Reno Air Races Addict Airshow<br>Team Page

Welcome to the Air Race Addict's Airshow Teams Page



(Author's note: I am putting this in order of relevance to Reno 2000, with
Teams scheduled to be there this year. Past performers will follow.)

The Teams


The U.S. Navy Blue Angels

I am starting with the Blue Angels for a couple of reasons, the first being that they are my favorite as far as Military Demonstration Squadrons are concerned. The second reason is that they are the featured attraction at Reno 2000, (R2k). They have been missing from the Reno Air Races since 1985 due to schedule conflicts for one reason, and other reasons I may not know about. I have seen them perform in everything from F11F Tiger, F-4 Phantoms, (very impressive), A-4F Skyhawks, to the current platform for their performance which is the F-18 Hornet. The skill which these pilots possess is just simply awesome. I may be a little biased here, {;-) but the Blue Angels just seem to have more fun than the other Military teams out there. They appear to fly closer to each other than the Thunderbirds, and their engines make the coolest sounds around, (except for a Merlin under extreme pressure, of course!). A little background for the novice Airshow attendee, and for the rest of us who may not know, a brief history is as follows:
The Blue Angels were formed after World War Two by order of Admiral Chester Nimitz, as a means to showcase Naval Aviation. In June 1946, the team started with F6F Hellcats, and after two months, switched to the F8F Bearcat, (Howard Pardue's "Bearcat" is an example of this aircraft and is scheduled to race at R2k). The next change for the Team, (1949), was the F9F Panther, a jet, which brought major changes to the program. After a couple changes to updated versions of the Panther, (last version named the Cougar due to the change to a swept wing), in 1957, the Team switched to the F-11F Tiger. After a long stint in the Tiger, the Team switched to the F-4 Phantom, their first dual engine fighter, in 1969. The next transition for the Team in 1974, partly due to cost considerations, (post Viet Nam downsizing of the U.S. Military), was to the A-4F Skyhawk II. This aircraft was very maneuverable, and though it's performance, (or noise), was not the same as the Phantom, the Team was able to perform a show that was fun and exciting for the spectators. This aircraft served the Team well until they transitioned to the aircraft they currently use in 1986, the F/A-18 Hornet.
They're show is nothing short of spectacular. I love the Blue Angels and the anticipation is killing me, waiting to go to Reno. If you are lucky enough to live in Reno or to be in Reno on Wednesday the 13th, (I know I'll be there), they will be performing what has been reported to be a three hour arrival show. Don't know what time, so be sure to be there early.

Jimmy Franklin Airshow

Jimmy Franklin has had the most varied presentations when it comes to Airshows. He has had a Wingwalker performance with Johnny Kazian, a solo program with his Waco Mysteryship, a Dueling Wacos program with Eliot Cross flying opposite Jimmy, and this year, (R2k), brings a new twist for Reno, a Turbine attached to the Waco. My understanding from a witness to the last item at last year's Oshkosh EAA Airshow, is that it is a truly awesome thing to observe. I can't wait.Franklin, who started flying at the tender age of eight and soloed as a twelve year old, brings plenty of experience and a real flair for drama. With Kazian, an Airshow performer since 1960, on the wing of the Waco, this team brings back the feeling of the days of barnstorming. At airspeeds in the 100 mph range, Kazian can be seen "struting" around like a trapeze artist on the wings of the Mysteryship, while Jimmy is performing "normal" aerobatic maneuvers.Then, in Part II, Jimmy goes out with Eliot Cross flying the other Waco, in a dogfight routine that is reminiscent of the days of WWI. The amount of smoke that these can put out is simply amazing. There is plenty of entertainment value in their show. This is a good place to start my teams page, as that is certainly what these guys are. A team. They work really well together and present a very professional show. I can't think of any Airshow fan who will come away from seeing their program without a vivid memory of those amazing men and their Waco Machines. The Waco is called the Mysteryship because it's not your average Waco. Starting life as a 1940 Waco UPF, the aircraft was redesigned to a configuration to match Jimmy's flying style. The 220 h.p. motor has been replaced with a 600 h.p. engine. Redesigned wing and extended landing gear a just a couple of the most outwardly apparent modifications to the original airframe. The Mysteryship is certainly that! The other thing that is really special to me is that they have been sponsored by my favorite beer, Miller Genuine Draft, for a long time. I wonder if that's still true?

Stoli Mig Demonstration Team

The newest addition to the Reno Air Races Airshow is the team of Jerry Gallud and Randy Howell in their beautifully restored Mig 17's. The team is appropriately sponsored by the distributor of the Russian Vodka, Stolichnaya, and the color of the aircraft is a very bright red. This team of United Airlines pilots, (that's their day job), bought the Russian designed, Polish manufactured Migs from the Polish Air Force. They have spent alot of time, (4000 hours), and financial resources to bring the aircraft to their current condition. The team came to Reno last year for their debut at the Air Races and put on a great show for everyone. It is great to know that they will appear again with their high performance show and shiney red Migs at R2k, so don't miss the only foreign jet demonstration team in America. Okay, so that wraps up the teams that will appear this year. Please click----->> HERE to go to the next page for the teams who have appeared in the past.
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