Joel Swager, Flying Dreadnought, Wins The Unlimited Category

The results from the 2018 edition of the Stihl National Championship Air Races, better known as the Reno Air Races are in, following the completion of the Gold races Sunday. The Gold races are essentially the final, and all heat winners are named champions in their division, according to television station KTVN.

Held every September just north of Reno, the National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. For one week, the high desert north of Reno becomes home to hundreds of aircraft, their pilots and crews. Over the past ten years, the event has attracted more than 1 million spectators and generated more than $600 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations.

The Gold race winners include:

• Unlimited – Joel Swager, flying Dreadnought, completing the course in 09:01.302, at an average speed of 417.735 mph
• Jet – Mike Steiger, flying American Spirit, completing the course in 05:47.925, at an average speed of 486.208 mph
• Sport – Andrew Findlay, flying One Moment, completing the course in 07:00.058, at an average speed of 402.716 mph
• T-6 – John Lohmar, flying Radial Velocity, completing the course in 07:35.947, at an average speed of 228.612 mph
• Formula One – Justin Meaders, flying Limitless, completing the course in 06:15.065, at an average speed of 239.521 mph
• Biplane – Andrew Buehler, flying Phantom, completing the course in 05:03.88 mph, at an average speed of 221.721 mph

In April, The Reno Air Racing Association announced that it had secured a two-year licensing agreement with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority to conduct the event through 2019.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: airrace.org, Source report