VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA: Chris Rushing, the president of the Condor Squadron Officer’s and Airmen’s Association in Van Nuys, and Nick Macy from Tulelake in Northern California died when their planes collided on Sunday, September 17.

The tragedy struck at the National Championship Air Races in Nevada's Reno-Stead Airport when their planes collided during an attempt to land at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race on Sunday

Chris Rushing and Nick Macy were the victims

Both pilots, celebrated for their expertise, lost their lives in the accident around 2:15 pm.

The unfortunate incident deeply affected Fred Telling, the chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association, who considered Rushing and Macy not just integral members of the racing family but his own, according to Daily.com

“I am completely devastated and heartbroken today,” Telling said in a statement. “These two pilots weren’t just an integral part of the National Championship Air Race family, they were a part of my family.”

The crash, however, did not result in any injuries among spectators.

Chris Rushing, a former aircraft mechanic with the California National Guard, played a significant role in promoting the history and legacy of the AT-6 Texan trainer plane from the World War II era.

Honoring veterans through the skies

Rushing shared his passion by participating in flyovers across Southern California on occasions like Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Veterans Day, and more, using the AT-6 Texan, originally a training aircraft during WWII. Rushing expressed that the most gratifying aspect of these activities was paying tribute to military veterans.

“The most fun thing about it all? It’s a real honor to be honoring military veterans,” he said at the time.

The Condor Squadron, founded in 1965 at Van Nuys Airport, initially served as a Civil Air Patrol search-and-rescue unit while concurrently aiming to preserve the history of the AT-6 Texan.

This aircraft model, renowned for its role in World War II, has also graced the screen in various movies.

In addition to their flying endeavors, the squadron maintains museum sites at Van Nuys Airport and the Portal of The Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation at Valhalla Cemetery in Burbank.

The Reno Air Racing Association is actively collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to ascertain the cause of the tragic collision. As of now, the FAA has not provided any official comments regarding the incident.