IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Threshold Aviation Group is sponsoring three aircraft at the Reno Air Races this weekend at the Stihl National Championship Air Races in Nevada. The three vintage World War II aircraft include two P-51 Mustangs and a P-63 Kingcobra, all from the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The two renovated P-51 Mustangs include “Bunny,” which is painted with the Tuskegee Airmen colors, and designations from the P-51 that Lt. Col. Bob Friend flew in World War II during 140 combat missions, and “Man O’ War.”
Man O’ War’s livery (414292/QP-A) is of the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, the personal aircraft of Lt. Col. Claiborne H Kinnard, a highly decorated commander of the 4th Fighter Group, with 25 enemy aircraft destroyed to his credit.
This is Man O’ War’s first appearance at the Reno Air Races. This year marks the 2nd appearance for “Pretty Polly,” the P-63 Kingcobra, and the third appearance for Bunny. Both Bunny and Pretty Polly took home Silver Medals at the previous Reno Air Races in 2019.
The aircraft are piloted by Tom Nightingale (Bunny), Ken Gottschall (Man O’ War) and Patrick Nightingale (Pretty Polly).
Threshold Aviation is supplying the aviation fuel for the three aircraft for the Reno Air Races.
“Air racing drove aircraft innovation in the early days of our industry,” said Mark Dilullo, Threshold Aviation’s CEO and a pilot himself. “We are proud to help the Palm Springs Air Museum’s efforts to keep that history alive for future generations of Americans and the aviation community.”
Threshold Aviation Group is one of the largest Aircraft Maintenance, Management, Service, and Support organizations in Southern California. Located on the grounds of Chino Airport (KCNO) and Auburn Municipal Airport (KAUN), Threshold Aviation provides aircraft maintenance, charter, management as well as the lowest fuel prices in Southern California.
The Stihl National Championship Air Races run from September 15 through 19th at Stead Airfield in Reno, Nevada. The event can be livestreamed at https://airrace.org/live-stream/. The vintage Palm Springs Museum Aircraft compete in the “Unlimited” classification.
