Warbird Information Exchange

Hi All.

I'm planning to attend thr Reno Air Races for the first time in September and I'm looking to you folks for a little help in my planning. I've loosley planned to be there from the Wednesday through to the Monday during the event.

Can anyone give me some pointers, dos and don'ts as well as suggesting must-see/do items? I'm super excited and don't want to miss anything.

Help me cheer for the in line engines with the exception of Rare Bear and go to the pits early in the week before the crowds really show up. Just sit back and listen, it is an experience you will never forget ! Hope to see you there. Rad

It's a great show to be able to go. I've been going with my dad for over 10 years and it's still exciting each time. Make sure that you have protection from the sun and keep yourself hydrated and also bring some hearing protection, if you don't like to listen to the jet dragster go by. Make sure you get their early if you want to watch the biplanes or the F-1's they have to fly early to beat the heat. If you want pictures with out people in your way in the military section or the pits make sure you do it early in the week, it gets crowded on the week ends. If you can afford a pit pass(the cost more on the weekends) , to see the racing airplanes up close and personal, don't hesitate to ask the crews any questions you have they are very friendly to answer any of your questions. If you like the sound of the Reno Air Races their is a company that has a booth, it's located behind the grand stand seating, called Aircraft Records that have all kind of aircraft sounds. Their is a lot of action that takes place after the air races are done, airplanes giving rides or just buzzing the airport. Hope this helps. If you have any more questions you can PM and I will try to answer your questions.

Here is the Reno Air Races website http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php

Another website that has a dedicated forum for the air races

http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/forumdis ... 43a183&f=2

Awesome! Thank for the valuable input. I'm really looking forward to this for sure!!

Do a search of the archives here, as there are several threads from years past where there is a significant amount more of detailed information to answer the same question. I know I posted in one of those within the last year or two.

Bring a T-Shirt and shorts, longjohns and a Parka. The weather can be unpredicatable and variable with extreme temperature variations, all in the same day!

This is true. In some years, I've seen as high as 95 degrees, and others I've seen it snowing. The weather is unpredictable at best. For the most part though, it's in the 70's/80's during the day and 50's/60's at night.

I am going to Reno as well. What kind of passes should I get. I am going for the entire week and springing for the pit pass for the week, but I guess you need to order general admission along with that? As far as GA goes there is a number of different options to choose from. Do you gents have any suggestions?

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Pit passes should include general admission.

This is what I would have thought, but this is the from the official website...

...also...


It seems to me like two passes must be purchased.

Is there any advantage to getting reserved grand stand seats over the general admission seats?

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Not in my opinion.

The problem with sitting in the grandstands is that with the "new" track course, virtually all of one's pictures of the racers will be with their belly's up to the stands. This is because the racetrack is nearly a continous turn whereas in the past, it was more oval, thus requiring the planes to fly wings-level past the stands.

Reno has this new program they started last year. I can't remember what the name of it is, but basically you pay an increased fee and they take you out to the middle of the desert, close to the pylons where there is supposedly an excellent view and much better photo opportunity for picture taking. I think this would be better than anything in the grand stands.

Of course, the best option and free one is to go out to the edge of the racecourse itself where you can get within a couple hundred feet of the racers whizzing past you.

Interesting. I didn't read anything about it on the site, but I will take another look.

How is the lighting for the grand stands. Are you looking into the sun all day? I have no idea what the layout of Reno is.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

I believe it was part of the "Checkered Flag club". Here is the link:

http://www.airrace.org/checkeredFlagClub.php

From reading it, it doesn't look like they are doing the deal where they take you out to the pylons anymore. I don't know, maybe it's a last minute thing. I don't remember hearing about that deal last year, until after the races were over. Keep checking the website, is all I can suggest.




Here is the layout:

http://www.nevadadot.com/traveler/aviat ... df/4SD.pdf

The grandstands are on the ramp, facing North, parallel to Rwy 8/26. The sun should go from one side of you (East) to the other side of you (West), so you won't be looking into the sun all day.

Come on not just inline Vee engines, but all the "OLD" engines. Remember last year Rare Bear had FiFi's engine from Anderson, actually Anderson had quite a few engines in that race and all did real well.