U.S. National Aerobatic Champion Harold Krier is just one of the pilots introduced in this 20-minute color film on the National Championship Air Races held in Reno, Nevada, and aerobatic flying. Made in 1965, it opens with the camaraderie and competitiveness shared by pilots, The camera eavesdrops on conversations as pilots and their teams discuss horizontal rolls and potential problems as Krier is introduced at mark 02:00 and shown performing his airborne acrobatics. As aerobatics pilot Charlie Hillard explains at mark 02:30, precision aerobatic flying is not stunt flying. “Precision aerobatic flying is getting the ultimate out of an airplane,” he says at mark 02:58. “Stunt flying is something like flying through a house or crashing an airplane into a barn.” Hillard goes on to explain his checklist for maneuvers, which he keeps in his cockpit, before viewers are treated to such moves. The skill and daring of parachutists is up next as the film again eavesdrop on final preparations prior to their jumps. Back at the hanger at mark 07:33, mechanics work on pilot Bill Stead’s aircraft as biplanes roar overhead during the Reno Air Races. Replete with footage from the races, the film switches gears at mark 10:00 to focus on slow and graceful hot air balloon races … and the frenetic pace on the ground to get them into the sky. Air show pilot and former Air Force test pilot Bob Hoover wraps up the film, starting at mark 14:25, as he introduces us to the North American P-51 Mustang, once used during World War II and the Korean War.
Harold Krier was the US National Aerobatic Champion in 1965 and 1968. He was All American Aerobatic Champion in 1967. In 1963, EAA presented Harold with an Outstanding Achievement Award and he was also a recipient of the Rolly Cole Memorial Trophy. He was honored with the Mike Murphy Trophy for Aerobatic Excellence in 1967. He died in 1971.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
