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McDonnell Douglas MD-87 (N295EA) - The pilots of Erickson's MD-87 Air Tanker (N295EA) have no choice but to sit in the cockpit and wait to depart Reno Stead Airport because RTS is closed to all but air race aircraft in this click taken during the 2019 National Championship Air Races last month.br /Had an emergency situation been declared somewhere in the western United States that had required the immediate dispatch of Tanker 105, the qualification races being conducted would have been suspended long enough for N295EA and the three other Air Tankers sitting at RTS to depart. But with no such declaration, four air tankers waited until racing action ended for the day. This tanker, along with the other three, was gone within ten minutes after RTS was reopened at 4:50 PM.
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McDonnell Douglas MD-87 (N295EA)

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The pilots of Erickson's MD-87 Air Tanker (N295EA) have no choice but to sit in the cockpit and wait to depart Reno Stead Airport because RTS is closed to all but air race aircraft in this click taken during the 2019 National Championship Air Races last month.
Had an emergency situation been declared somewhere in the western United States that had required the immediate dispatch of Tanker 105, the qualification races being conducted would have been suspended long enough for N295EA and the three other Air Tankers sitting at RTS to depart. But with no such declaration, four air tankers waited until racing action ended for the day. This tanker, along with the other three, was gone within ten minutes after RTS was reopened at 4:50 PM.

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Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
The crew aboard Tanker 105 was rather anxious to leave. Crewpersons from the other three tankers had positioned themselves just outside their respective tankers to watch the races while awaiting the reopening of the airport, but no one in Tanker 105 ever emerged. I observed both pilots sitting in the cockpit as they are doing here throughout the afternoon. When the last race of the day was completed, this Erickson bird had completed the engine start before the racers had even circled and landed. But so had the other three tankers. All four taxied out, queued up, and took off as soon as the last landing racer cleared the active.
Tom Vance
WOW....Gman.................??? on my PC desktop. this photo looks 3D___?? I can almost reach into the screen....how did you do this? 5x 5 ?????..
Tom Vance
Oh, more...I was so enthalled by the 3D effect, I missed the golf cart.....haven't rampers gotten the clue to keep that stuff outta the way yet? There are plenty of whiners like me around.......LOL :)
ACTIVITY LOG
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Date Aircraft Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
17-May-2026 MD87Colorado Sprgs Muni ()Colorado Sprgs Muni () 06:42PM MDT 07:46PM MDT 1:03
17-May-2026 MD87Colorado Sprgs Muni ()Colorado Sprgs Muni () 05:13PM MDT 06:21PM MDT 1:07
17-May-2026 MD87Abilene Rgnl ()Colorado Sprgs Muni () 04:17PM CDT 04:51PM MDT 1:34
16-May-2026 MD87Abilene Rgnl ()Abilene Rgnl () 05:51PM CDT 06:55PM CDT 1:04
16-May-2026 MD87Abilene Rgnl ()Abilene Rgnl () 12:24PM CDT 01:24PM CDT 0:59
16-May-2026 MD87Abilene Rgnl ()Abilene Rgnl () 11:01AM CDT 11:59AM CDT 0:58
15-May-2026 MD87Rapid City Rgnl ()Abilene Rgnl () 03:19PM MDT 06:46PM CDT 2:26
14-May-2026 MD87Rapid City Rgnl ()Rapid City Rgnl () 07:03PM MDT 07:55PM MDT 0:52
14-May-2026 MD87Rapid City Rgnl ()Rapid City Rgnl () 05:46PM MDT 06:38PM MDT 0:51
14-May-2026 MD87Pocatello Rgnl ()Rapid City Rgnl () 03:23PM MDT 04:53PM MDT 1:30
14-May-2026 MD87Redding Rgnl ()Pocatello Rgnl () 12:37PM PDT 02:56PM MDT 1:19
13-May-2026 MD87Chico Rgnl ()Redding Rgnl () 05:47PM PDT 06:20PM PDT 0:32
08-May-2026 MD87Madras Municipal ()Chico Rgnl () 09:14AM PDT 10:14AM PDT 0:59
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