Reno Air Races - Any advice?

I'm thinking of attending the Reno Air Races this year. Has anyone attended recently?

My most important question is how long of a lens I will need. In past years I've read posts where people say the distance
from the grand stands is too far from the flying aircraft. I don't know if my 420mm (300 f2.8 IS II + 1.4xIII) will have enough
reach. Maybe rent the 500 f4 or 600 f4 ?

And I wonder if they increased the viewing distance after the terrible 2011 crash.
Besides the grand stands, can photography be done in other areas? I don't have credentials that allow special access.
I'm just a bum with a camera

One last question...my guess is that Reno has plenty of motel/hotel rooms available. I should have no problem getting
one, correct?

The name has been changed. Not called Reno Air Races any more...
https://airrace.org/

Any other advice? Thanks.

Hi Frank,
I attended Sept 2017.

Regarding lenses: it depends on what you want pictures of. There's a big static display area and a pit area. The static area was free and I'm pretty sure you needed a pit pass (which was cheap) to get into the pits. I've posted some pics below along the the lens I used for the long-reach shots. All were shot with a crop sensor DSLR.

We sat in the grandstands but you can shoot pictures anywhere you're allowed to go. Everybody has to stay behind the flight line except race officials. The static area and pits are behind the flight line. IOW any ticket-holding bum with a camera can shoot pictures.

There are buses that circulate between the nicer hotels and the airshow. Check the hotel websites to see which ones have the airshow bus pickup/drop off. The air race website may also have bus info.

Other advice: Bring comfortable walking shoes. You're going to do a lot of it!

None of the following have been cropped.
Shot in the pits:

Those are some great photos, and your information really helps. Many thanks!

Good to know about the shuttle buses between hotel and airport. Something I didn't consider. Since I live near LA (about 500 miles from Reno) I'll take a commercial flight. It's a 5 day event, but I think I'll see most of the action if I attend on Sat & Sun.

Hope to make it this year.

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #19014886
Those are some great photos, and your information really helps. Many thanks!

Good to know about the shuttle buses between hotel and airport. Something I didn't consider. Since I live near LA (about 500 miles from Reno) I'll take a commercial flight. It's a 5 day event, but I think I'll see most of the action if I attend on Sat & Sun.

Hope to make it this year.

If you can, stay for the final event on Sunday (Unlimited Gold) and leave for home on Monday. Hotels book up fast so start checking now. I have stayed as far away as North Shore Tahoe because of lack of available hotels/motels in (or near) Reno.

As for lenses, the last time I was there (2015) I had a Canon 18-55 and 55-250 and those focal lengths were excellent for the variety of phot opportunities you will have. The long lens for airborne events, the shorter for sights on the field (static displays and pit area).

The Air Races is one of the most fantastic aviation events in the western part of the country - you will love it!

Dan

According to https://airrace.org/ the air races are supposed to be televised on NBCSports channel, May 9 at 3:30 EDT. Hopefully the website is being maintained and they're referring to 2020.

dangermoney wrote in post #19056699
According to https://airrace.org/ the air races are supposed to be televised on NBCSports channel, May 9 at 3:30 EDT. Hopefully the website is being maintained and they're referring to 2020.

Is this a different race?

"The 2020 STIHL National Championship Air Races will be held September 16-20 and tickets are on sale now."

This is what I see using that link.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19056709
Is this a different race?

"The 2020 STIHL National Championship Air Races will be held September 16-20 and tickets are on sale now."

This is what I see using that link.

No, that is the Reno Air Races, it appears Stihl is the sponsor.

Dan

Capn Jack wrote in post #19056709
Is this a different race?

"The 2020 STIHL National Championship Air Races will be held September 16-20 and tickets are on sale now."

This is what I see using that link.

Click the left or right arrows on the home page graphic until you get to the graphics showing the television schedule:

dangermoney wrote in post #19056728
Click the left or right arrows on the home page graphic until you get to the graphics showing the television schedule:

I'm a bit confused- is that last year's races televised in May?

I just checked my Dish satellite schedule and for 05/09/2020 it shows "Action from the National Championship Air Races and Air Show in Reno, Nev. Part 6" corrected for my local time zone.

It's only 1/2 hour show so maybe they've been showing it for quite a while.

Good information, thanks. I don't remember seeing air racing on tv before.

Unfortunately they announced today that the 2020 event has been officially canceled.

There's light at the end of the tunnel. Reno Air Races return Sept 15-19, 2021.

https://airrace.org/

dangermoney wrote in post #19207853
There's light at the end of the tunnel. Reno Air Races return Sept 15-19, 2021.

https://airrace.org/

Good news, I'll mark my calendar and see if I can make it. Thanks.