(5 pix and 2 videos)
It would at first seem that the timing of this new IMAX theater film project called Air Racers 3D couldn't be worse... with production running thru Reno 2009 and 2010 with the goal of showcasing the amazing world of low-fast-left air racing, it seemed like the perfect concept. But then the unimaginable Jimmy Leeward Galloping Ghost tragedy took place at Reno 2011 taking the lives of 11 people and seriously injuring many more. Would the Reno Air Races even be able to continue? On the surface it seemed like maybe air racing just wasn't safe anymore... but when you look closer at the accident, you realize that tragedy is part of the human experience, and as much as we wish life could be completely safe with all the right planning, the truth is that lives are lost everyday as a result of circumstances that simply couldn't be prepared for.
With the spirit of air racing fans intact and the desire to move forward with safety the number one priority (as it has always been) the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced in early January the intention to move forward with plans for the 2012 Reno Air Races, working hard to secure all the needed permits and approvals. And now, Air Racers 3D not only has its place as a film, but you might even say that the timing for it now actually couldn't be any better. The reason is that this amazing IMAX film will do much to help others see what air racing is all about... more people than ever before will see that this isn't a pack of wild out-of-control pilots, but rather that Reno air racing is a large number of incredibly dedicated individuals and teams that work very hard to safely bring the fastest motorsport in the world to thousands and thousands of enthusiast fans. Air Racers 3D is actually in a position to help the sport of air racing to survive.
Young champion Steven Hinton is showcased in the Air Racers 3D IMAX filmAs can be seen in Air Racers 3D trailer video above, the visuals for this IMAX film are amazing. The 45 minute film will give us all the kind of visual experience most of us have wanted to have but never expected to get. The film crew had unprecedented access to the races, the teams and the airplanes... and when you add IMAX cameras and the IMAX theater, the end result will be incredibly dramatic.
Amazing cockpit view on the Reno air race course... F7F Tigercat off your wingtip!