RENO, Nev. (AP) — Pilots are praising a new course designed to keep them farther away from spectators at the Reno air races after last year's accident that killed 11 people.
Reno Air Racing Association President Mike Houghton say pilots who flew the course for the first time during an annual training seminar this week ahead of the Sept. 12-16 races reacted positively to it.
He says the repositioning of several pylons will move the course about 150 feet farther away from spectators, and help ease the gravitational pull on pilots competing in the fastest of six aircraft classes by smoothing out turns.
A modified World War II P-51 Mustang crashed in front of VIP boxes last September at the Reno National Championship Air Races, killing 11 people and injuring about 70 others.
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