World record attempt for fastest prop-driven aircraft (P-51)

exhaustgases · **Joined:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:26 pm **Posts:** 239

Mike wrote:

exhaustgases wrote:

And with the swept wings wouldn't a canard help stabilize the plane better for the tight turns? And then add a high speed ducted fan to replace the prop.

1) The record runs are over a straight-line course.

2) Exactly where do you propose to put the duct part of the ducted fan?

It takes some thought and imagination that is how innovation is accomplished.

OD/NG · **Joined:** Fri Dec 16, 2016 1:36 pm **Posts:** 750

According to those at the location, the attempt is off for a few days. When Steve-o was flying the aircraft yesterday for the attempt, he brought the engine up to 3400 rpm and full throttle and the engine "sneezed". He rapidly brought the airplane back in for a precautionary landing. Apparently they are still trying to figure out what is wrong with the engine. No attempt today is the latest word, fyi.

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:19 pm

Further to OD/NG's post above, Pursuit Aviation posted this o Facebook 10min ago:

Quote:

UPDATE: Voodoo had some mechanical issues during yesterday’s attempt, so Steve-O safely landed it. He and the team are diligently working on it today and tomorrow. We’ll be sure to keep everyone up-to-date as we receive more information about a follow-up attempt. There will be a bit of down time, but hey… that’s the nature of making history! Blue Skies ✈️ -Pursuit Aviation Team

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:32 pm

From the Pursuit Aviation fb page this afternoon

Quote:

UPDATE: Voodoo has been reassembled and the team plans to run some engine tests on the ground this afternoon. If all goes smoothly, we're aiming for a Friday afternoon attempt! In the meantime, we're getting our SHOTOVER Camera F1 system ready for the shoot!

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 543

exhaustgases wrote:

Mike wrote:

exhaustgases wrote:

And with the swept wings wouldn't a canard help stabilize the plane better for the tight turns? And then add a high speed ducted fan to replace the prop.

1) The record runs are over a straight-line course.

2) Exactly where do you propose to put the duct part of the ducted fan?

It takes some thought and imagination that is how innovation is accomplished.

Its been dreamed, imagined, thought, drawn, blueprinted, prototyped, tested...so on, so on so on, by the smartest, brightest, and most innovative individuals, funded by the same dreamers with deep pockets. If it was that simple, it would have been done already.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:18 pm

from the Pursuit Aviation fb this afternoon

Quote:

Stevo and his all-star crew worked hard to get the engine fixed and we're doing a flight test today! It’s looking like we’ll be making an attempt at the World Record tomorrow! Stay tuned for more footage

Elwyn · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:43 am

I'd love to see a chart comparing the normal operating parameters of a stock Merlin to the extreme level of performance the engine in Voodoo is being pushed to.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 11:55 am

Posted on Voodoo fb 1hr ago;

Quote:

What day is it? Hopefully record breaking day!

Quote:

...Probably 4-6* pm.

* that's local time for ID

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:30 pm

Anyone got any input as to what's going on? They had a "ready" announcement earlier, and since then no replies, or updates...nada?

Did the live feed work?

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:33 pm

Dudley Henriques posted on another forum a couple hours ago that the runs had been made.

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:47 pm

Thanks Greg! They got a bunch of folks at the FB page wondering waassupp? Kinda like throwing a party and the bouncer don't even show up to tell 'em to go home... :lol:

No worries here tho..

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:53 pm

I suspect they may be waiting to say anything until official time results have been verified, whatever that entails. Dudley said four runs had been made.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:03 pm

According to posts on the Voodoo FB page, over four passes they had to average 533.613 mph to beat Rear Bear's record of 528.33 under the old rules (a matter of having to beat the existing record by at least 1%). The average of all four passes was 531.53, despite having flown much faster than that on the first pass (554.69) - the final pass was dialed back a bit due to the engine not running so well after the first three passes. They did break the record for the weight class that Voodoo falls under, which had been previously held by Will Whiteside/Steadfast since 2011, and Voodoo is now considered the fastest piston-engine, propeller-driven aircraft of all time. A truly amazing accomplishment today, and a big congratulations to those involved!

Badman · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:05 pm **Posts:** 69

It's my understanding that Rare Bear's 3km 528mph record was retired by the FAI due to changes they made in how future attempts would be run and timed. Therefore, even if Voodoo went 10% faster than the Bear's record - the 528mph record still stands. The record Voodoo set was under the new rules and is in fact a new absolute speed record that is also faster than 528mph.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7813

Facebook video here of one of the passes.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 05%2F&_rdr

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World record attempt for fastest prop-driven aircraft (P-51)

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