John Penny flying Rare Bear around pylon 2.
The 2009 Reno National Championship Air Races and Air Show marked the 46 years of air racing. The week of qualifying and racing saw ideal weather conditions with temperatures in the 80's and light breezes. Competition was tight in the Unlimited class and saw new speed records nearly every flight. The air racing action culminated in the Unlimited Gold Race being won by Steve Hinton Jr. flying the P-51 #7 Strega with a top speed of 491.822 mph.
The 46th anniversary show was non stop action with all the different classes of air racing and wild aerobatic performances that kept the crowd well entertained. Leading the list performers were the U. S. Navy Blue Angels followed by Patty Wagstaff's Extra 300, David Martin's Breitling Extra 330, Red Eagle Air Sports dual biplane act, U. S. Air Force Reserve jet car Smoke-N-Thunder, and the Parachute Jumping Team was from the Air National Guard 212th Recue Squadron based in Kulis, Alaska. The AirShowBuzz T-33 Pace Plane was flown by Steve Hinton.