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The Reno Air Race Association has been able to have the women represented in the Airshow aspect of the Race weekend by bringing the world's best women aerobatic pilots. None other than Patti Wagstaff, Joann Osterud, and Julie Clark. These women have brought every bit as much skill and finesse to the world of aerobatics as the men in the sport have, and have shown to the world that aerobatics is not a sport for "men only". It is always exciting, and a treat for the fans in the crowd at the National Championship Air Races, to witness any one of these three beautiful women perform in their aircraft.
Patty Wagstaff NCAR 1997
![[Official Patty Wagstaff Airshows Fan]](http://www.pattywagstaff.com/images/fan_logo2.gif){kind=logo}
As the recipient of the "First Lady of Aerobatics" Betty Skelton Award a total of six times, Patty certainly lives up to the title. Patty has been performing since 1984. She has been a member of the U.S. National Aerobatic Team six times, and won the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion three times in that same period. She is the first and only woman, ever, to win the title! Patty has also won a number of Olympic-level medals in international competition. Without a doubt, Patty is well known throughout the world, having trained with the Russian aerobatic team, and has coached and trained competitors from around the globe. She is also an IAC rated judge. With that impressive resume', Patty never fails to amaze the fans. Although she hasn't been that frequent of a participant at Reno since I've been going, (1983), all Airshow aficionado's should be happy when her name shows up on the roster. Her performance in the Extra 300S is extrodinary and well worth the effort to see her fly in person. I know that I look forward to seeing her perform again, in the future. Patty has a very cool and well done website that gives alot more detail of her background, lists her awards and commendations, (there are many), and has some really fun stuff to do and look at. You can get there by clicking on the Patty Wagstaff Fan logo above.
Joann has been a participant in quite a few Reno Air Race Airshows, and is a great showperson herself. She started out flying the Stephens Akro, then appeared in a strange looking aircraft called a Hiperbipe, short for High Performance Biplane. The most recent aircraft that she performed in is called the "Ultimate 10-300S". A Canadian built unlimited aerobatic biplane, the Ultimate is capable of 10, that's right, 10 G's, positive or negative. The blue and yellow Ultimate has added alot to her program. Joann holds several world records, including outside loops and inverted distance and endurance. She was a Captain for United Airlines, and holds almost every rating available to a pilot. Joann has thrilled many Airshow audiences around the world and will always be known as one of the best.
"Ultimate" Photo by Warren V. McCallister (1995 NCAR Program)
The final Female Airshow performer that I would like to talk about is the Glamorous AND Talented Julie Clark. A Captain in DC-9 aircraft for Northwest Airlines, Julie has quite the background, yet not so uncommon for pilots in the Airshow business. Her father was a pilot, which got her interested in flying. She learned all she could, then worked hard while in college as a Professional Water Ski Performer and earned money for flying lessons. I have seen her program several times over the years at Reno. The part I enjoy the most about her program is her devotion to, and outpouring patriotism. Julie has a great appreciation for the United States, (as do I), and shows it through her performance. She plays "God Bless the U.S.A." while flying her T-34 Mentor, finished in the scheme of Air Force One, while performing her self described "Aerial Ballet". Her graceful maneuvers fit that description perfectly.She has been sponsored by MOPAR for the last 12 years and is very devoted to her sponsers. She is also devoted to her fans, which is fantastic, as they are the people she performs for and hopes to inspire. Julie has a great website that you can visit by clicking here---> "Julie Clark". There is a plethora of information about Julie Clark that I think anyone, with a real interest in Professional Aerobatics, would find most interesting and worth their while to read. A remarkable story, indeed.
Never would I have imagined seeing, what to many who thought they knew alot about the capability of a known "pilot killer", the Gee Bee R-2 racer, flying by at a good clip in an inverted pass, followed up with a knife-edge pass in the opposite direction. Well there it was, right in front of me and the rest of the world. Delmar Benjamin was working that airplane like it was a darn aerobatic champion. I am amazed, and I am sure the majority of people who witness this incredible display of skill and understanding by a pilot of his trusty steed. And as a professional aircraft mechanic myself, I must say that Mr. Benjamin is a shining example for every pilot, private and professional, of what can be done with an aircraft if you understand what you are dealing with. Click here to--->
Visit Delmar.
It took two years to design and construct the aircraft, with the first flight taking place on December 23, 1991. Since then he has been wowwing the crowds at Airshows all over the country. But, that isn't all he has been up to. It seems that the FAA in Reno has some sort of grudge against Delmar and have put him through the wringer. Well, our hero has come out on top for now. There is quite a story of his trials and tribulations that you can read by clicking here--->Delmar vs. the Bureaucrats. He has survived the same kind of harassment that Bob Hoover was eventually relieved of, (Thank God!). Read the story and make your own judgements. Though he isn't slated to return to Reno this year, hopefully there will be a slot found for him at Reno, 2001.
