As we head into the weekend the tempo begins to increase.

STEAD – Air Race Update for today has the pace quickening as the event tempo increases as well as some acts performing.

The Blue Angels were both sighting the area and doing a practice program.

The Blue Angels during their afternoon practice program.

Yesterday there was a small hitch when one of the Blues that was giving press rides blew a tire on landing. That also canceled a heat for the T-6 racers.

Today however the Blues did a long scouting practice then later came back for their practice performance.

Yesterday this reporter made a small error. Been covering the changing logo for the T-6 racer Miss TNT. That aircraft is actually Race 27 and not 26 as I put in the report.

For the first time in years Miss TNT is ready to once again race through the sky over Stead Airport.

Now that she’s ready to once again take to the skies pilot Eric Woelbing took her up and raced to second in the late T-6 heat race.

On her return to action Miss TNT was raced to second place in a heat race by pilot Eric Woelbing.

Another vintage flying through the skies is the logo of Pan Am, one of the pioneering airlines. It’s now been reformed as an on-demand travel service.

PanAm is now an alternative, on demand travel service that uses many types of aircraft and will service airports usually not used by commercial airlines. For further information please check their website at, www.PanAm.com.

The logo of pioneering airlines PanAm returned to the skies on the side of Ralph Rina’s T-6 racer.

Carrying this pioneering logo into competition was Ralph Rina’s T-6.

On a more serious note, over the past year teams and the event itself has lost people that have passed on. To honor them one aircraft from four classes did a “Missing Man,” flyover just before the opening ceremonies that included flag jumpers.

Four aircraft from different classes flew a “Missing Man,” formation to honor those lost over the previous year.

The static display area is getting crowded with aircraft including a F-15 painted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Oregon Air National Guard. In addition there were other military and civilian aircraft on display.

This evening an F-35 was scheduled to fly into the field. And there was a flyover by an U-2 aircraft.

A U-2 visited the Air Races today.

Besides the heat races there was another 1v1 T-6 race that matches two racers and launches them from a standing start. First one to complete their course and reach the finish wins.

Also there was another Slalom Match Race that pits two sport class aircraft. Pylons are used to create two lanes used for slalom racing.

Once the racers finish their first pass they turn around, change sides then fly the course in reverse. In the end the winner is the one that finishes first.

During the first T-6 Heat Race both Dennis Buehn (43) and Nick Macy (6) raced each other. In the end Macy won this one.

Friday begins at 8 a.m. with Formula One and Biplanes racing in heats. Through the day there are several races and the Blue Angels will do their practice show but this time should have all their planes in the air.

In the afternoon we’ll finally get to see the Unlimiteds race their first heats.

Now the winners from today are:

Formula One: Scott Holmes, Heat 2C

Bi-plane: Marilyn Dash, Heat 2B, Jeff Rose, Heat 2A

Sport: Vince Walker, Heat 1B, Jeff LaVelle, Heat 1A

T-6: Gene McNeely, Heat 1B, Nick Macy, Heat 1A.

Jet: Charlie Camilleri, Heat 2c, David Culler Jr., Heat 1B

That it’s for now, tomorrow should be even more exciting as the pace continues to increase. For further information and to purchase tickets please go to, www.airrace.org.

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