Air Race Pilots Say Altitude Rules at Reno Have Not Improved Safety

During the last race on Saturday officials said John Maloney, pilot of the Yak-3U Miss Trinidad flew above the maximum allowed altitude on part of the course during the Unlimited Class Heat 3A. The resulting penalty is expected to place Maloney in Sunday’s Unlimited Silver Race instead of the Gold, according to members of Miss Trinidad’s crew.

Altitude regulations instituted by the FAA after the 2011 crash of racer Jimmy Leeward in the P-51 Mustang Galloping Ghost set the maximum racing altitude at 400 feet agl for Unlimited competitors in the Bronze Race, 325 feet in the Silver, and 250 feet in the Gold. Minimum altitude for each race is 50 feet agl.

Some pilots have long criticized the altitude rules for making them feel hemmed-in while flying. Others have called the rules “political” weapons often used to harass competitors and to deny or nullify their victories. Earlier this week Brent Hisey, owner and pilot of the P-51 Miss America, received a penalty for flying too high and was bumped down to a subsequent heat filled with slower aircraft. The penalty essentially forces pilots to race their way back into the competition.

After racing ended on Saturday the pit area buzzed as annoyed as pilots and crew members, annoyed and frustrated, discussed possible strategies to eliminate the maximum altitude rules and even talked about staging a walkout to compel officials to amend the rules or at least develop a system for applying them more consistently.

As of Saturday evening the issue had not been settled and Reno Air Racing Association’s contest committee was meeting to consider the penalty and perhaps the objections.

The final day of racing begins at 7:45 a.m. and the Unlimited Bronze is scheduled for 12:25. Unlimited Silver kicks off at 2:15 p.m. and Gold begins at 4:55. The P-51 Bardahl Special flown by Steven Hinton is favored to win the Gold. The Hawker Sea Fury 'Dreadnought' remains sidelined for the final.