Jetrader - November/December 2013 - 19

Strega

Czech Mate

Precious Metal

Argonaut

Sea Fury

Birthday Celebration
Signiﬁcantly faster is the Sport class,
with winner Race 39 reaching 399.420 mph
during a qualiﬁcation heat. Sport planes
are production kit-built aircraft with an
engine of 650 cubic inches or less. The
fastest class is formed by the Jets, with
Gold winner Just Lucky reaching an incredible 509.9 mph. The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 as an invitation-only class,
featuring Czech-built L-39 Albatros jets.
In 2007 the class was further expanded
to allow participation by any non-afterburning jet with less than 15 degrees
of wing sweep-aircraft like the Fouga
Magister, T-2 Buckeye, Lockheed T-33, etc.
While not strictly the fastest class, the
Unlimiteds (now called the Unlimited &
Warbird Racing Class) are what most of the
spectators come to see in Reno. Unlimited
aircraft must have piston engines, be
propeller driven, and must be capable of
pulling 6g, but that's about it. Although,
in the interest of safety, changes have
and will be made. There has been a lot
of discussion about the Unlimited races,
including the allowed maximum race
altitude. Effectively the racers ﬂy within

Thanks to his
fantastic start,
the Unlimited race
was won by Steven
Hinton for the first
year flying Voodoo, a
green and purple P-51
Mustang with a race
speed of 482 mph.

a doughnut with a minimum altitude of
50 feet and a maximum of 250 feet. As
there is no throttling back during a race
(which would cause engine problems), this
is very tight for planes with 40- to 50-foot
wingspan.
Thanks to his fantastic start, the
Unlimited race was won by Steven Hinton
for the ﬁrst year ﬂying Voodoo, a green and
purple P-51 Mustang with a race speed of
482 mph. Last year Hinton ﬂew the red and
white Mustang, Strega, which came second
this year, piloted by Matt Jackson. Smooth
Sherman came in third in Czech Mate and
Dawson Steward ended in fourth in the
purple-and-orange Rare Bear. Thom Richard
apparently had some technical problems, as
he ended only ﬁfth in his re-worked and
stunning-looking P-51XR Precious Metal.
Dreadnought, Sawbones, Argonaut and Miss
America completed the ﬁeld. The speed
differential between ﬁrst and last was an
amazing 110 mph!
For ISTAT members planning to go
to Reno 2014: The event will be held
10-14 September 2014. Casino/hotels in and
around Reno are generally very affordable
and entry tickets for 2013 cost between
$12 (one day) and $96 (entire event). A
special place to watch the race is the High
G Ridge (surcharge), a hospitality tent on
a ridge north of the course allowing a
look down into the Valley of Speed. If
any of the commercial jet manufacturers
feel inspired, they should get involved
because as of today there is no Commercial
Jet category, but the sight of an A318
racing a 737, an E190 or a CSeries would
be unforgettable. By that time we should
start to think about a real RaceSTAT, but
don't hold your breath.

A jet passing the home pylon.

Overall winner, Steve Hinton, with his trophy.

The view from High G Ridge.
Jetrader * November/December 2013 19

Jetrader - November/December 2013

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