So what do you do with a rare retired warbird that's 70 years young?

Give  it a touch up on the old paintwork, put it in a museum and take it for the occasional airshow maybe?

Or would you rather cut of a few bits of superfluous fuselage and wing tips, tune the engine to near breaking point and race it at low level against other similar aircraft?

Well here are some good ol boys who do just that, welcome to the Reno air races ladies and gentleman

Yup! Some good, old fashioned excitement from my neck of the woods! (though, to be completely honest, I prefer the Reno Balloon Races.)

GREAT video! Thanks. 

No problem guys, I think some of these racers are simply nuts and it's kinda surprising that there aren't more fatal accidents considering othe altitude and spedd involved 

Quote from: DaveMorton on August 07, 2012, 23:52:27 PM
Yup! Some good, old fashioned excitement from my neck of the woods! (though, to be completely honest, I prefer the Reno Balloon Races.)

Looks fun Dave but a little sedate, however cionsidering your current predicament I woiuld say that is probably somewhat appealing 

Just experience one hour of "Dawn Patrol", and I bet Your opinion changes. The Balloon Races have been my favorite for nearly 20 years, now, and I try to attend every year. May not be able to go this year, but it won't be from lack of trying. Once I get home, I'll dig through some of my more memorable pics and post them.

Dawn patrol? I fear you need to elucidate that one Dave 

Look forward to the pictures in the future, can't wait until you get your butt home now 

"Dawn Patrol" is an event within the races themselves that occurs each morning of the races, beginning about 2 hours prior to sunrise, where specially trained balloon pilots put on a show as they prepare their craft for flight that launches about 15-30minutes before the sun peeks over the horizon. There's a lot of inspirational music, coupled with the pilots and crew doing what's called "candling", where an un-mixed flame of pure propane is shot, at full power, into the envelope of the balloon, illuminating it from the inside, and lighting up the area for a good distance.

So far, I've been able to "walk the field" during Dawn Patrol (something very few people are allowed to do, anymore) almost every year, and I was able to get some fantastic images. In fact, here are a few from my 2003 trip:

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Now that is cool 

I've seen the same over the Sussex Downs, however, normally at Dusk here Dave. Quite a sight to behold your right.

I used to get a good view of balloons going over the downs from my parents place in Brighton Diesel

Now you can see why the Balloon Races re among my favorites,

Here are some shots from 2007:

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Same as that DD, although I live in Hove Actually. 

I lived in the fiveways area for 27 years, before I finally got off my arse and moved out, then I spent 4 years in Hove actually and 5 here in Dublin

Stunning photos Dave

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