-JASPER AL- It is a red tail of a different kind...not flown by a Tuskegee Airman or an F-16 Pilot from Montgomery's ANG 187th but a Reno Air Race T-6 Champion, piloted by Col. Joey "Gordo" Sanders. Still, all are uniquely from Alabama with strong military roots. Sander's WW II trainer also known as "Big Red - Roll Tide" is a crowd favorite wherever it flies, except maybe at legendary football rival- Auburn.
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-University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban tours Joey Gordo Sanders' Big Red 5- Roll Tide T-6 at Sanders Aviation in Jasper. Image special to Alabama Aviator-
Big Red's winning history of Reno Air Racing is even more extensive than Joey Sanders'. The T-6 first entered a Reno Air Race in 1972 under the name of Miss Eufaula 25 and later as Red Baron 5 flown by Mac McClain. Jerry McDonald then flew the T-6 as Big Red 5 at Reno from 1981 - 2003. Acquiring Big Red, Sanders has raced successfully at Reno since 2004 placing the in Gold and winning in the Silver Championship classes.
Lately, Big Red and Gordo have an additional mission, airshow demonstrations. For the third time, they are on the lineup at the Tuscaloosa Blue Angels Air Show, March 31- April 1, 2012. When Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team, stopped by Sanders Aviation last week, he took a tour of Big Red. It was a chance meeting of two of many historic Alabama Champions. -B Meyer
-University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban tours Joey Gordo Sanders' Big Red 5- Roll Tide T-6 at Sanders Aviation in Jasper. Image special to Alabama Aviator-
Big Red's winning history of Reno Air Racing is even more extensive than Joey Sanders'. The T-6 first entered a Reno Air Race in 1972 under the name of Miss Eufaula 25 and later as Red Baron 5 flown by Mac McClain. Jerry McDonald then flew the T-6 as Big Red 5 at Reno from 1981 - 2003. Acquiring Big Red, Sanders has raced successfully at Reno since 2004 placing the in Gold and winning in the Silver Championship classes.
Lately, Big Red and Gordo have an additional mission, airshow demonstrations. For the third time, they are on the lineup at the Tuscaloosa Blue Angels Air Show, March 31- April 1, 2012. When Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team, stopped by Sanders Aviation last week, he took a tour of Big Red. It was a chance meeting of two of many historic Alabama Champions. -B Meyer