Pic(k) of the week 37: Gentlemen you have a Race!

"Gentlemen, you have a Race", are the famous words of every race start at the Reno Air Races in Nevada, USA. The anual event which is held while I'm writing this post (43rd edition), is unique in the world and surely a must see for all aviation enthusiasts! Several different classes of aircraft race each other around pylons in the desert. 

The image below, dates back exactly one year and was made as I attended the 2009 Races. 

The aircraft featured is "Rare Bare", a highly modified Grumman F8F Bearcat which has been competing at Reno since 1969 and has won several Gold Races in the Unlimited class. It also holds the tittle for the fastest single prop driven aircraft with a speed of 528mph or 850km/h. This is as fast as an Airbus A320 and just a tiny bit slower than the A330 and A340's I fly! Amazing for a basic airframe which is more than 60 years old!

I've re-edited the image together with about 100 others, while I'm working on my next book, "Focus on Aviation"... more on the project in about a months time!

Image details:

Nikon D700 with the Nikkor 70-200 2.8.

ISO 200, f8, 1/500s, 340mm

Lightroom 3 RAW processing

Nik Color Efex for optimum contrast

More of my images made at the Reno Air Races last year can be found here.

Take that lens cap off,

BJORN