Air Racing Today: Heavy Iron at Reno

The whine of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine causes the ground to tremble as the steeply banked P-51, painted in day-glo colors, sizzles past the last pylon in the Nevada desert. Then a succession of Mustangs whistles over the sagebrush, whipping the air into contorted vortices. This is the scene played out each year at the Reno Air Races, where pilots push their "heavy iron" to the limit. Author and pilot Philip Handleman captures all the excitement and technological brilliance of the event with breathtaking color photography and an appropriately fast-paced text. The daring pilots and devoted crews are featured alongside the intriguing aircraft. A special section highlights the colorful "nose art" displayed on the aircraft.