Photos: Race Weekend in Reno

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The 53rd National Championship Air Races came to a dramatic close in Reno after four days of intense race action in the desert last September.

Race pilots competed in Sport, Jet, T-6 and Unlimited Gold classes, and the Blue Angels once again thrilled spectators with their dazzling flight demonstration over Reno Stead Airport.

Check out the photos from 2016's Saturday and Sunday race events below.

The 10 a.m. desert silence is shattered by the start of the Jet Class race. Here comes the L-29 Delfin Miss Independence. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Dave Culler Jr. in the Albatros L-39C Riff Raff in Saturday's Jet Class race. John King, FlyerFocus.com

"Gentlemen, we have a race!" The T-6s start over the west ridge on Saturday. John King, FlyerFocus.com

This may look like formation flying, but each T-6 pilot is looking for the opportunity to break out as the race begins. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Half a dozen T-6s make the turn toward the Home Pylon on Saturday afternoon. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Baron's Revenge, jockeys for position with Six Cat. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Rounding the East Pylon is No. 69 Eros and No. 2 Bare Essestials. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Saturday afternoon's Sport Class race with Saratoga, California's Vicky Benzing in Lucky Girl. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Here comes airline pilot Bob Mills in the Thunder Mustang Clas Thunder in Saturday afternoon's Sport Class race. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Cowling to cowling, here's No. 90 Undecided and No. 88 Radial Velocity. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Airline pilot John Lohmar of Dallas, Texas, in the SNJ-5 Radial Velocity. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Reno rookie Matthew Jernejcic, a flight instructor from San Diego, flies the RV-7 Trixie. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Scott Prewitt rounds Pylon 5 in Angry Canary. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Here's Steve Hinton Jr. in the highly modified P-51D Mustang Voodoo. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Vicky Benzing passes the East Pylon in her Lancair Legacy, Lucky Girl. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Out of the Valley of Speed on Saturday afternoon. That's Zachary McNeill in the Vampire Phatty at the front of the pack, John King, FlyerFocus.com

The Hawker Sea Furys battle it out. In front is Joel Swager in Argonaut, followed closely by Dennis Sanders in 924G. John King, FlyerFocus.com

A close-up of 924G. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Dreadnaught, which raced in the Unlimited Gold class Sunday, starts up. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Czech Mate's Sunday start-up. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Voodoo is prepped for the Unlimited Gold race Sunday. John King, FlyerFocus.com

A late entry, Snoopy scans the sky in search of his nemesis, the Red Baron. John King, FlyerFocus.com

The Blue Angels once again performed one of their jaw-dropping shows. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Up we go! John Consalvi takes off in the Yak-11 Czech Mate at the start of Sunday's Unlimited Gold race. John King, FlyerFocus.com

The Hawker Sea Fury 924G takes off for the Sunday Unlimited Gold race. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Robbie Patterson from Corona, California, in the Mustang Race #0. John King, FlyerFocus.com

There goes Brant Seghetti in the P-51D Mustang Blondie. John King, FlyerFocus.com

Warbird restoration specialist Robbie Patterson, from Corona, California, flies the P-51D Race #0. John King, FlyerFocus.com

In an almost continuous 6G turn, Voodoo, flown by Steve Hinton Jr., races to win in Sunday's Gold Unlimited class. John King, FlyerFocus.com

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Flying StaffEditor

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Photos: Race Weekend in Reno

Flying Staff

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