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11-20-2010, 04:14 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
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Well you folks that were at Taylor TX Today, what do you think?
Well you folks that were at Taylor TX Today, what do you think? Both the racers and the observers, I would like to know. I met many nice people today that I had never met before and it was a pleasure for me. I will post my observations after I eat dinner and get some rest - it was great.
Bob Axsom
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11-20-2010, 05:56 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Rosharon, TX
Posts: 110
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Bob,
I had an absolute great time! I'm going to have to figure out how to get off work next year so I can Race more!!
I also need to figure out how to het another 5 knts so I can pass you.
193 kts and loving it!
__________________
Nick "Rehab" Nafsinger
91TS Rosharon, TX
RV-4 Bought 2019
RV-10 Built 2010, Sold 2019
RV-8 SB, "Fuse in progress"
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11-20-2010, 07:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Georgetown, TX
Posts: 396
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Well, Bob, I had a great time and enjoyed meeting you in person. I'm happy with my 199 kt speed (prelim) but its still behind John Huff. There were a lot of neat racers
My only disappointment was the drop out of my data logger that prevented me from confirming my times (fell off the mounting clip).
__________________
Deene Ogden.
N399AD RV-12...flying
N299AD RV8 QB, IO-390X, BA prop...SOLD
N199AD One Design...SOLD
N99AD BD4, flew for 22 years...SOLD
EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
CFII, MEI, CFIG
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11-20-2010, 07:41 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 179
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I had a blast!
I was on the ground, part of the timing crew at Macho Grande. My job was to call out "NOW!" when the racers flew through a particular reference point right at the checkerboard sign. It was entirely pointless, because most of you guys were about 30 feet from us at WOT! No one could hear me. But what a rush!
We were able follow you guys through turn 3 on the handhelds, and pick you back up as you called turn 8. Occasionally a stray would fly through area on the way into Taylor, causing a bit of angst on our parts.
The briefing had lots of questions, and I had to admit I was skeptical about the 20 second launch interval. Bicycle time trials usually have 2 minute start intervals - and they can see each other! But all the racers did a splendid job and there were no major goof ups at the start or finish lines. Mike and Kitty did a great job putting this event on.
It was great to see and meet many of the people on the forum. You took off before I had a chance to find you.
I'm starting to think this might be something fun to do when the 9A is ready to go, although I don't expect to be fast enough to compete.
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11-20-2010, 07:58 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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I called Jay Pratt who was there watching and during our conversation I could hear the planes go ripp'n by and they sounded great!
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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11-21-2010, 06:26 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
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My observations
I flew down to Taylor (south central Texas) from Fayetteville, Arkansas (northwest corner of the state) on Friday thank goodness because I heard several missed approaches in the fog and low clouds Saturday morning. Before landing I flew the race start location and the first three turns because they would come up fast in the race and I wanted to have seen them before it was for real. I would have flown the whole course but I was low on fuel and the rest were not as demanding (and airport versus a VOR for example). After landing I found there was adequate parking, which I thought might be a problem with such a large entry list.
The fog and low ceilings Saturday morning delayed some racer arrivals and the start of the race until near noon. Arriving aircraft, crowds for the open house/air show and flow of race aircraft from the ramp was masterfully handled by our own Darrell Reiley - believe me it was a tough job and he appeared unflappable. Several racers were at nearby airports waiting for conditions to improve so they could fly into Taylor Municipal Airport, get race briefed and fly the race. Mike Thompson who flies an RV-6 and is my closest competitor, also had the responsibility of race director. He bent over backward to accommodate everyone that wanted to race. There is no doubt in my mind that this was a terrible distraction for him as a racer but he did not lose his composure once during the briefing, patiently answering every question and giving personal briefings to all of the late arrivals. Another masterful job that made it all possible.
The night before the race I studied the wind charts and planned my race strategy. The wind charts I used were those on-line at the aviation weather center for 1500Z, surface, 3,000 feet and 6,000 feet. I had developed a race leg spread sheet where I could plug in independent variable like leg length, climb speed, descend speed, cruise speed, relative wind angle & speed, altitude change. The functions were imbedded in other cells of the spreadsheet to automatically calculate intermediate values and the time and speed results for my selected choices. I spent hours in my motel room Friday night running options for the 9 race legs. In the end I settled on a climb to 1,600 ft after take-off then descend to the start for speed and maintain minimum altitude (500 ft agl) to turn 1. In the very short leg between turn 1 and 2 I would start my 500 fpm climb toward 3000 ft and continue the rest of the climb on the way to turn 3. I would maintain the 3,000 ft altitude until turn 5 then descent rapidly to 500 ft agl in the less than a mile to turn 6 and on the initial part of the long leg to turn 7. From there on to turn 8 and the finish line I would remain at minimum altitude. My work showed that if the winds were as forecast I could average 217 mph for the race.