Sean Tucker, slated for an appearance at Reno this year, is a performer that one should not be headed to the concession stands when he flys. You won't want to miss his "Sky Dance". Sean Tucker is flying what outwardly appears to be a Pitts S-2S, but is entirely a custom built aircraft, (parts of which were built by the one and only, Delmar Benjamin). He is sponsored by 10-10-220 and fly's what he calls "POWER Aerobatics". He flies a very energetic show that is a style distinct from the rest. Sean has provided a thrilling show for audiences at Reno several times in the past. I know without a doubt, his show will be as entertaining this year, if not more, than I have seen in the past. Tucker got his start as a crop duster, as mnay airshow pilots have. He was the 1988 U.S. National Advanced Aerobatic Champion. He had his son doing the narration for his act at past Reno Airshows, which made this truly a family affair. Sean also runs an aerobatics school at home that would really be great to attend. You can go to his website by clicking on the colored text in this paragraph. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Sean was awarded the Bill Barber Award and the Art Scholl Memorial scholarship Award in 1992, which is a testament to his dedication to the Airshow business. You won't want to miss this program!
Craig Hosking is NOT a normal person. This aircraft and pilot are a great combination for defining the bazaar. Starting with a normal Pitts Special, popular for it's durability and ability to maneuver through most aerobatic routines, Craig has added a new twist, or should I say angle, to the art of aerobatic flying. He put landing gear on the top, a special retention system that allows him to be lowered from the cockpit while inverted on the ground, and some new thought about how to land an aircraft. While somewhat difficult to the average pilot under normal circumstances, Craig has added a difficulty factor of 10 to the act of landing. An accomplished aerobatic pilot, Hosking performs a show of the usual and the unusual. He is very entertaining and something to see, that one can't soon forget. I know, I can't.
This picture was taken by myself from the pits during the Airshow routine in 1992. My recollection was sort of vague on the particulars of this particular bird, so, I got ahold of Brad Haskins, and he filled in the blanks for me. (Thanks Brad!) I am paraphrasing Brad here with a little bit of info added from my own boning up from an Air Race program from back then. So, this is what I learned. "The original Red Knight was a CT-33 of the Canadian Air Force. The aircraft was flown around to Airshows as a sort of Ambassador of good will. The Sanders Family of "Dreadnought" and, basically, Sea Fury fame, made a replica of the Red Knight in the 80's out of another CT-33 and installed their great smoke system, originally mounted in the wingtips, that they developed for NASA for vortex research. Frank Sanders, father and Patriarch of the Sanders family was lost in late 1989 as the result of a fatal crash, which also destroyed the "original" Red Knight. The aircraft had debuted as Pace Plane that year at Reno, after Bob Hoover had damaged his Mustang, Ole'Yeller in a ramp accident. (I had forgotten that part). This was the advent of the "modern era" at Reno, using a jet as Pace Plane. Dennis Sanders and racer Rick Brickert, got together and built another Red Knight and continued the Pace duties, as well as the impressive Airshow, until Rick was lost in the Pond Racer in 1993." Since then, jets have been used for the Pace duties at Reno.
This page couldn't be considered complete without an honorable mention about the Pepsi Skywriter. As an Air Race staple for many years, I can't tell you how many times over the last 18 years that I have turned my eyes skyward and seen a great, big, perfect, smiley face, PEPSI in perfect block letters, or AIR RACES stretched across the blue skies over Stead Airfield. Almost any morning at Stead during the Air Races, when the winds are calm, you can look up and the first thing you might think is, "Good Hangtime!" The smoke hangs in there for a long time.
Well, this is where I will try to fill in the some of the other individual performers that have performed at the Air Races over the years and wrap this page up. Some, like Scott Hammock in the jet-powered dragster, have been at the Air Races for a number of years, and some have been in attendance only once or twice since I have been going on a regular basis, (since 1982). I know I won't have everyone, as there have been many individual acts over the years, but I hope I have been able to provide a decent idea of the program. Rocky Hill was there in 1996 in the Miller Genuine Draft, (my favorite beer), Extra 300, in a pretty impressive performance. Then there was the Coors Light sponsored BD5J microjet back in 1985. It was a pretty good performer in it's own right with Bob Bishop at the controls. Supposedly it has the fastest landing gear extension and retraction system anywhere. Then there was the ACME Duck Company, the WW I dogfight between a couple of replica aircraft, I believe an SE-5A and a Fokker Triplane, and several other acts. They have all added to the Airshow aspect of the Reno Air Races and the enjoyment of all but the hardest core Race Fans. It is important for all of us Unlimited Air Race Addicts to remember that it is these performers that draw the crowds and enable the Sport of Unlimited Air Racing to remain a feature attraction for the Reno area, (not to mention the ONLY and longest running Air Races to survive to this date). For that reason, I thank the Reno Air Racing Association for their ability to attract these quality performers and "aero-acts" to the Reno Air Races. I have enjoyed watching them all, and will as long as I can attend.
