There are times when something unexpected and delightful arrives at ones door and I have to say, that this DVD produced by the National Air Races Project is one of them.

Superbly edited and produced, this 90 minute DVD is full of the men and aircraft of the 1939 National Air Races, held in Cleveland Ohio. The event was on the same weekend that Germany invaded Poland, but since the US was in isolationist mode, that had no effect on the huge crowds of the day. Covering several days, including Labor Day of 1939, well over 250,000 people witnessed some the the most advanced racing aircraft of their day. These were mostly custom built racers that participated in the three major racing events of the weekend.

First, there was the Greve race for aircraft of under 550 cubic inch displacement. It was 20 laps of a 10 mile closed course. The next was the finish of the Bendix Trophy race, a cross country event that left California for Ohio. Most of these aircraft along with many of the Greve race were also entered in the final event, the Thompson Trophy. Like the Bendix race, this was for aircraft of unlimited power and design. It was an event that covered 30 laps of the 10 mile course.

The DVD includes many well known names like Tony LeVier, Roscoe Turner, and Art Chester. Not only racers, but a bevy of stunt planes and military aircraft such as the Navy F3F and Army P-36s, the latter in special camouflage applied at the unit's home base in Selfridge, Michigan. Of course, there is more in there than just what is mentioned;  I don't want to give it all away.

But what makes this an especially superlative production is that half of the video is full color. These are some the finest period color movies I've seen and in themselves are well worth the cost. The colors of the USS Ranger's F3Fs resplendent in green tails and sectional colors. The wild camouflage colors applied to the P-36s and above all, the brilliant shades used by the racers themselves.  

If it sounds like I'm psyched over this DVD, then you are quite correct. I know you will be as well and most highly recommend it.

My thanks to www.nationalairraces.net for the review DVD. You can get yours from the link.

June 2010

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