Fly Low, Fly Fast, Turn Left

By R. G. “Smokey” Young, Race #77

Imagine screaming low over the desert sagebrush at over 200 MPH with seven other airplanes in a pack. You’re arcing around a circular course with each pilot trying to reach the finish line first. As you bank hard and low into a turn you spot the shadow of your airplane on the ground, and just behind it another shadow, one of your competitors tucked in tight, trying to get in position to pass you on the approaching straight. You roll out of the turn, spot your line to the next pylon and unload to half a “G” exchanging what little altitude you have for just a little more airspeed, trying hard to keep that other guy from getting by you. Your airplane bucks and rolls from the turbulence generated by the desert floor and the prop blast of the other aircraft. Your engine screams as the sudden unload runs your prop up to over 4000 RPM. A quick glance at the engine gauges shows cylinder heads at 475 degrees and oil pressure still registering. Now it’s eyes back outside checking the opposite straight for the position of other aircraft and your line to the next turn. The aircraft behind you inches forward on your right side and you begin to see him in your peripheral vision. Reaching the start of the next turn your nemesis is just behind your right wing tip the two aircraft less than ten feet apart. Just prior to rolling into the turn you hit a jolting pocket of air that lifts your feet off the rudder pedals and slams the top of your helmeted head into the aircraft canopy. It’s the “dirty air” that other racers generate as they go around the course. The aircraft rolls rapidly to the left but you recover, guiding the screaming machine around the turn and forcing your competitor to the outside of the turn, negating his slight airspeed advantage. You’ve held him off for that lap, but you have seven more to go.

That’s the world of Formula 1 Air Racing. Formula 1 is the only air racing class whose airplanes are specifically designed for closed course air racing. The aircraft are custom built in accordance with the “formula” specified in the classes design guide. Like their Formula 1 auto racing “cousins,” this results in aircraft that while similar in looks have taken a variety of steps to extract every ounce of speed while staying within the confines of the class rules. Air Racing’s premier event each year is the National Championship Air Races held in Reno, Nevada. At Reno five different classes of aircraft spend four days racing around the pylons, thrilling the crowds and providing one of aviations most spectacular displays. Think about the Reno Air Races and most people think about the Unlimiteds, the stars of the show. These big, mostly ex-warbirds have mass appeal with their large size and high speeds. The sound they make as they go around the pylons is unmistakable. There are however several other classes that race continuously throughout this four-day event. Each has its own set of rules and provides competition for its pilots. These other classes are Biplanes, Formula 1, Sport and T-6. The races are held on an oval course marked by pylons. While other venues such as Las Vegas’ “Aviation Nation” and the Tunica Air Races host Formula 1 racing, Reno is the premier event. Reno’s course is typical with seven pylons, 35 feet to 75 feet tall marking a 3.18-mile oval course. Course lengths vary for the other racing classes. The “Home Pylon,” which is located midfield on Reno’s Runway 8, marks the start and finish line for the races. This is the point where race timing begins and ends. Pylons are generally tall poles with either an orange/red and white drum on top or a light or flag. The course employs a left hand pattern, the start of the first turn being marked by pylon one. Pylon two marks the midpoint of the first turn and pylon three the rollout point. From there a long straightaway runs to pylon four which marks the second turn. Pylon five is the midpoint of turn two and pylon six the rollout. The airplanes then continue down the straightaway past the home pylon and on to pylon one again. Race duration is eight laps and races usually last 10 to 12 minutes.

Formula 1 is the oldest continually operating class to race at Reno. It existed early on as the Goodyear Class with aviation notables like Tony LeVier fielding racing teams. The class has evolved into a highly competitive group flying scratch built experimental aircraft. Aviation itself is an expensive hobby and any type of racing is also inherently expensive. As far as air racing goes, Formula 1 provides a fairly affordable venue for the aspiring race pilot.

Formula 1 aircraft must be built and maintained in accordance with the classes Technical Specifications and Design Guide. Basically all aircraft must:

1. Weigh a minimum of 500 lbs.

2. Have a minimum of 66 square feet of wing area

3. Have fixed main landing gear (Tailwheel or nose wheel may be retractable)

4. Have a fixed pitch prop of either wood or composite construction

5. Use for power a stock Continental O-200 engine with magneto ignition system

6. The pilot must weigh at least 170 lbs with flight gear on.

In addition, to race each aircraft must have an operable two-way radio. This can be handheld or hard wired into the aircraft.

While the design guide specifies a stock O-200 engine there are many areas where the performance of these power plants may be enhanced. A typical Formula 1 will race at 3500 RPM to 4000+ RPM versus a stock O-200’s normal range of 2000 RPM to 2500 RPM. To reach this performance level the most competitive engines are balanced and blueprinted. In addition, different types of rings are used in the pistons, cases are internally polished and all excess weight is ground off from both internal and external parts. Each race aircraft owner has his own ideas about how to get the most RPM from one of these engines. These ideas and secrets are jealously guarded however some are common knowledge. The bottom line is that each airplane is thoroughly inspected prior to the races by a professional crew that determines the aircraft’s compliance with both the design and safety rules of the class.

Now you have had a taste of what it’s like to be in the cockpit of one of these machines during a race, and a general idea of what a Formula 1 aircraft and race is all about. Next we’ll get into more detail of what is like to race at Reno, becoming a race pilot and fielding a competitive racer.

Photo 1: Race 77 screams low and tight around the pylons at Reno

Photo by John Garrett

Photo 2: Banner in the Reno Air Race Association hanger welcomes the racers.

Photo by Smokey Young

Photo 3: Ed Dutreaux in Race 3, “Slingshot” chases Ray Debs in Race 82, “Plane Mantis.

Photo by Michael Hansen