'Air Racer: Chasing The Dream' Movie - A Must See At Oshkosh 2009!

‘Air Racer: Chasing The Dream' premieres at Oshkosh 2009 
Saturday, August 1 at 7PM at the Theater in the Woods

 There were 2 sneak peek screenings at Oshkosh last year of the nearly completed documentary film project from Christopher Webb Films titled: "Air Racer: Chasing The Dream".  As it would turn out, I just barely missed both of them. However, I had the great opportunity to screen the entire film just 3 nights ago. And to use just one simple word to describe it: Wow!

 Not only is 'Air Racer' beautifully put together as a film, but the subject matter is both fascinating and exciting while also being very inspiring. If you have any interest in flight, or in just a great story about the real human experience of pursuing a dream, this is definitely a must see!

 It's the story of Jon and Patricia Sharp's journey after their life as the leaders of the team that built the Formula One race plane simply known as 'Nemesis'. That airplane won 9 straight Reno Air Race Formula One titles, and over those years won 45 of the 48 races it ran. Domination just barely begins to describe the overwhelming success of that aircraft.

 That original Nemesis was retired in 1999 and now sits on display at the National Air and Space Museum.  But Jon didn't have retiring from air racing on his mind.  Instead, he was thinking about the relatively new 'Sport Class' of race planes that allowed a much more 'anything goes' set of rules compared to the very restrictive Formula One class rules.

 ‘Air Racer' documents the long and difficult journey of designing and building an airplane that would carry the burden of wearing the Nemesis name into the much faster (350+ mph) Sport Class. The set backs and trials make this a truly fascinating story.  A story of commitment and patience.  A story that as of today stands with the Nemesis NXT having turned in the fastest ever Sport Class qualifying speed of 409mpg at Reno in 2008!

 Christopher Webb has done an excellent job of letting us all in on one of the most interesting stories in modern aviation. Please, don't miss your chance to see this film at Oshkosh 2009.  You're gonna love it!

Winner... Best Aviation Humor In Animation (Ever!) - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Some People Are Pilots... And Some People Love To Fly

photo: Richard Hallman via AntiquAirfield.com

Rob Bach/Carolyn Applegate via AntiqueAirfield.com

 For some people, flying is a great way to get from point A to point B.  It's fun, convenient, and gives them a sense of accomplishment.  That's all good.  But for others, flying is a foundation.  It's one of the building blocks of their life.

 To these people, an airplane isn't a machine to be conquered, but rather a deeply trusted friend with which the incomparable beauty and wonder of flight is shared.  It's a relationship.  One that changes who you are as a person.

 Some of these people are very passionate about antique airplanes... the kind that came from an era when pretty much everything was different than it is today.  Many of them work extremely hard keeping these airplanes doing what they were meant to do: fly.

 You'll find a lot of these people in the Antique Airplane Association.  The AAA began the same year that the EAA did, way back in 1953.  But the two organizations have taken different paths to wing up where they are today, which is decidedly two very different destinations.  For the record, I'm a pretty big fan of both destinations.

 The AAA is not a huge powerhouse group, but rather a much tighter knit group of extremely passionate people that have a really deep love for antique aircraft.  A trip thru their official website at AntiqueAirfield.com puts it nicely on display.  Once there, just start scrolling to see the people, the projects and the flying experiences that come from people living the life of aviation love.

Rob Bach/Carolyn Applegate via AntiqueAirfield.com

  The AAA, along with their sister organization APM (Airpower Museum), has an annual Fly-In as well, but it's technically ‘invitation only' for anyone who is a member of the association (or a guest of a member).  And of course, you can join on the spot.  The 2009 AAA/APM Fly-In will take place September 2-7 in Blakesburg, a small town in rural southeastern Iowa about 260 air miles mostly west of Chicago. 

 However, it's not the kind of event where general aviation aircraft swarm in to participate.  Their Antique Airfield airport (IA27) where the event is held, is private, with two grass runways, the longest of which is only 2350'.

