Hawker Sea Fury NX878M “Miss Merced” (formerly WG567 with the Royal Canadian Navy), back in the eye-watering colour scheme it wore for racing in the mid-1960s, returned to the Reno championships in Nevada this September.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

“Gentlemen, you have a race!” With smoke on, Steve Hinton in the Lockheed T-33 pace aircraft leads the racers down the chute for the start of a Silver race. This photograph was taken from the L-39 chase aircraft.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944Lockheed T-33A - СШАUSA - 1948

A fine formation comprising Race 105, NX24SF Spirit of Texas, Race 21 and Howard Pardue’s Race 66 Fury.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Bill Rheinschild’s Sea Fury Bad Attitude has retained a Canadian colour scheme.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

New to Reno, but unlucky this year, was just-completed Sea Fury Race 232 September Fury.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Wright R-3350 Cyclone 18 detail on a Sea Fury at Reno. None of the 13 examples at this year’s races sported the original Centaurus installation - reflecting the rarity of the Bristol sleeve-valve engine and the difficulty of keeping it serviceable.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Hawker Sea Furies on the ramp at this year’s races, held at Reno on September 14-17, 2000. Nearest the camera is Race 117, Bill Rheinschild’s Bad Attitude; behind it are Race 114, Dennis Sanders’s Argonaut, Race 911 September Pops, flown by Randy Bailey and Joe Thibodeau’s Race 21, flown by Nelson Ezell.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

It doesn’t make it go faster but it looks good - a Sea Fury has its wheel polished.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Race 232’s relieved owner/pilot Mike Brown just after pulling off a skilled emergency landing after the engine failed and seized.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Sound and Fury: Jim Michaels runs-up Miss Merced’s Wright R-3350 engine.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Jim Michaels, co-owner with Steve Bolander of Miss Merced, in the Sea Fury’s cockpit.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Unquestionably the most eyecatching Sea Fury at Reno this year, Miss Merced was joined by Brian Sanders’s Dreadnought, Mike Brown’s September Pops and newly-rebuilt September Fury, Tom Dwelle’s Critical Mass, Howard Pardue’s Fury, John Bagley’s Southern Cross, Hoot Gibson in Riff Raff, Stewart Dawson in Spirit of Texas, Lloyd Hamilton’s Furias, Bill Rheinschild’s Bad Attitude, Dennis Sanders’s Argonaut and Joe Thibodeau’s Race 21.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Miss Merced began life in very different colours with the Royal Canadian Navy, like this example, TG128.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944