IT IS described as the fastest motorsport in the world where planes reach speeds of up to 800 kilometres per hour and pilots experience up to six Gs of force.
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And one Wagga pilot with an obsession with aviation recently had the chance to compete and came second in one of the races. Not too bad for a first go.
Craig Wilcockson, a flight trainer and airshow pilot since 1989, flew an L-29 Delfin he named Miss Independence, came second and fifth in two classes at the US National Championship Air Races in September.
Held in Nevada, the event is described as having a legacy of history, heritage and preservation, as well as daring imagination and wonder.
"It was an absolutely amazing experience to fly and to have that experience with other like-minded pilots," Mr Wilcockson said.
"Only the best pilots in the world are allowed to participate and there are fewer than 40 pilots qualified in the world to race the jets around the air race track."
Mr Wilcockson's interest in the event started in 2018 when he attended as a crew chief and it grew from there.
He successfully completed a course in June to allow him to compete in this year's event. Once he passed the flying, physical and mental assessments, he started Wilco Racing Team.
"The most difficult part of race week felt by all participants is the fatigue," Mr Wilcockson said.
"As a race pilot you are very busy from initial briefings to flying to debriefings and then preparing for your next event.
"When racing, you have to continually maintain situational awareness of where other racers are in relation to your aircraft and at times you can be flying in very close proximity to other aircraft."
Pilots were also allowed to fly between oly 50 and 250 feet off the ground otherwise they would be disqualified.
Mr Wilcockson's wife, Janette, was chief of the ground crew, which included her father in law.
"The highlights for me was actually his first race," Mrs Wilcockson said.
"Seeing what we have achieved when we got over there and seeing him actually take off in line with the other planes."
She said they "didn't actually breathe a sigh of relief until the end of the week when it was all over".
"It was great being the Aussies over there, so the Americans loved us," she said.
Mr Wilcockson said it was "an absolutely team effort".
"To be successful, a race pilot cannot perform without their team behind them," he said.
Plans for the 2020 event are already underway.
"Hopefully, I can better my results," Mr Wilcockson said.