After we were launched for the race on Saturday I flew as planned except the low clouds prevented me from reaching 3,000 feet. Just before the first turn I was passed by and unpainted RV-8 and he was going away as we rounded turn 1. I started my climb and he stayed low so I thought to myself I may be able to catch him if he stays low for the whole race. I did pass him and stayed ahead until shortly before turn 7 at the radome. I saw him creeping by off to the left and by the finish I was about 1 mile behind Race #390. Back at the airport in the refueling line I learned that the RV-8 has a 390 cu. in. engine so I felt a little better.
I met more people at this race than at any previous race and I visited with a lot of old friends and competitors but I also saw a lot of young children (far less than 10 years old) fascinated with airplanes. One little girl drew a very good picture of my plane and accurately colored it to match my plane's paint scheme. How can you not be moved by that?
I flew home after refueling so I don't know the results yet but I had a good time so whatever the results are, I'm happy.
Bob Axsom
RV-6A, Race #71
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11-22-2010, 06:20 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,544
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I chased a P51!
When I heard that there was going to be a Mustang in the Rocket 100 race I was very pleased that our league was getting this type of competitor, not to mention the two T28s that had entered. Being a competitor I started to wonder how fast is a P51 down low? The day before the Courtland race Chris Murphy had tested his speed dash system with a mustang and it clocked 299mph. This is faster then my plane but what, I dreamed, if he did not want to work his engine, how big are his turns, has the pilot done this type of thing before, etc. Chances are I will never get to ride in a Mustang but keeping close to it would be awesome.
When the race order was posted I was even more excited as I was following the big bird right from the start. The first thing I learned is that three plane lengths are not enough spacing when he turned his aircraft for a run up. My little bird was dancing on the taxiway for a few minutes when that big prop spun up.
I maintained our 20-second separation until the start and then I was on the chase. Right off the bat I knew that I could get up to speed faster then he could and I was gaining ground up to turn one. Here he did make a much bigger turn then I did and I was closing the gap even more, Oh man this is going to be close! My flight plan was to climb after turn one to catch some upper winds. He stayed low and thus started to pull ahead while I lost airspeed in the climb. Turn two comes up very fast and just before turn two he turned to the right to go around the WRONG water tower. Of course now I am wondering if I have the right turn point entered! He makes his turn climbs and banks and there he is right in front of me 90 degrees, wide open. How often has a tin can built in a barn caught a P51 in that position? I made my turn and climbed even more. I now was even with him and if I could just stay there my finishing time would be better then a P51! But I made a mistake. When he had made his turn in front of me I should have stayed behind him. I am sure that he saw me, perhaps not, but after that he started to pull away, obviously applying more power. I did have one more chance though, as he started to go way off course to the right. I pondered for a minute and made the call ?Mustang turn left to course?. By the time we got to turn three, at the dam, he was well ahead. My visions of glory were gone but I will never forget the image of him, in a bank, right in my line of sight, how good is that!
His speed of 298 mph was 22 faster then my 277mph. I did manage to best the T28, 262mph, by 15. What a great end to the season, thanks Mike and Mark.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 1000 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1 Rockets
RV14 Tail dragger
Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
fairleafield@gmail.com
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11-22-2010, 07:04 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 778
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Axsom
My work showed that if the winds were as forecast I could average 217 mph for the race.
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Bob,
Looks like you beat your estimate by 7 mph and came very close to matching the RV-8s in this race. What's your secret - was it the tape? 
__________________
Alan Carroll
RV-8 N12AC
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11-22-2010, 07:10 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 778
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Martin
I chased a P51!...
His speed of 298 mph was 22 faster then my 277mph. I did manage to best the T28, 262mph, by 15. What a great end to the season, thanks Mike and Mark.
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Tom,
I'd be curious to know how much fuel the P-51 burned to pull away... must have been impressive!
Thanks for the great write up.
__________________
Alan Carroll
RV-8 N12AC
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11-22-2010, 07:19 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,544
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The T28 was burning 80gph, I was in the 23gph range. I did not get a chance to speak with the P51 pilot.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 1000 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1 Rockets
RV14 Tail dragger
Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
fairleafield@gmail.com
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