Is Reno history?

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

I know our main concern is the dead and injured.However, Between the development around the airport(my concern for years) and now this,I'm kinda worried about the future.The air races are a big financial boost for the city of Reno.If continued,they will be flying where they are small specks on the horizon.I hope they are well insured. Sad but true.

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:01 am

agent86 wrote:

I hope they are well insured.

The issue will be if RARA have to have public liability insurance, whether they can get it, at a viable premium, in 2012. The re-insurers pool will be relatively limited. (I don't know the details, just speculating on probable factors.)

RandolphB · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:07 am

Maybe we can kick the Burners off the Playa and use Black Rock instead...keep it miles and miles from anyone else.

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

The first unlimited air race I went to was Mojave in 1974. maybe time to go back if feasible

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:50 am

I am not making light of the catastrophe that happened in Reno, but s h i t happens in aviation, sometimes it just really happens in big and ugly way. As we know, it is the extreme dynamics of the racing industry, whatever the machine is that is employed in the race.
We all feel badly for those that were lost or injured during the most recent event at Reno.
I don't think that there is really a word to appropriately describe this tragic totality of events that led to the end of a beautiful day and permanently set some horrific images in the minds of many people.
Reno should not become a historical footnote in our aviation heritage because of it.
Should NASCAR discontinue racing because a driver loses his life in a spectacular crash?
Was Drag Racing discontinued because a Funny Car goes off into a crowd at 140mph; as what happened at the Yellow River Drag Strip in Georgia back in the 70’s.
Should the Thunderbirds have been disbanded after they lost – what was it Four F-16s at one time in practice?
16 September 2011 was definitely a tragic day in Reno’s history and will be one h e l l of a chapter in the history of Reno.
Should Reno continue? You bet.
Will there be changes? Without a doubt.
Like you, I wonder what those changes will be…..I imagine that the public will be further away from the course. Just my two cents.

RickH · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:18 am

Quote:

Thunderbirds have been disbanded after they lost – what was it Four F-16s at one time in practice?

To clarify, T-38s.

Speedy · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:27 am

agent86 wrote:

The first unlimited air race I went to was Mojave in 1974. maybe time to go back if feasible

There will never be Unlimited racing at Mojave again. Several years ago not only did a certain automobile manufacturer build a proving grounds out on the far side of the old race course, but there is also a freeway bypass that bisects the course in half.

garbs · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:30 am

I'm guessing a fair number of race pilots got to have a serious conversation with their families about their choice of hobby after this. Some may elect to retire

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

RickH wrote:

Quote:

Thunderbirds have been disbanded after they lost – what was it Four F-16s at one time in practice?

To clarify, T-38s.

That was Military, not civilian.

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:52 am

Garbs wrote:

I'm guessing a fair number of race pilots got to have a serious conversation with their families about their choice of hobby after this. Some may elect to retire

I don't think so.
Let's face it anyone who flies, from GA SEL types to warbirds, know the risks. Even if you're flying a 172, it's different than driving a car, if for no other reason, that if you have even a minor wreck, it will be in the news.
Every time you get into a plane, you know that a mechanical issue that would be an inconvenience in a car could be fatal in an aircraft if you're over the wrong territory.

This looks to be a "freak" accident (not that it makes it any better to those impacted by the tragedy).
Other planes and pilots have been lost, yet people still spend lots of money on warbirds, and a fraction of those people will want to be faster than the rest.

As I pointed out in an earlier post, auto racing didn't stop after the 1955 Le Mans disaster..though Mercedes did quit for awhile.

Air racers are probably Type A motivated types. Hopefully, they'll have a talk with their families, (that never hurts) but I doubt if many will back down from the challenge of fast warbirds and racing.

Shay · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:14 am

Paul Krumrei wrote:

RickH wrote:

Quote:

Thunderbirds have been disbanded after they lost – what was it Four F-16s at one time in practice?

To clarify, T-38s.

That was Military, not civilian.

To add on to the 1982 T-Birds incident. The Thunderbirds were not "disbanded", "activities were suspended for six months pending investigation of the crashes and review of the program"

Which in my opinion is the logical cool headed approach to look at an accident like this.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:28 am

To clarify, T-38s.[/quote]

That was Military, not civilian.[/quote]

To add on to the 1982 T-Birds incident. The Thunderbirds were not "disbanded", "activities were suspended for six months pending investigation of the crashes and review of the program"

Which in my opinion is the logical cool headed approach to look at an accident like this.

Shay

Okay, I was in error on the type of aircraft that were lost when the T-Bird team went in. So they were "military" BFD. The point is, that the Team continues to this day. Yer D a m n e d right activities were suspended following that CF of a Class A Mishap, the Commander was right to do so, but that is not the point. The point is, after serious consideration of the facts, reviewing current policies, procedures and practice, that the show goes on.
____________
Semper Fortis[/quote]

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:32 am

Quote:

I don't think so.

Don't be so sure. A P-51 owner friend quit flying his and sold it a year later
after his family demanded he stop. It was after all to dangerous

He flies
very little now

Speedy · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:35 am

Jack Cook wrote:

Quote:

I don't think so.

Don't be so sure. A P-51 owner friend quit flying his and sold it a year later
after his family demanded he stop. It was after all to dangerous

He flies
very little now

I think it's kind of half and half. I have known of at least one Bearcat driver who stopped racing after Gary Levitz was killed, and a Mustang racer who stopped after Brad Moorehouse's accident. But the hard core guys are racers and will be there because they are racers.

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

WTH Wow, forget your meds today Gary?

It makes a huge difference. Military regs dictate how the Thunderbird team operates and anything from an investigation would be broadcast through the military not translating to civilian regulations, the FAA would regulate the Reno Races because they fall under civilian regulations, not military.

Apples and Oranges.

Should the races continue? Absolutely without a doubt they should. Should measure and lessons learned be applied, Absolutely. No one is arguing that the races should stop. However, considerations in taking what was learned in the incident and applying it to make it safer for the pilots, spectators and everyone else is a must.

NASCAR didn't die when Dale Earnhardt died, but they sure as heck made a whole slew of safety changes to make things safer.

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