Reno air race crashes

[loomex]

RENO, NV, September 8
Two pilots injured in crashes before Reno air races

Two pilots were injured in separate crashes while making practice runs before the start of the Reno National Championship Air Races.

Larry Lechner of Buena Vista, Colorado, and Dan Borgstrom of Karlskoga, Sweden crashed within 30 minutes of each other Sunday at Reno Stead Airport, 10 miles north of downtown Reno.

The two were taken to Washoe Medical Center in Reno. Borgstrom is in serious condition, Leichner is listed as stable.

Both pilots were scheduled to compete in the Formula One division, which features tiny home-built planes.

Race officials say Lechner was landing when his plane went over a dropoff at the end of the runway and flipped on its top.

Borgstrom was landing on another runway when his plane went out of control and also landed upside down.

The annual weeklong air races begin Monday with qualifying runs.

[Mr. Bones]

a crash in Reno? not very rare...happens all the time, but what did you expect?  ;)

i wish i could be there...

[Wing Nut]

Does anyone know if Miss America is back up yet?

[BFMF]

Does anyone know if Miss America is back up yet?

Are you sure they're even re-building it?

I hope so, I just loved that aircraft

[Wing Nut]

They're rebuilding her.  The damage wasn't that great, and besides, this isn't just any plane.  I understand she'll have a new paint scheme too.

[BFMF]

New paint sceme? Do you know what it will look like?

[Wing Nut]

No, I don't know.  I used to have their website before my crash, but I've lost the link.  However, things look good; she's listed to race this year...

http://www.airrace.org/entries2003Unlim.php

[ozzy72]

Last I heard they didn't think she'd be ready for this years races. Quite a lot of internal damage.
But that was a few months back. I hope she's back up where she belongs soon.

Ozzy