I just got back from the US where I visited, amongst other things the Reno Air Races.
Together with, forummember ''Vortex'', I travelled the U.S. from 4 - 23 September, and visited 2 airshows. Reno was one of them. With cristal clear blue skies we visited Reno for 3 days. It was really nice to see this kind of an airshow.
Photo opertunities were great!!
Here are some pics I took:
The F-22 Raptor Demo was superb!!!! This shot was made on the second day, so we exactly knew were we would go and sit to have this shot!! Off course, this spot was also in the shade, because we were a bit sunburned after day 1.... O yeah for the jet-freaks: The F-22 Raptor is actually howling a bit wenn it is in the circuit, yyyesssssss finally an aircraft with the right NOISE!!
An L-29 seen here on take off for the jet-races. There were 9 jets competing in the jet race.
Another L-29 seen here on take off for the jet-races. This time with Reno's museum aircraft in the background.
The A-10 from Idaho Air Guard was a welcome visitor for the static show. Photographed here shortly after landing.
Nice and clean aircraft....
The same aircraft after an engine failuring in flight.... the aircraft stalled the engine during it's race
and glided in for an emergency landing. The result after the engine blow up is a fuselage covered with oil...
This T-33 Shooting Star was used as a chase plane for the air race. So it came in front of our lenses multiple times
Arrival of the USAF "Thunderbirds" comes with a well coordinted ground show as well..
Nice P-51 taxies back to the Pit box..
The Alaska Air Guard was used for dropping parachutists for the opening of the races.
The yellow tailband and the text on the fuselage reveals it's home state...
The teks in the tailband reads: "The Last Frontier".. nice
This flyby of two F-15 Eagles from Oregon ANG was also a part of the opening of the races.
The USAF demonstration team ''Thunderbirds'' are always a great sight.
The thunderbirds in their populair ''photo-pass''..
High speed pass of one of the solos
The F-22's did some low approaches on arrival. We didn't mind that at all!!! It gave us the chance to take
some nice pictures.
"Gentlemen.... WE HAVE A RACE.... '' and of they go in to the Nevada desert.... very cool tho hear the sound
of 9 Harvards doing their race..
I think the F-22 Raptor is going to be one of my favourite future aircrafts.... the demo is really superb!! And they have
a nice announcer too... ''Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the United States Air Force, I present to you, YOUR F-22 RAPTOR!!! (and then starts the music wich was Metallica with their song ''Seek and Destroy"...)
The heritage flight consisted of the F22 and a P51, very nice to see AND hear!!!
Hope you like 'em!
Greetz, Ron
