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You and I are running parallel paths. :D My kids saw and did far more than I at their ages, and my grandsons will hopefully get to do more still. I always get a nice infusion of kid-like joy whenever my oldest grandson points up and yells "Airplane!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Fence Sence
I think you PM'd me on same subject, I did put both part 1 and part 2 as sticky! Thanks for the head's up to do so, I'm still very preoccupied with going from condo dweller to homeowner with no furniture!! LOL!!Quote:
Originally Posted by CubersWrist
I truly hope you are wrong, though I share your doubts!Quote:
Originally Posted by knot4u
One thing I ponder a lot is, how much do the young folks really care about the WWII stuff?
Of course, to the "choir"... Us, anything with big pistons from WWII makes our... nipples hard, right!
The reality of it is, fielding a major warbird effort falls into the realm of stupid rich (NO pun intended! Most rich people I've known are anything but!) Used to be, a group of guys like Bill Rogers and Gary Levitz could make something special, or a guy like Will Whiteside could bring a "cheap" warbird to RENO and make excitement.
My buddy who is on this board but never posts, has a Bonanza, he actually brought it to the Heritage a few years ago, the grand a month insurance payment, flown or not, is forcing him to sell!!!!!
OK, I'll cut to the chase!
We're going to have to accept that there might not be any large influx of warbird/unlimited/super fast entries in the future.
Precious Metal, as far as I know, is going to TF... Rare bear? Who knows, the genius behind her success has passed to history.. Dago Red... again, who knows!, Strega... I suspect that airplane is sitting in Tiger's hangar ready and waiting to kick ass!
But against who?
My entire point of this response is to say that we'd better figure out a way to make the history of the sport keep that part of it that we warbirders love, as well as build the interest on what CAN be done...
Personally, I fall back on my "restrictor plate" idea from year's ago.. What if you figured out a way to restrict very rare warbirds to a power level that would not wound them, yet allow pilots to challenge each other?
As of now, only your pocketbook makes those rules!
I hope we can figure it out!!
PS... If Fred Telling is reading this... are you interested in hosting on the server? I have to move it and intend to keep it in a powerful multi access datacenter.. Currently, there's only AAFO and the Heritage site on the box, visitors have funded us for a year in advance...
I should make this a formal offer via phone I guess but what to heck..
Has this site ever porked on the last day of the races?
When Jimmy went in, I was able to access the message board from outer four via my cell phone and got word of who/what happened..
Never went down, as far as I know.
I think we all would feel good about helping by letting them be on here! This box is designed to handle 100+ websites, hooked to a 100mbps connection in a datacenter that has multiple paths in and out...
Sorry, I just brain farted this idea and posted off topic!
MODERATOR LOL.. feel free to move to new thread..
LOL.. you guys can always tell when I've had my evening's ration of bitters can't you?? :beerchug:
2006
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While it is true the absence of the super UNL's is a concern, I believe this event can and will survive and grow regardless of whether or not the 500MPH Club returns. And I feel it's incumbent upon all of us to do what we can to ensure that is the case. The demographics have changed (as they always do), and if an event stands still by doing what they always do, they'll be passed by. The addition of STOL is a prime example. New event, new planes, and a legion of new fans with a huge social media presence. A very strong step in the right direction.Quote:
Originally Posted by knot4u
Don't get me wrong...I love the UNL's as much as anyone else. More than anything else it was the bug that bit me as I started as a judge. "Wait...I get to stand here and you'll fly a Mustang right over my head at 500mph?!" But the reality is this event must offer that and more if it is to grow into it's second half-century. Relying on a breed of racers where not only the airframes are aging and becoming more scarce but so are the pilots and crews needed fly and maintain them, may not be the best recipe for survival.
2018 Ramp - Sport Planes
"See You Later" alligator:cool:
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Flashback to Golden Age of Aviation...
2018 - Warbird Pits - Plane in a box - ready to assemble.
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Ok, all you PC uncorrect humans, heres your quarterly eye exam.
Can you see the dots???
If yes, how many warbirds in the background?
:cool:
Always Enjoy this show. The drag race.
