Championship Air Races.
Cassidy’s friendly personality and reputation for quick and knowledgeable action have earned him much respect from the racers over the years, with many giving frequent comments and kudos for his right-now response in almost any situation.
Jimmy shared that his time will be spent traveling and enjoying his retirement, and although he’ll miss the work and intensity of the National Championship Air Races, he says he’ll still be around to offer occasional advice and cheer on his team as they carry the torch onward.
He will be greatly missed, but we are thankful for his years of service and for building a team that can carry the torch into the future.
It’s with great pride and sadness that we announce that Mr. John Melarkey, Chief Pylon Judge for the Reno Air Racing Association, has retired following a remarkable tenure of service to RARA.
A long-standing pillar of the Air Racing community here in Reno, John has been a volunteer in the Pylon Judge group for 56 years.
John spent the last 22 years as the Chief Pylon Judge and through this role he brought leadership, expertise, and encouragement that very few people could match. He challenged the team to take on new roles within the races such as adding additional flight operations safety standards and lighting several key areas of the course. He also oversaw the Pylon Patch Design Contest, which saw the Pylon Judges competing for next year’s patch design. Through all his efforts, John brought this group of people closer together.
Vice Chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association Board, Terry Matter gave voice to that sentiment when he shared the following. “Since 1999 I have admired his management of this large group of volunteers that must be strategically placed around the race courses used by six unique classes of aircraft. He and his team of pylon judges professionally manage all air racing events ensuring safe racing and complete rule compliance. John is highly regarded and trusted by all race class presidents, and they accept his racing judgements.”
James Greathouse, Mr. Melarkey’s right-hand man and successor to the role, added, “Under John’s tenure as the Chief Pylon Judge, the group has taken on additional responsibilities which have included adding additional flight operations safety standards, such as lighting in several key locations on the course that can be seen by the pilots, additional security check points to ensure only authorized personnel are on the field, and numerous new safety protocols that ensure the safety of our volunteer staff.”
Fittingly in 2016, John was recognized as RARA’s annual Person of the Year for all his hard work and dedication. This was just a small way to show him how truly thankful we are for everything he has done for RARA.
We will greatly miss seeing John lead the Pylon Judging Team at the races this year, but know he has built a great team that will carry on his legacy.
Thank you John for all you have done over the last 56 years. You will always be a member of the RARA Family.
We’re looking for a new home for the National Championship Air Races and want ideas from our air race family and beyond to help make it possible. While we’re hoping for a lot, we absolutely need the following in terms of airport, venue and regional impact:
Suitable primary and secondary runway lengths of 7000’ or more
Land area with open, unobstructed space to allow for all 7 current race classes (roughly 4,800 acres)
Available hangar space – minimum 50,000 sq ft (can be multiple facilities) or, office/operations/briefing space, suitable parking areas/capacity, and RV/Camping available space, propane and waste dump services.
Proximity to adequate population center with hotel capacity, airline access and rental car availability.
If you need more information or want to submit a proposal, please click the button below.
Have additional ideas, thoughts or notions of things we should include or look for in our next home? Leave us a note at [email protected].
RENO, NEV. – Earlier this month, Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) proudly announced the 2023 recipients of the second annual Flight Training Scholarship (FTS) program.
“’Racing for the Future’ is more than just a saying – it’s a mindset our association has in order to facilitate the future of aviation in our local youth,” said Fred Telling, Reno Air Racing Association CEO. “Through these scholarships, we can continue to foster a love for aviation while helping to ‘STEM’ the pilot shortage. We’re thankful for the Ray Foundation and the gifts from various donors for helping us make this scholarship program possible for a second year.”
These 10 recipients will be awarded up to $10,000 toward their private pilot license. In order to be considered for a scholarship, these students must be between 16-20 years old, maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a resident of Reno or its surrounding areas.
The 2023 Reno Air Racing Association Flight Training Scholarship recipients are:
“Getting to know our award winners throughout this year’s application process has been an absolute joy,” said Greg Gibson, Reno Air Racing Association scholarship coordinator. “They are smart, motivated and inspiring. We know the future of STEM and aerospace is better because they will be part of the next generation of pilots.”
This scholarship program began last year and has enabled several recipients to complete the necessary training and successfully obtain their private pilots license. While the search for a new venue is underway, the scholarship program is not going anywhere. RARA plans to continue the scholarship program to help enable and encourage the next generation of aviators to soar.
For those interested in donating or learning more about RARA’s scholarship efforts:
