Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:38 pm
MX304 wrote:If enough sponsorship is found it will race again.
That seems a concerning statement for the overall state of Reno air racing to me. If the Unlimited champion (multiple years now) cannot secure enough sponsorship to compete, what does that say for the state of many of the other contenders that rely on sponsorship as well. It also would lead to another concern regarding interest and attendance. I certainly wouldn't feel too much excitement for the Reno races if the champion (being Strega) couldn't attend due to a lack of sponsorship. Of course this is all speculation on my part for I'm certainly not in the know as far as what it really takes to race at Reno. But it certainly doesn't take too much thought to figure it takes mucho $$$$$ to race in any class, .... as well as a keen sponsorship marketing strategy.
Whatever the final outcome for Strega will be, the ownership has quite a legacy to be proud of. Strega and crew have been a shining star for many years of what a class program in Air racing can accomplish. That airplane will be dearly missed.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:09 pm
Most of the entrants at Reno attend due their owners reaching into their own pockets, and are not significantly funded by sponsorship.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Wed Apr 03, 2013 6:31 pm
GARY HILTON wrote:What is the width of the Bear as she sits on the trailer? And is that the Chapmans doing the haul?
Folded width is 23 ft, but with the wings removed, I would guess 19-20ft, yes Chapmans were doing the hauling
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Thu Apr 04, 2013 8:05 am
mrhenniger wrote:On the way to or from Reno?
With the retirement of Strega, Rare Bear must be a favorite to win the gold in September.
Mike
Naw...Precious Metal is going to take it this year..... lots of mods going on as we speak
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Precious-Metal-Air-Racing-Fan-Page/271055266243368
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:19 pm
Thanks MX304 for the D.Red update. We Just had some REALLY nasty Storms move across Tx. Any news on the Bear's move , find a den for safty?
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Fri Apr 05, 2013 8:47 am
B.Cat/S.Fury wrote:Thanks MX304 for the D.Red update. We Just had some REALLY nasty Storms move across Tx. Any news on the Bear's move , find a den for safty?
I haven't heard anything. I doubt they hit any of the bad weather since the storms didn't hit any part of I-20 between Midland and El Paso. My guess is that if they are on schedule it should arrive in Breckenridge Sat.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:41 pm
Thanks again (again!) MX304 I was told that Mr. Lewis may have enough parts to build up another Bearcat, any idea which B.Cat that may have come from?? Would be Great for Ezell to bring back 3 B.Cats (they're working on 2 already). Thanks, Anthony
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:25 pm
Ezell Aviation just posted pics of Rare Bear being unloaded at Breckenridge with no damage obvious, so I'm guessing they made it in okay.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:18 pm
GARY HILTON wrote:What is the width of the Bear as she sits on the trailer? And is that the Chapmans doing the haul?
About 25' wide and yes, that's Chapmans' rig.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Mon Apr 08, 2013 12:46 am
Dasher wrote:GARY HILTON wrote:What is the width of the Bear as she sits on the trailer? And is that the Chapmans doing the haul?
About 25' wide and yes, that's Chapmans' rig.
Guess you didn't see the answer about 4 posts above yours................. it has to be less the 25 ft because wing folded is 23 ft, and the outer wing panels were removed, so it had to have been 19-20 ft wide.
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Tue Apr 09, 2013 10:38 am
Nice video of the move here: http://vimeo.com/63653359
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:24 pm
Anybody know what year it went from a R-2800 to a R-3350 and have a picture of it when it had a scoop??
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:15 pm
I believe The Bear always had a 3350, When Lyle got it was just the airframe and not much more
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:10 pm
kpu wrote:I believe The Bear always had a 3350, When Lyle got it was just the airframe and not much more
Thank you, that is what I remember and the scoop came along in 1979 only for the engine to crater the same year and to be side lined for 4 years...
Re: Rare Bear on a slow, low cross country
Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:28 am
Lynn Allen wrote:kpu wrote:I believe The Bear always had a 3350, When Lyle got it was just the airframe and not much more
Thank you, that is what I remember and the scoop came along in 1979 only for the engine to crater the same year and to be side lined for 4 years...
The scoop and downdraft system were put on in the spring of 1976 by Bill Statler Sr. They didn't have any real time to test it before Mojave in June (in fact, the paint was still tacky when Lyle flew it in for qualifying late in the week). The scoop was rather poorly designed and the fear was that because it had been rushed through, it would depart/fail at higher speeds. They never got to that point because of the gear up landing.
I have photos of the scoop if you'd like to send me a p.m. with your e-mail.