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Author
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Topic: 2013 Reno Championship Air Races (Hoot Gibson)
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alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-11-2013 07:49 PM
   
Qualifications for the Reno National Championship Air Races began yesterday (Sept. 10). Congratulations to Hoot Gibson and the "September Fury" team. In the first round of qualifications, Hoot took racer number 232, a highly modified Hawker Sea Fury over a 8.333 mile closed course for a blistering average speed over four laps of 480.249 miles per hour. That is faster than any Sea Fury has ever gone over that distance qualifying second in position in the the unlimited category.
Let's hope its a safe week and some great racing. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-12-2013 04:53 AM
"One of the world's ten best airshows" (USA Today).You've got to be kidding, this is THE BEST. Haven't been since '99 but what a thrill.
Good luck Hoot. Safe flying. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-12-2013 02:57 PM
I was there in 2005 and it was an amazing event. The winner of the last two Unlimited Gold races, Strega this year flown by Matt Jackson was forced to call an emergency this morning when attempting a course record at near 500mph and his canopy blew out. He was able to land the wounded P51 but will have to go through the heats if he wants to make it to the Gold race which should not be a problem for that airplane. Last year’s winning pilot Steve Hinton Jr, flying the P51 Voodoo, Hoot Gibson in the Sea Fury September Fury and Stew Dawson in the F8F Bearcat Rare Bear are all within a second of each other during the qualifications pushing 480+ MPH. So this is looking like one of the closest Unlimited races in years if all goes well. Hoot is also flying in and L39 in the Jets Class. Former shuttle pilot Curt Brown is also flying at Reno this week. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 09-12-2013 07:48 PM
What a sweet deal! I'd like to be at the races instead of work all weekend. Maybe next year. I was last there in 1996.Good Luck to all the pilots, but I'm holding out for the Rare Bear.  |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-12-2013 09:37 PM
I saw The Bear at Reno when John Penny was flying her and before that I saw during a visit to Mojave when it had its three bladed P-3 Orion prop. Beautiful airplane... but I have to go for Hoot in September Fury. They have really worked hard in the off season to get more speed out of race 232. The Sea Fury is up by over 20 mph, a lap over last year race speed. Last year Hoot took it easy in qualifying at 402 mph to save the engine. This year though they are really trying to ring it out. However I think the two top P-51s are going to be tough. Voodoo with Steve Hinton, Jr., qualified first at 493.043. The Strega crew is working hard to replace the canopy that was blown out this morning at 500 mph. If they can get the canopy fixed they will have to qualify through the qualifier races to make the Gold race. But that airplane is super fast with or without Steve Hinton driving and if they get it fixed will be tough to beat. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 09-13-2013 06:53 AM
LiveAirShowTV will be streaming live video on the internet on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so that's definitely a bonus. Plus, there's also some stuff on YouTube from this year's 50th anniversary event. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-13-2013 07:16 AM
airrace.org is also running live coverage all day these next three days. There is some great racing in categories. Just hope for a safe weekend for all. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 09-13-2013 07:01 PM
I haven't been to Reno but I regularly attend EAA Airventure in OshKosh and cant imagine any airshow even coming close to that experience. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-15-2013 10:03 AM
Well what was looking like a promising race weekend has all come to an end for Hoot and the September Fury team. On the 5th lap of the Gold Heat unlimited race the following happened From the teams Face book page: 232 is done for 2013. Induction trunk partially departed, messing with manifold pressure. Engine sneezed and chucked the induction scoop entirely, which made contact with the horizontal stab...will need repair. May be engine damage as well.A lot of the nay-sayers changed their tune after 232 almost passed Voodoo after the chute start. Speed dropped off after the tail wheel popped out (again). Best of luck to Hoot and the team next year. Sorry Hoot. Next year.Curt Brown also flying a Hawker Sea Fury. "Sawbones" Finished first in the Silver heat and 6th in the Unlimited Gold heat. And also finished 6th in heat 2a of the Jet category in an L-39c. What is scary is that the unlimited Prop aircraft are often flying higher speeds than the jet category. They are really pushing the limits on piston engine technology. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-15-2013 07:18 PM
Congratulations to Steve Hinton for for another win in the Unlimited Gold Race. Flying the P-51 Voodoo he set an average speed over 8 laps at a blistering 482.074 with a fastest lap of 501.045.Second place to Matt Jackson on the P-51 Strega (Hinton flew Strega to a championship the last couple of years). Curt Brown finished 6th in the lightly modified TMK-20 Sea Fury Sawbones at an average speed of 407.140. Hoot was unable to race because of mechanical problems. |
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