And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Friday, May 15, 2026
1982 pilot Lefty Gardner, a WWII veteran and air race legend, flying at 400mph and 20 feet off the deck in his Lockheed P-38 Lightning at the Reno Air Races.
It is my understanding that the Reno Air Races fairly recently relocated to Roswell, New Mexico. There is an old, abandoned US Air Force base (Walker AFB) that hosts this major, international event.
I owned over 2 acres and a house in a mini ranch development in Lemon Valley, West of Reno on the east boundary side of Stead Airport which use to host the Reno Air Races and got a back patio view of 3/4 of the race every year. It was a blast watching the air race and barbecuing while listening to scanners set to the tower and race freqs and listening to pilots and officials.
I was at a Confederate Air Force air show and was lucky enough to get a chance to sit in the pilot's seat of White Lightnin while Lefty Gardner was doing to routine checks. He was truly a gentleman and the picture of me sitting there is a treasured memento.
It is my understanding that the Reno Air Races fairly recently relocated to Roswell, New Mexico. There is an old, abandoned US Air Force base (Walker AFB) that hosts this major, international event.
ReplyDeleteWell. That’s news. Got to see the Reno races several times, such a great time. Will look into Roswell, never been before.
Deletehttps://airrace.org/national-championship-air-races-take-off-for-roswell-nm-in-2025/
DeleteI owned over 2 acres and a house in a mini ranch development in Lemon Valley, West of Reno on the east boundary side of Stead Airport which use to host the Reno Air Races and got a back patio view of 3/4 of the race every year. It was a blast watching the air race and barbecuing while listening to scanners set to the tower and race freqs and listening to pilots and officials.
ReplyDeleteI was at a Confederate Air Force air show and was lucky enough to get a chance to sit in the pilot's seat of White Lightnin while Lefty Gardner was doing to routine checks. He was truly a gentleman and the picture of me sitting there is a treasured memento.
ReplyDeleteThe Chevette is a from an altogether different spectrum and time.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't so sad it would be funny.
It's jarring to see a Lightning that's not just silver. God what an aircraft.
ReplyDelete