My Rookie Air Race September 2022

I was asked to write about my first official experience air racing and how it felt to finally achieve the goal of racing a jet low level around a course with other racers in a real race, well I can honestly say it was exhilarating and so much fun!

I have shared previously the challenges and commitment required to attend the training program for the Racing seminar held in June each year, the racing is a very different experience because we bring everything we have learnt back to the track, but this time there is no one in the back seat with us, no instructors telling us what to do, we must step up and do it all ourselves and keep ourselves and our fellow pilots safe by being predictable and solid with our flying.

There is no room for error when you are flying 50 feet off the ground at full power in a jet, and then add to this another pilot wanting to get past you, all pushing their machines to the maximum limit to win the race.

In addition, this year we had smoke from the wildfires in California, this made the visibility lower than usual and added additional challenges for the pilots, in particular when coming around the back of Peavine Mountain to launch down the shute to start the race. Visibility was so poor on some days that the racing was cancelled.

Normally the racing consists of a few practice sessions, then each pilot must complete 4 laps at full speed in racing configuration to demonstrate ‘G’ Tolerance and to qualify the jet with two timed laps. The qualifying lap speed will determine the position that the jet will line up in the race. The fastest jet will be on the inside on position 1, the slowest on the outside. Ideally you want to gain a good qualifying time so that you position yourself in a good spot for the best opportunity to win.

The racing then commences with a heat held for each division Bronze, Silver and Gold races. Each division has 3 heats, so you have 3 opportunities to race and move position (if you are in the slower qualifying speeds). Then the final race is held to determine the winners of each division.

This year, because of all of the smoke, we had one heat for each division, we had 2 heats cancelled, so we did not get to race much, the final race was based on the results of the first heat.

I qualified the jet during my 4 G tolerance laps at 374 Miles per hour, which positioned me at number 4 in the Bronze division. I would race my first heat in position 4 out of 6 airplanes.

In my first heat (MY VERY FIRST RACE!), as we came around the back of Peavine Mountain, it was turbulent and smokey, visibility was not great, the jets were all trying our best to form a line abreast for the race release. I was a good ½ airplane behind from where I should have been positioned, and I was working hard to move forward as instructed by the Pace Plane, jet number 5 on the right, outside of my aircraft, was an airplane or more in length ahead. He was instructed to pull up and out as he could not start that far ahead of everyone, which meant he had to then go to the outside of the lane and take position 6. Which he did.

The aircraft that was in position 6 then would move over next to me and taken position 5, but he was flying off 5 who was a long way ahead so he was a bit ahead as well, and I was behind, so he did not see me as he moved over, at this point, you are flying off the pilot on your left and holding station with them, so you are not looking to the right, but as I turned my head to take a quick peak at my line for the start of the race, I got a glimpse out to my right, coming across and right in front of me, jet number 6 had moved too far across, and had not seen me off his left wing, as I was still moving forward, I got a face full of jet and jet wash, which I was not expecting. Immediately I reacted to move back and out and take position 5 to avoid collision. This left me feeling very anxious, I was not expecting that to happen, and now the race formation was on descent, full power and about to be released, I had just had a pretty close call, the race had not even started!

The Pace Plane released the racers on to the track, we all dive down, I am still a little shaky, so instead of going full power, I just left the power at 90%, race 6 overtook me on the right outside at the first pylon and I was quite happy to let them all go ahead while I got my head back in the game.

I flew the first lap at the same power setting, and after I turned onto home pylon, I felt comfortable again, and I pushed the power up and set about flying the best line that I could around the pylons to obtain the least amount of G force and the most amount of speed. I was not worried about any of the other jets, they were all in front of me and I was not catching any of them based on my position, so I just enjoyed the flying experience and the opportunity to learn and almost have the track to myself!

I focused on looking forward for the next pylon, positioning myself to make sure I did not cut the pylon or show lines, flying at a good height so that I was not too low or too high. Looking for perfection of the bank angle to reduce G loading and speed.

