"Two aircraft were able to land safely after a midair during a Jet
Class heat at the 55th annual National Championship Air Races at
Reno-Stead Airport (RTS) near Reno, Nevada, last Friday. As seen in
the video below, the two Aero L-39 Albatros jets made contact when
"Reality Czech," piloted by Nathan Harnagel, was attempting to
overtake "Race 37," piloted by Alexandre Eckmann. The aircraft were
reportedly travelling in excess of 400 miles per hour when the
collision took place."
"Both aircraft sustained damage, although "Race 37" took the most
significant hit, losing approximately one-third of its right wing and
sustaining visible damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer.
Eckmann was able to pull out of the race, call in a mayday and land
shortly thereafter. Harnagel landed after a close inflight examination
of his aircraft by chase pilot Jeff Turney, one of the founding
members of the Jet Racing class at the National Championship Air
Races. Neither pilot was injured in the collision."
Class heat at the 55th annual National Championship Air Races at
Reno-Stead Airport (RTS) near Reno, Nevada, last Friday. As seen in
the video below, the two Aero L-39 Albatros jets made contact when
"Reality Czech," piloted by Nathan Harnagel, was attempting to
overtake "Race 37," piloted by Alexandre Eckmann. The aircraft were
reportedly travelling in excess of 400 miles per hour when the
collision took place."
"Both aircraft sustained damage, although "Race 37" took the most
significant hit, losing approximately one-third of its right wing and
sustaining visible damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer.
Eckmann was able to pull out of the race, call in a mayday and land
shortly thereafter. Harnagel landed after a close inflight examination
of his aircraft by chase pilot Jeff Turney, one of the founding
members of the Jet Racing class at the National Championship Air
Races. Neither pilot was injured in the collision."
