By Terry Brennan, Curator & Director of Restoration, San Diego Air & Space Museum

Hanging from the ceiling in the Museum’s new special exhibit Speed: Science in Motion, visitors will find two Reno Formula Air racers named “Miss B. Haven” and “Shoestring.” These little aircraft are race veterans capable of speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour, as they chase around the pylons that describe the closed course at Stead Field, just northwest of Reno. With cockpits so small that it nearly takes a shoehorn to get in, Formula pilots flew what would definitely qualify as purpose built airplanes and, in a familiar play on words, to be certain they were built for speed and not for comfort.

As Museum curator and active general aviation pilot, I had long harbored the desire to actually race at Reno. Having enjoyed the sport from the grandstands for many, many years, I wondered what it would take to actually compete against others on the real-life racecourse. I would soon find out when in June of 2011, a friend and I signed up for the Reno Air Racing Association’s (RARA) Pylon Racing Seminar held at the fabled Reno Air Racing site, over the period of three excitement packed days.

"Miss B. Haven"

There, under the tutelage of highly experienced racers, our group of nine or ten pilots flying sport class airplanes, were taught the techniques, the rules, the communication skills and, if needed, the art of loose formation flying. The latter would be necessary when we launched the aircraft in a gaggle to begin our class heats. Sitting in a large hangar on the flight line, taking notes for several hours, was the proper and diligent thing to do in preparation for the flying portion of the adventure, which beckoned from just outside where the famed finishing pylon stood bright in contrast to the desert landscape behind it.

In very military like fashion, we went over the standard brief before our first flight, a procedure that would be used throughout the training sessions, that included, start time, taxi time, hand signals for run-up and ready, and more.Regrettably, there was no time to marvel at where we were and what we were doing, no time to enjoy the rush that surely ensued, when it was time to lift off Runway 8 on our first flight. Forming up on lead as he flew a large arc over the northern portion of the course, the gaggle of only three or four airplanes at this early go (ultimately the entire group would be included), eventually rounded a mountain called Peavine, only seconds before lead called out on the radio, “Gentlemen, you have race.”

"Shoestring"

“Wow,” what a feeling. Only the voice of Bob Hoover could have made it more exciting. Downhill toward the first pylon, brightly lit off in the distance, around the pylon toward number two. “Don’t pull; let the wing do the turning for you.”Excessive stick pull bleeds off your speed as induced drag increases. “Fly level,” avoid unnecessary climbs. All racers are required to fly no lower than the top of the eight pylons (about 50 feet) but as you round number five and enter the “Valley of Speed,” it is difficult resist dropping down a few feet to experience the adrenaline high generated in spades from flying fast and low.

Two full days of race after race, left all in our class qualified to fly at the big show in September but this writer failed to return in large part because my airplane was the slowest in the class and my ego did not really need any more bashing, especially in front of several thousand spectators. However, the takeaway was that this was an experience that will long be cherished. Another adventure on my bucket list was realized and if, at some time in the future, someone wants to loan me a faster airplane in which to compete, I would be happily willing to again live the racers creed, “Fly low, fly fast, turn left.”