The race was great fun, I enjoyed the experience, and I learnt so much in that short time. After the final lap, we pull up at home pylon and go up to cool down at 7500ft then we head back to recover the aircraft from the nominated runway. As I pull up at home pylon, and pull the power back, I feel exhilarated, I had just raced my very first race as a jet race pilot. What a thrill!

I bring the aircraft in for a textbook landing, and roll through to the end of the runway, we taxi back and all shut down in the pit. I had achieved something that I had been working towards for so many years. I had raced a jet around the famous Reno Air Race track.

Due to the visibility, the next two heats were cancelled, so we were set to race our final race in the finishing position of the first heat on the Saturday. I was positioned number 6 of 6 aircraft, on the outside. And that was fine with me!

The race started well, I did not get a face full of jet this time around, so I was pretty happy! When we were released onto the track, pushed the throttle all the way forward, I had to fly a little higher line as I was closing in on the jet in position 5, and on lap 4 I actually got past him at Pylon 6, it was a very challenging thing to do, he did not make it easy for me to pass, and I had to work very hard.

The entire time I did not take my eyes off him constantly looking to my left and matching his bank, when the opportunity was there, I took it and as we came around the valley of speed, I was clear and able to fly a closer and lower line for the last 2 laps. This positioned me 5th in the final race, so I didn’t finish last! Yippee!! After pulling up at home pylon I realised it was now all over, I would not race again this week, and I did feel a little sad, but I was so excited to have finished the race and as a Rookie, I was thrilled to have been able to pass another jet, that experience was incredible. We all landed without incident and had a great celebration on the ramp after the race with our teams where I was presented with a diamond tiara by all the girls on the ramp.

Sadly the week ended with the death of a friend and fellow racer during the Gold race on Sunday.

I am still processing the deep sadness and incredible shock of losing our friend Aaron Hogue in the final Gold Jet race on the Sunday 18th September, but I am also reflecting with incredible pride, my time during the week previous flying around the course at 50 feet, doing almost 400 Miles an hour, obtaining my 350 mile an hour badge, receiving my new racing call sign ‘Jet Sheila’ and then competing in the Bronze final on Saturday and placing 5th overall.

I am now taking the time to reflect on the many conversations Aaron and I had a few days before his passing, his incredible support for women in the aviation industry and in particular for me during my training to gain my racing certification. He was one of the first pilots to come up to me after my Bronze race and congratulate me, I will always remember his huge beaming smile as he hugged me and told me how proud he was. Aaron absolutely loved the challenges of racing jets around the course in Reno, he loved the comradery and friendships of our Jet class family, and he told me more than once, how incredibly lucky we are to do what we love because it brought us all together.

Racing around the course, low level in a jet at full power was in incredible experience, all of my training over the years had lead me to that moment in time, but the biggest thing I take away from the week of racing, was not about my achievements, or my finishing position in the racing, it was about the people that I spend my time with during the races, the people who celebrated my achievements with me and who have my back no matter what happens.

These people are my tribe, my September Family and, I love each and every one of them as if they were my flesh and blood.

We all understand what the risks are and what can and does happen in air racing, this is what makes us so unique, we all know that each and every pilot who races absolutely loves what we do with undeniable passion, a passion that is unexplainable to most but understood by our September family.

Yes - we need the aviation skill sets, Yes - we need the years of training and commitment, Yes - we need the dedication, Yes- we need the passion, but most importantly we need the support of those closest to us to succeed.

This is the ultimate combination that makes a Reno Air Racing pilot, and this is why I will continue to race at the Reno Air Races. I am honoured to be involved in a unique sport that so very few have the privilege of experiencing and I am so thankful for the incredible support that I have had through this journey.

Life is short – Live for every moment.

RACE ON Aaron Hogue….. First Place Gold Jet Class Reno 2022