The Reno Air Races return, this time with jets ablazin’
The Reno Air Races were back on form this year as some 180,000 people trekked to Stead Field in mid-September to watch 128 aircraft compete in six race cla

The Reno Air Races were back on form this year as some 180,000 people trekked to Stead Field in mid-September to watch 128 aircraft compete in six race classes for a record $800,000 in prize money. Last year’s event was canceled early in race week due to September 11.

New this time was a jet class. This invitation-only race was between seven L-39 Albatross sport jets. The L-39 was the standard jet trainer in former Warsaw Pact countries, made by Aero Vodochody in what is now the Czech Republic. American Spirit, flown by Curt Brown of Alvin, Texas, had a near-one-minute lead after the six-lap race.

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