Sparky at Reno

Im working on getting some of my photos from the weekend loaded. I will post some as soon as I do.

 

These are my Sparky shots. I got somewhere around 1100 photos of the weekend, including the crash of the Thunder Mustang. Its going to take some time to get the good shots loaded up to share.

 

.......................................Here ya go.
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Thanks, its too bad the action shot ended up out of focus. I only had about 2 or 3 bad shots all weekend, and that was one of them.

 

Thanks for the pix Craig. The take off shot is an after the show tuna ride. Gotta defray expenses ua know. And Switches the old Sparkler was 2nd in the silver. Lady Jo was 1st and bumped up to last in the gold...so we were 1st it seems and received 1st money. First time ever but never to be repeated I think. No Bearcats or 3350 Sea Furies or other go fasters to keep us in the Bronze race. What a relief after chasing gremlins for a year.

 

Steve- Congratulations. Beautiful machine. How much is a ride? 2000 hours of fighter time, but all of it in jets.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

800 an excursion Terry. Lasts for about 30-35 min. Seems high to most but an ohaul now hovers around 75k and increases 10-15% every year.

 

What about a trip around the pylons!

 

Boy that would be a great ride Craig but not allowed for insurance reasons. I have been going to Reno since 68 and have been an entry for 14 years. Would love to dust the cans but no joy it seems. This is as close as we are able to get.
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Maybe one day they will make a Cessna 182 class at Reno. I could get in on that!

Next year I want to spend a day shooting from the Valley of Speed. I hope I can get some good shots from there. I'll wave as you go by.

 

Steve- $800 sounds very reasonable. Is it dual control? The guy in Florida with the converted Cavalier wanted $1500.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Glad you finally got things sorted out on Ole Sparkplug.
What a relief.

 

Pix of Sundays Silver race. Sparkplug...thanks DJ...up front with the group taken out of the T-33 start jet. Terry...Sparkplug...not dual control as Stallion 51 is. They have a serious business an have to make a decent profit. Whereas we have to break even. Its well worth the cost for the flight training they provide.
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Steve- Thanks. I think both are worth the money. I do not need to qualify in the P-51 at any rate. Would just be nice to get a ride in the airplane my father was flying when I was born. Incidentally, I was born on the same day as the USAF. Dad was in the AAF that morning, and the USAF that afternoon.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Why thanks Bob. A few more pix of the start.
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It was really cool to see a P-51A.

Sparky, My family will be in Seaside Oregon next May for vacation. I told my brother about the going price for a ride and he wants to do it. If you get a chance, send me some information on what he would need to do to make that happen.


I am also wondering about something that you may be able to tell me about something. For the highly modified unlimiteds, do you know if those planes are flown to Reno or are they disassembled and trucked?

 

Hi Craig. Seaside is a long way from Vacaville,Ca. and that is where the 51 lives. And no...all planes fly to Reno...modified or not. They are sometimes trucked home if they break.

 

Shot out of Sparkplug crossing the Sierra of Spitball, Lady Jo, Truckee airport and Tahoe.
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