 They have relatively limited facilities overall at the airport, but in the long run, this all serves to enhance the grass-roots feel of the event. This IS the way it was.

 If you only know the last 50 years of aviation, I encourage you to experience the first 50 years.  It's an amazingly rich heritage with the ability to inspire in a way that modern aviation rarely can.

 The pictures above, from the AAA's AntiqueAirfield website, give a little sliver of the feel of what antique airplanes are all about.  The sights, the sounds and smells, and of course the feelings that these airplanes inspire in people are truly amazing.

 And that last pic, taken leaning out the open door of a Piper Cub on final to a beautiful grass runway pretty much brings it all home for me.  I saw a lot of sights just like that back 30 years ago when I was a young kid flying a 1941 Clip Wing Cub around rural Indiana.

 It's when I learned for sure that I wasn't just a pilot, I was someone who loves to fly.

Indoor Electric R/C That Doesn't Seem Possible... Must See!

Nat Geo Special Examines WWII Horten Brothers Flying Wing - Sunday 6-28-09 9PM

National geographic special program airs Sunday, June 28 at 9PM

Nat Geo website with extensive info on this amazing aircraft from WWII

Full scale replica built by Northrop Grumman to test radar signature

All photos: National Geographic Channel

 If you know much about WWII German aircraft technology, you probably already know that they were pushing the design envelope in ways that are truly hard to believe.  I know I never get tired at looking into the minds of the people that came up with so many amazing aerodynamic ideas.

 On Sunday, June 28, the National Geographic Channel will air a special program that looks in-depth at the design of the Horten Ho 2-29 flying wing.  This aircraft is quite possibly the most extreme example (that actually flew) of the amazing aviation thinking that the German engineers had near the end of the war.

 BTW, this is just the kind of TV programming aviation people need to support... you can do that by simply watching and enjoying, so don't miss it!

 The Ho 2-29 design that brothers Reimar and Walter Horten came up with was not only a quantum leap in aerodynamics, but also appears to have stealth technology incorporated into both the shape, and the use of wood on the skin.

 This interesting and well produced Nat Geo special explores the possible stealth nature of the aircraft with, of all people, Northrop Grumman!  They actually built a full scale model of the beautiful flying wing to test it's radar signature on a 50' articulating pole.

 It's fascinating to see the American company that built flying wings in the 40's, and then built the B-2 Stealth Bomber in the 80's, as they marvel at the amazing design of the Horten brothers flying wing.  Be sure to catch this program, you're gonna like it.

AirPigz Podcast #5 'Interview With Wasabi Air Race Owner/Pilot Elliot Seguin'

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The Wasabi Air Racing 'Cassutt' owned and flown by Elliot Seguin
Photo: Alan Radecki - Mojave Skies

Elliot (sitting on airplane) is part of the crew for the Nemesis Air Race Team

 

Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo from Scaled Composites where Elliot works

Photo: Virgin Galactic

 AirPigz podcast #5 is just over a one-hour long interview with Elliot Seguin, the owner and pilot of the relatively new Wasabi Air Racing team.

 I met Elliot after he found AirPigz a couple months back, and then he contacted me thru FaceBook.  He was pretty interested in AirPigz since he saw stories on the WhitKnightTwo and the Nemesis race plane, which just happen to be two elements that are a part of his life in aviation.   

 Based in Mojave, California, and as an employee of Scaled Composites, a crew member of the Nemesis Air Racing team, and the pilot/owner of Wasabi Air Racing, Elliot has a lot of interesting experience and knowledge to share even tho he's only 26 years old.

 This podcast interview is likely to be just the start of many more that follow along with Elliot as he works hard to progress further into the exciting world of high speed air racing.  Enjoy!

Check out Elliot's Wasabi Air Racing blog

Rare Bear 1995 And 2009: Follow Link To See Blazing New Paint!

