GhLinks Media
This week’s annual National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada ended tragically today, when an L-29 Super Delfin jet and its pilot crashed in a horrible accident during the Jet Gold Race.
Pilot Aaron Hogue, Race #29, did not survive.
What happened?
Footage posted on Twitter on Sunday starts off with two planes racing across the Reno mountains in Nevada when one of them gets too low and crashes into a field.
It quickly erupted into a blaze as it skidded across the grassy knoll, sending flames flying in its wake as thousands of fans at the event watched in horror and many others watched via livestream.
The plane bounced several times as pieces of the plane seemed to fall off.
Who was Aaron Hogue?
Aaron Hogue was a 61 year old American pilot and the Owner and President of Hogue, Inc. Hogue manufactures several product lines, primarily firearm accessories and knives.
Aaron Hogue had always been into planes, according to his biography on RacingJets.com, which says: ‘Aaron has been into all things motorized since [he was] a young boy, anything aviation was always high on the list!
Hogue was the race’s Rookie of the Year in 2021.
He was an experienced pilot of over 35 years.
Interestingly, Aaron built a plastic scale model of an L-29 when only 8 years old.
Years followed with model rockets, go carts, motorcycles, cars, boats, etc.
Aaron took some introductory flights at 16 and finally got his ticket in 1987 after spending time in the Navy as an Electronics Technician.
Over the years, Aaron made the step up to higher performing aircraft culminating a few years ago with the L-29 Super Delfin.
The Air races are a natural evolution for Aaron. As a Private IFR pilot, Aaron has accumulated 2300+ hours in several aircraft and has an Aerobatic Proficiency Certificate from Shawn Tuckers Tutima Academy.
