Personalize your unlimited air-racer!

[k5083]

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. I just have a different opinion. I'm curious if Reno has done something to pi$$ you off.

No, I'm just amused by the approach taken. And by the fact that not only any new-technology aircraft, but almost any of the great racers or speed ships from the 1930s would now be disqualified. Want to build an exact replica Me 209V1, which held the speed record before Greenameyer, and try for a rematch with the Bearcats? Sorry, plane's too small. He 100 prototypes? Nope. Supermarine floatplanes? The S.6b would barely squeak in by 90 lbs, all the others are too light even with floats. Caudrons, Gee Bees, Curtiss R3C? No race for you. Jackie Cochran's Seversky? Nope, a combat-ready P-35 barely makes it, I'm sure the racer wouldn't. And none of these planes would be permitted to race in any other class either. Granted, most of these planes wouldn't stand much of a chance in the unlimited Gold race, but some should beat the stock warbirds for the Bronze.

We'll agree to disagree about why Reno really did what it did; I've heard otherwise, but not first hand. What I would love to see, since unlimited class is now off-limits to homebuilts, is a truly open race class with no displacement ceiling and no homologation requirement. It would take a while to build up this class, and there might have to be an interim rule that no engine designed before, say, 1965 could be used to prevent P-51 owners from defecting to the new class and impairing its early growth, but I would look forward to the day when the winning speeds exceeded those of the unlimited class. We'd get to see some great technology and eventually the new class would be called the unlimited class and the unlimited class would become the warbird class.

August

[oz rb fan]

i'm building it in my garage at the moment
a green and gold dh hornet two griffons contraprops of a seafire fr47 cleaned up and lightend

[AirJimL2]

Taylorcraft L-2 with a Bristol Centaurus with a five bladed prop.

Look out Reno 2008!

Jim

[Steve T]

Jim--

I've seen that somewhere before...

Reno ideas?

*reconstitute "Beguine" (adding fan cooling for the rad pods)

*newbuild P-39ish fuselage, contraprop-equipped Griffon, flying surfaces from a Sabre; named "Swordplay" (this was actually another Jim idea)

*newbuild Kyushu J7W Shinden, probably also with a contraprop Griff; overall gloss black with rising-sun graphics on the fins, and some sort of ninja-related name...maybe a Toyota or Honda dealer could sponsor it

*reconstitute '46 Thompson champ P-39 "Cobra II"

*strip and polish Bob Jens' Spit XIVe (3rd in '49 Tinnerman) and see how she does 58 years later...

Fun thread.

S.

[Scotty G]

Apparently not for one person!

[AirJimL2]

Ok Steve,

Here is the Taylorcraft Racing Team project... Make that look out Reno 2009...

Drawing by Steve T.

Jim

[AirJimL2]

*newbuild P-39ish fuselage, contraprop-equipped Griffon, flying surfaces from a Sabre; named "Swordplay" (this was actually another Jim idea)

Actually my "Swordplay" idea was a contraprop Griffon Spitfire XIV with Sabre flying surfaces. Registered C-FAST of course...



Jim

[rwdfresno]

I'd name mine Seafurybiscuit lol.

[shoki]

Grumman F7F with a pair of R-4360.

[henry]

ok how about an clipped wing airspeed horsa with 2 R 4360's mounted back to back inside the body below the cg point, working as ducted fan units. of course it would have to be skinned in carbon fibre and ebony veneer (in a pattern to make the finished markings on the AC) and include giant clear vision panels either side of the fully deatiled angines so all could see thier beauty... called "wood n' wonder"

so how do you think it would go?

seriously though something Ki - 84 baised or a modded supermarine spiteful (new builds of course... not quite as far fetched).

[Warbird Kid]

Hey thanks for everybody who gave an answer! Keep em comin! Im glad people are liking this thread and yes i think we should have a "my reno racer" modeling contest!

[Chris Brame]

XP-82 airframe with a pair of contra-rotating Griffons - call it "Mincemeat"! (Maybe have Vita-Mix as a sponsor?)

[Warbird Kid]

Clipped Wing Super Corsair. Black with bare metal trim.
13 on the tail. Call it "Black Sheep"

[leo]

To back up Scotty, I once saw Stiletto get caught in the Bears wash during quali's, it was'nt pretty and I wonder if any but Skip could have saved the day. Get some of the lighter planes out there behind a Sea Fury and you would'nt have the ability to recover. I'm sure Scotty's "Unleashed" would be swatted into the ground trying to sneak up behind Dreadnaught. The new Super Sport class may adress the issue, allowing bigger powerplants and more innovation.
Me? I'd like to see what Stiletto could do with a real slick cleanup, profiled wings, boil-off cooling and a good, strong motor. Sadly she's gone.

[hairy]

How about a Bennett/Waitomo Airtruck with a 4360 instead of the 1340?
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/fa ... rtruk.html

or....................

............... a transavia Airtruk with a Griffon and contra prop (or with a normal prop for REAL men)?
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... entry=true



I know, I know, I'm a sick puppy and should be spanked....................MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM spanking.