 Click here to see the incredibly hot new paint on Rare Bear for 2009

 I recorded a podcast interview last night (to be posted very soon) that covered a lot of info about air racing at Reno.  And with the 2009 National Championship Air Races and Air Show fast approaching (September 16-20), now is the perfect time to get up to speed on the state of the world's fastest motor sport!

 If you need a little help to get your blood pumping on the excitement of air racing, then check out Rare Bear's 2009 paint that's recently been revealed at RareBear.com.  OMGosh is that thing looking hot!  It's a whole new kind of look compared to recent years.  And it's quite a change from the paint shown here in 1995 at the Phoenix 500 race that I was fortunate to attend.   

 This is one of my best pictures ever taken, partly because it's such a hot subject!  And it's no secret that I've been hooked on Grumman Bearcat's as unlimited racers ever since I saw Darryl Greenamyer race Conquest 1 at Reno in 1969 and 70 (when I was just a kid).

 My prediction for 2009: even with the economic hard times, I think this is going to be a stellar year for air racing at Reno.  There's a ton of exciting things going on with the Unlimiteds and the Super Sport class, and ALL of the racing is the kind of excitement that's needed when times are tough.

 So check out Rare Bear's new paint and then get yourself fired up about being part of the fastest motor sport in all the world... the Reno Air Races!

This Is How You Fly A B-17!

 This video is just a minute and 16 seconds long showing a really great airplane, a B-17, being flown in a really great manner.  What a fabulous example of a textbook landing!

 When I was just 13, my dad was unofficially teaching me to fly in a brand new 1973 Citabria 7KCAB that he'd just bought (he wasn't a CFI, but he was a great teacher).

 I remember that he taught me something very simple that can really make a big difference.  It was just this: make the airplane do what you need it to do, whatever it takes to make it happen.  It's the difference between mostly going along for a ride, and truly being in control.

 This landing shows what it looks like to be in control : )

AirPigz Podcast #4 'Breezy To Oshkosh' 300 Miles, 13 Airports And 2 Days (1982)

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 My dad flying the Breezy the day we bought it: November 1980 heading from TN to IN

 All loaded up and ready to head for Oshkosh 1982!

 About half way there and ready to get back in the air

 The route we took as shown by Google Earth

 Podcast #4 is finally here.  Sorry for the delay... but better late than never as I often have to say!  It's a pretty good one tho, be sure to check it out.

 I intro with a little info on the Red Bull Air Races as well as some more details on my homebuilt airplane (Project VP) that's now under construction.  I have a t-shirt for sale to help me fund the project as I try really hard to get it built in time for Oshkosh 09.  If you're interested in details on how to get the very special $50 shirt, please send me an email at mcc@airpigz.com and I'll fill you in right away.  Your help is really needed!

 Anyway, the biggest part of this podcast is my account of a really cool and exciting trip on the homebuilt 'Breezy' aircraft pictured here from Mentone, IN to Oshkosh, WI back in 1982.  It turned out to be quite an adventure of 300 miles, 13 airports and 2 days long.

 It was a great trip overall to what I believe to be the greatest place on earth!  And that's not just because of all the airplanes, but because of the people.  Oshkosh is truly something very special, and I hope you'll be there so we can meet.  And hopefully, Project VP will be there too!

Red Bull Air Race Pylon Strike Video - Awesome!

RedBullAirRace.com

 It's easy to watch the Red Bull Air Races and not notice how important the pylons, or air gates, are.  A ton of work has gone into making them strong enough to maintain their shape in strong, gusty winds, while also being weak enough to tear to shreds when they are hit by an airplane going about 200mph.

 This excellent video compilation highlights a handful of the hundreds of pylon strikes that have occurred over the last few years.

 Just imagine what it's like to be about 50' off the ground, going like stink, and trying to thread the needle thru these pylons... and then BAM!  Extremely cool video!