Flying “low and slow” has long been a hallmark of the agricultural aviation industry, but don’t tell that to Syracuse, Kan., aerial applicator Dusty Dowd. Dowd “dusted” the competition by taking first place in the Silver Unlimited class event at the 53rd annual Reno Air Races last month. Dowd flew low and fast, flying more than 376 mph for seven laps in his Yakovlev Yak-11, a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force until 1962. “No one has ever gone that fast in this airplane,” Dowd told his local newspaper, The Warwick Advertiser. 

 

In addition to being an accomplished air racer, a longtime ag pilot and the owner/operator of Syracuse Flying Service, Dowd is an aeronautical engineer. Footage of Dowd’s winning run at the Reno Air Races is available below. Way to go, Dusty!