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

Some competitors and crew members in the final National Championship Air Race at Reno are upset over penalties for flying too high.

Jonathan Welsh

Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 10:07 AM ET

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A P-51 Mustang, part of the Unlimited Class, sits on the ramp at the 2021 National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nevada. [FLYING Magazine Archive]

Key Takeaways:

The final National Championship Air Race at Reno/Stead Airport is experiencing controversy as pilots receive penalties for flying above maximum altitude limits.
These FAA-instituted altitude regulations, established after a 2011 crash, are a major source of frustration for pilots, who criticize them as too restrictive or inconsistently applied.
Penalized pilots, including John Maloney and Brent Hisey, have been bumped to lower-tier races, prompting discussions among competitors about strategies, including a potential walkout, to protest the rules.

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Excitement surrounding the last National Championship Air Race event held at Reno/Stead Airport (KRTS) continues to build as the Unlimited Class finals approach. Controversy also rose after officials penalized certain racers for flying too high.

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.