2022 National Championship Air Races Photos

[RAD2LTR]

Finding a good pool and spa guy can be tough. Ask me how I know... There are a million little things to know, and every body of water is different.

As for learning to fly in a V tail, well, they aren't the easiest thing to fly, but if you manage to learn how to fly in something hard, everything else is easy. Yes V tails do make good A2A platforms. Pull the baggage compartment door off, and climb in. No tail to deal with either. Fast enough for warbirds, slow enough for everything else.

Will

[RAD2LTR]

I'm not sure which version I like more.

Will

[N22252]

I'm not sure which version I like more.

Will

I'll vote for the color version In that one, the exhaust streak looks like some magical constellation stretched across the sky and animated by the sun; some alchemy of minerals and metals and fire... In the other one, it's more of a smudge on a plane.

[RAD2LTR]

I'll vote for the color version In that one, the exhaust streak looks like some magical constellation stretched across the sky and animated by the sun; some alchemy of minerals and metals and fire... In the other one, it's more of a smudge on a plane.

The exhaust streak was what I was going for when I shot it. I should have put my polarizer on the lens but I totally forgot. We cleaned most of the streak off when we had to clean up the mess from the fire. It was nice to see it back the morning I shot this.

Yes the exhaust streak is awesome on the color version, but the b/w actually shows more detail.

Will

[ZacYates]

Will, all exceptional! I especially like photo2 What a gorgeous shot of an equally beautiful airplane!

Hear hear, my Shanty Irish folder seems to be growing by the hour! (I'd like to make a 1/48 model so am gathering references)

Seeing where the gun camera is mounted on P-51As I have a question for Dusty: have you thought about putting a GoPro (or similar) camera in there for a race? It would make for amazing footage!

but if you manage to learn how to fly in something hard, everything else is easy.

This was a point the livestream announcers mentioned during every T-6 race - newly-minted P-40 and P-51 pilots would go back to their instructors to ask why they had to learn on something so hard!

[kennsmithf2g]

Heat 2A

[CJAM427]

My first time on the pylons, awesome and equally challenging experience!

Here's a couple from F1 Heat 3B

[tedstriker]

Wasn't that airplane originally named the A-36 Apache? I think the name Mustang came later from the British after they installed the RR Merlin in it.

Yes, it is.

We spoke with them in the pits today. It's not just an original P51A, but it is the oldest flying P51 in existence. It is Allison powered. The Allison is a down-draft carb, so the intake is on top of the cowl. Merlins are an updraft carb, with the intake on the bottom of the cowl.

It's been fully restored and is simply a beautiful airplane. It has raced at Reno before the restoration. At that time, it was known as Polar Bear.

[CJAM427]

Beautiful work Will! I'm excited to see what else you conjured up - particularly Bardahl Special, Pretty Polly and Shanty Irish (no pressure )!

Hey Zac, I'll play.

Shanty & Bardahl from Pylon 8 on Friday and Polly from 2 on Sunday.

[Plane Nuts]

Quote from ZacYates

"Hear hear, my Shanty Irish folder seems to be growing by the hour! (I'd like to make a 1/48 model so am gathering references)"

"Seeing where the gun camera is mounted on P-51As I have a question for Dusty: have you thought about putting a GoPro (or similar) camera in there for a race? It would make for amazing footage"