Two T6's Down at Reno in Gold. Both pilots Lost :(

[Echo]

Report out of Reno.  Tragic end to an era.

[Echo]

Midair while grouping to land.  Gut wrenching.

[DCarlton]

I've always been a fan, I've attended twice, but this statistic is hard to get your head around:  

Air race fatalities: Before Sunday's crash, 22 pilots or performers and 10 spectators lost their lives at the Reno Air Races

[MooneyMitch]

Terribly sad and devastating for families left behind . 

[Air pirate]

I have been at Reno for past 34 years, last year was tough when we lost Arron Hogue. We did a missing man for his family last night . 
 

We were sitting in second slot for the jet gold today today and Pete started the bronze Sport in last place and smoked the field to win after the crew worked all night to fix a cracked manifold 

Races were all good with great weather and crowds . Stood on the ramp and watched a great T6 gold race. As the race concluded the aircraft climbed and flew their cool downs high orbits and set up to land .

 A never saw it from the pits but heard the crowd saying “oh No”. All we knew was a T 6 went down. Then we heard it was a mid air as the racers recovered, devastated to hear about Nick and Six Cat and Chris in Barons Revenge . We all hoped that we would finish this years races without another loss . Tail winds to the pilots and may God comfort their families. 

[Echo]

The best aviation experience I ever had was flying in a T6 Harvard out of Watertown, WI.  I picked my dentist out of a free newspaper shortly after moving to Oconomowoc, WI in the early 90's.  Jim Michaels had the lowest time combat P-51 Mustang in D-Day liverery and he was on the cover leaning on the main gear.  I yelled to my wife "I found our dentist"   When I went in for my first appointment he had numerous Robert Taylor aviation prints on wall in his office.  I said I love WW2 aviation and he said "We have to go flying some time".  At next appointment he said it again and I said "when?".  His P-51 was down for maintenance as he had installed a pre-oiler int he right gun bay.  He said we can fly in my T6 come out to my hanger.  When I arrived his hanger was amazing.  There were his P-51 and T6 as well as a WW2 jeep with .30 mounted.  His hanger had finer cabinetry than my home.  Just stunning.  Each plane had a beautiful blonde bust with a B-Stinger.  They were named "Queen B" after his wife Beatrice.  We took off from Watertown and flew over Horicon Marsh at 50'.  Beautiful waterfowl were "peeling out" as we fly past.  We landed at Oshkosh and taxied up to the EAA maintenance hanger.  There was a Corsair and Focker Tri-plane (Red Barron) replica being worked on.  A short walk to an air charter based there.  A WW2 flight office (enlisted) had a Canada charter service and a P-51D made up in his WW2 flying livery.  Michaels said "lets go fly".  he gave stink eye, but Jim said I do it all the time.  I can throttle up.  Chalks removed and next thing I know I am doing a formation take off.  We climbed up over lake Winnebago and then went inverted over the top of the P-51 and flew on his wing.  A wave and P-51 dove to right.  We pulled up and did and inverted I was watching P-51 dive down over lake.  Pure magic.  Jim said "your airplane" take us back to Watertown at "can't remember magnetic reading"...There I was flying a T6.  All was right with my world.  Knew I was going to pursue my pilots license at that moment.

Jim later bought his daughter a Citabria and they planned a trip to Colorado together in plane.  Rotors forced them down in the mountains.  After a forced landing they spent the night in the mountains with an AvGas camp fire.  Jim said "I wouldn't recommend it as a father daughter bonding experience, but it was special.  They had a rescue party climb to them and lead them out the next day.

[JayMatt]

10 hours ago, Echo said:

The best aviation experience...

What an awesome story. Wish I had stories like that. 

[Echo]

1 hour ago, JayMatt said:

What an awesome story. Wish I had stories like that. 

Just wish it had been the P51...Maybe Kermitt in Florida some day