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One of THE greatest guys in all of the airshow business! Incredible pilot and performer...an even better human being.Quote:
Originally Posted by Desertdawg
2017
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Check out the lookieloos at the old Pylon 6. That situation got really dangerous, and impossible for the pylon judges. Eventually RARA and the airport got control over that land, put up fences, and got things under control. It was nice out there for a few years, before the general public found out about it.
A bit before my time but I've heard stories. This was the first pylon I was assigned to after my first year as a judge (2002) and the old salts out on Outer 6 were very happy that RTAA took over the land and fenced it. Got pretty wild at times. Talk about trying to herd cats!Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Things were out of control all over the back of the course. This was Lefty on the way to his Championship. Photo from a much older Pylon 2.
Dangerous...
Neal
Oh ya, the Wild West days.
The hill is my best memory, standing in the bed of my truck and heres comes Lefty.
Several other racers showed their skill level.
"Wanna play chicken, wait till next lap"
I have to admit, I ducked more than once.
Early 80s, while VOS still had a old barb wire fence you could easily get under.
We'd get under the fence for the Sunday gold race. Same adrenaline there in the middle of the flight line. I took several rolls of 35mm slides hunkered down while there "put a bead" on us. Slide scanner is on my wish list, and I will share here.
I know, now that I am older I have a bit more sense than being a 20 something punk. :1poke:
But the memories are permanently burned into my brain.
Hopefuly they are still around 30 years from now when I am in my rocking chair at 95 sneaking a shot of Jager and telling stories to the grand kids.
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From fb
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2017 F1 Hanger Sharing Knowledge
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Whoa. That’s crazy. We always hung out in the VOS back then. It would be another 3 or 4 years before I started ducking the barbed wire fence to get out on the course.Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Neal,Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Good thing RARA/Washoe County secured the land and fenced the course off.
Thanks for taking shots like that and sharing them.
What a time, I bet the 3 boys on the roof of the suburban have good memories and tell stories of being there. :cool:
Great look, Neal.Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Good catch with the two people on the right foreground holding their ears.
No doubt the folks on top of the Jimmy are FAA, right?
2018 - Sport Class Pits
Beautiful planes
So sleek and still they find minor adjustments here and there to gain better airflow.
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Attachment 25001
Strega, Voodoo and the Bearcat, the last really fast air racers and they're not going to race. Who would've thought it would end like this?
2018 - And another sport plane pit shot.
On a side note, there're pits were the first (westerly wind) tumble weed trapper. :-)
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Do you believe it's ending, or are you referring only to the level of competition in the UNL class?Quote:
Originally Posted by knot4u
Ray Cote Prepping for a Dago Red 1986
Shawn :cool:
2018 - Continuing the tour through the Sport Plane pits.
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2018 More Sport Planes
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And of course the Dago and Strega equivalents of the sport class. :cool:
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For all the three blade fans...
Not as sharp as I'd like, but I love that pylon 8 angle. It's an experience to stand there and have this thing come over your head at 490mph! It's an impossible place to take Gold Race photos, but pylon 8 is the best place on the field to really experience a Gold Race.
2010 - Warbird Pits
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Count me as one who liked the 3-bladed Bear. Thanks for sharing that one! The sound that beast made at speed, 50 feet over my head on Outer 6, was a bone-rattlng, deep baritone reverberation like I've never heard before...or sadly, since.Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Thought I had one very similar in my collection but, no. It's the 4-blade. What year did they run the 3-blade?
Loved Outer 8 but unless you're into silhouettes of airplanes and lens flare, it's not a good place in the PM. Always wondered why it was so popular for the Media folks at that time of day.
Nice shot, Shawn. Up close and personal. Well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn Aro
2010 - Was a good year for twin engined warbirds, we had couple F7 Tigercats and couple P38s.
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engine...
2013 - We followed Thom's journey from Florida to Reno. He landed with minutes to spare for entry.
Plus was the first time we got to see the new canopy.
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2013 - Couple more from PMs arrival.
Thom and PM were like celebrities and we were the paparazzi :cool:
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That was pretty crazy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Desertdawg
Great Racer