Once again Stead Airport was alive with the sounds of racing aircraft but this time the pilots were coming to be schooled in the fine art of air racing.

STEAD (June 18) – The Pylon Racing Seminar made its annual visit to the airport here. Any pilot that wants to compete at the air races, is changing classes or hasn’t raced in a while has to go through this course.

Veterans also attend as it’s a way to get more time on the course. But for the rookies it’s a time to demonstrate they have the necessary flying skills to compete in this unique event.

And for the newcomers being on the course at speed can be an eye opening experience. Not only are they flying in close proximity to other aircraft but they also need to fly the course for their class and be sure not to cut inside a pylon that marks a turn.

This is an example of the close flying any rookie pilot at PRS has to master if they are going to compete in the air races. Here three sport racers are heading down the main runway straight.

All this while flying low and fast, which many pilots usually never do. And each rookie is required to perform a simulated emergency.

All the classes were represented from Formula 1 to Jets with a mix of rookie and veterans.

Rookie Abe Gaskins stands by his aircraft that he’ll race this September.

One of the rookies is Abe Gaskins from Nashville, Tennessee. In fact he flew his aircraft (Sport #72) to Stead and will fly it back home after the seminar ends.

Asked what got him interested he said, “Just friends, coming out here and seeing the excitement. I figure I’d like to give it a shot so I came to PRS. It’s just one of the greatest training experiences that you could have and you get to meet such wonderful people so we’re lucky.”

Gaskins, after talking about schooling came up with the saying that, “It’s a license to learn.”

Of course watching aircraft fly the course and actually doing it are two very different things.

Abe Gaskins heads out for a session on Saturday morning.

Asked about his first time he said, “I think you’re in the moment. I didn’t know what to expect and you just kind of hand on and you only think about three seconds ahead of the next pylon.”

On Saturday after flying the course for the past three days he said, “You start slowing down a little bit in your head because you can identify and build your strategy. It’s interesting but you know you’ve got a lot more to learn.”

Then he added he will absolutely be racing here in September.

Another rookie was Diana Stanger (Sport #15) from Port Lavaca, Texas. She was flying with instructor Colleen Keller, who rode in the right seat of the aircraft.

Diana Stanger stands by the aircraft she will race this September.

A technical glitch keep Stanger from flying Friday afternoon but she was back in the air Saturday with Keller riding in the right seat of her Lancair.

Asked what got her interested she said, “The speed and the fact it’s actually aircraft. The first time was a lot more than I expected, a lot more. It’s still pretty imitating to be on the racecourse. A lot to take in but a little more confidence that I had when first got on it.”

Diana Stanger and instrucctor Colleen Keller head out for a practice race on Saturday.

Her response about September was, “one way or another.”

Another veteran looking for more time on the course is Chiwami Takagi (Sports #7) , a flight instructor based in San Jose area. Last year she was a rookie, raced in her first race but was looking for more time on the course.

Eric Woelbing and crewman head to Carson City in Miss TNT.

In addition to a large turnout there was a special edition to the T-6 Class. Six times Eddie Van Fossen flew Miss TNT to the Gold Championship. Now the aircraft is owned and will be raced by Eric Woelbing, who was present at PRS. While he lives in Wisconsin, the aircraft is based at Carson City.

One of the dozen jets at PRS heads out for a session on Saturday.

In addition there were about a dozen jets, as well as some Formula 1 and Biplane pilots at the seminar.

One of the Formula 1 racers is towed back after Saturday’s session.

All in all it was a fast paced four days of flying. And on Saturday afternoon both Gaskins and Stanger were headed to the RARA hanger to register for September’s races.

As the event wound down RARA CEO Michael Crowell had some comments about this year’s PRS.

Michael Crowell, RARA CEO, was very upbeat after PRS. He’s looking forward to a great race in September.

“It’s going great, we had a record this year, 130 pilots and then we had 70 airplanes. The previous record was 106 pilots and 63 planes so it’s a bit increase and lots of enthusiasm,” he said.

He added that while all the classes had increases the biggest was in the Sports Class.

Asked about the ratio between rookies and veterans looking for more course time at PRS, he said it’s about a 50/50 split.

This year the Reno National Championship Air Races will be held on September 14-18 although qualifying will begin that Monday.

Those wishing further information on the event and tickets need to check the event’s website at: www.airrace.org.

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