I have struggled with the requirement for 18 inch race numbers a few times and my results were marginal. The US Air Race rules call for block requirements of 12" x 18" with a 3" element width. In the past I used various types and widths of plastic tape to construct the numbers. In the last race from Fargo, North Dakota I was repairing the the flapping edges or worse at every stop. An experienced airline and race pilot Ester Grupenhagen from Troy Missouri finally saw my plight and gave me the inside secret, "Contact Paper." Last night I took out my roll of white contact paper, drew, cutout and applied the big "71" for the AirVenture Cup Race on the vertical stab, rudder and under the left wing. Today I made four Young Eagle flights going up to 180kts (yeah so it was a little down hill) and the numbers are like a second skin - no tendency to separate. You can make any custom shape you want with no seams.
Bob Axsom
Bob Axsom
