RACE WEEK at RENO/Stead Field

Watched Doctor Brent Hisey blow up his V-1650 Rolls Royce Merlin engine during qualifying heats today... He was "smokin" through the course when he suddenly heard a "bang" and engine oil started to spew out leaving a trail of smoke. He was fortunate to get immediately lined up to runway 14 and was able to safely land, but not until an engine backfire blew off his lower engine cowling along with all the cold air inlet ducting. The liberated ducting and cowl parts flew aft and also took out his coolant heat exchanger (ratiator). The result was a big mess, but, Doc Hisey safely landed! Check out: http://www.airrace.org/ for updates and pictures, and also some P-51 Mustang images at: http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-74536.shtml

I'll be at Reno all week helping a squadron Bro~ & Friend flying in the Sport Class (Experimental Homebuilts) - Race#22 "X-Ray" (Maj.) Greg Nelson in his Harmon Rocket II