2011 Pylon Racing Seminar

This year’s Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS) was held at the Reno-Stead Airport from June 15th through June 18th. There were over 115 pilots and ground crew members registered for this year’s event.

Pilots who wish to race in the National Championship Air Races, held in September each year, must first pass a qualification course conducted by the Reno Air Racing Association. Completion of PRS is required if a pilot has never raced at Reno before, if the pilot has not raced in over three years or if the pilot is changing race classes – racing a different type of aircraft.

The prospective race pilots are required to complete and pass all classroom-based course work, known as ground school, before taking to the skies in supervised test runs on the course commonly called check flights. If they satisfactorily complete both phases of the training the pilots are given approval by flight instructors to race in the September event.

Veteran pilots often attend PRS in order to get practice time on the race course. PRS is the only time the race course is active other than during the actual races in September. Aircraft modifications are tested and race procedures are reviewed.

Some photos from the event are shown below (Click on the photos for a larger version):

Precious Metal Unlimited Reno Racer being towed to the wash rack.

Jet Class pilots briefing or debriefing their flight.

Dassault/Dornier Alpha-Jet at the 2011 Pylon Racing Seminar.

Reno-Stead resident Blue Thunder II, flown by John Parker of American Air Racing.

Rocket Six Sport Class Racer.