"Precious Metal".....P51D with Mega Monster RR Griffon Engine.....!!!

[WildBoar44]

Originally Posted by Robotic Pope

I guess you're right, Taking my nostalgic history hat off I can see it a new way. The P-51 was built for fighting and in a sense that is what this racing plane is still doing. And just as the original Alison engined Mustang mkI was developed and transformed to swich rolls and become the long range escort that was the P-51D, this P-51D has needed to change to take on its new racing roll.

Thanks Wildboar, You've now got me interested. I think now I would watch it too. But mankini?

By the way, What other planes compete in this race?

Hmmm suppose the mankini would be a bit underdressed....maybe some flip flops too !!!

Lots of classes over the race week, Biplane, F1 class, Jet, T6 (Harvard) class....

Here's a few sample pic's of plane's at Reno "Unlimited" class from recent years .....Enjoy Mr Pope......some you will need your sunglasses !!!






























And now my all time favourite " RareBear " (Modified Bearcat)ok I admit its a pimp my ride one too far !!!

[U2RATTLEHUM]

WildBoar, thanks for those amazing pics. I never seen airplane racing but I can hear the thundering roarings of the engines from were I'm setting here in Ca.

[WildBoar44]

Originally Posted by U2RATTLEHUM

WildBoar, thanks for those amazing pics. I never seen airplane racing but I can hear the thundering roarings of the engines from were I'm setting here in Ca.

Man you are so lucky........jump onto Interstate -5 turn right onto I-80 at Sacramento and 430miles later your there Bud !!!


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[bobbysocks]

sweet pics! thanks....gonna have to make an effort to go see a race in the future.

[scottyvt4]

Pope................ there is some info in here, its been going a few years, and in the article it features(ed) stock WW2 fighters, i think its great thing that guys keep the stock one flying great to see ............ but, as you said aswell not overly keen on the "highly" modified ones

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Air_Races


And we did have our own .............. at one point


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneider_Trophy



A P51 D set a record of 507.1 mph in 2003 and the Supermarine S.6B 407.5 mph in 1931 so not that far off considering the advances in fuel and the S.6B was a sea plane impressive to say the least.

[Lost Apiarist]

Those Hawker Seafuries haul some serious ass.

Love the Lavochkin as well.

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by Robotic Pope

Tell the truth, I don't like this. Its an abomination. Same reason I don't like the pimped american muscle cars with huge 22" crome wheels and monsterous engines. I like historic originality.

If it means we get to see them (and hear them!) in flight, then I'm all for racing them. One good fly by is worth a thousand museum static displays. Back when I was a teenager (ok, waaaay back) I got to clean the hangar where Dago Red was being built. Never did get to see her race, but the sound she made when the crew ran up that engine was something I'll never forget.

Here's a pic of Dago Red taken in 2006. I've got a couple of me with her taken back in 1980 or 81 if I can figure out how to scan them LoL

[CrashLanding]

That's pretty sexy. Would be a blast to fly, I'm sure.

Couple questions from a writer who failed out of engineering college, how much difference does having two props make? I sort of understand why they spin different directions (spinning same direction would put too much pull on the frame left or right, correct?) but I'm interested to know how they got them spinning two directions on what appears to be one driveshaft.

[U2RATTLEHUM]

Originally Posted by WildBoar44

Man you are so lucky........jump onto Interstate -5 turn right onto I-80 at Sacramento and 430miles later your there Bud !!!


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calling in sick. cough! cough! Reno here I come.

[McQ59]

I just developed a soft heart for the SeaFury...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMPdV...eature=related