Please ping me to aviation and aerospace articles. Thank you.
If you want added to or removed from this ping list, please contact EveningStar or Paleo Conservative.
Posted on 08/31/2013 2:59:38 PM PDT by EveningStar
It's that time again. The crews are making the final touches on the race planes and the pilots are testing and growing more focused every day. The drama that is Air Racing is ready to play out in front of our incredibly loyal fans. Let’s take a look at who will be there and what to expect...
(Excerpt) Read more at pylonplace.blogspot.com ...
Please ping me to aviation and aerospace articles. Thank you.
If you want added to or removed from this ping list, please contact EveningStar or Paleo Conservative.
Boy, if you are rich and want to blow some cash on sheer fun, this is the way to go.
Beautiful planes.
2013 is Rare Bear’s year
Cleaned up airframe, cooling issues are supposed to be a thing of the past, and the new downdraft carburetor plumbing to help with power output.
Go Bear! Texas Style! ... http://vimeo.com/73404461
#77 Rocks! I’ll be there for the 50th! Box A-81
Unfortunately, not as many planes racing. Plus, no military aircraft. Congestion from housing developments. FAA demands. Insurance increases. Better come and watch the races, now.
A prayer for a safe race and blue skies.
Cooling/carb inlets in the wing root were eliminated or reduced. Leading edge was reworked, cleaner fairings.
They cleaned up the whole airframe...probably get another 3-5 knots or better on the same power settings. Couple that with the downdraft carb and you’ll get even more reliable horsepower which mean faster..
A lot of the tweaks are going to be kept secret until race day but I’ll be in the pits trying to get the skinny.
They finally have an owner who can throw money at the plane to make it work! Although, I really do miss Lyle Shelton.
Oh, they also reworked the exhaust area and the area up near the firewall to provide better cooling airflow.
Yes DC-4 Style NACA ring w/ Carb Inlet on top, I think the latest iteration of "Peristrokia" has that as well w/ it's 2800 Pratt even though RB has a 3350 CW.
All the drag and cooling tweaks you note may get way more than 3 or 5 kts, If I remember correctly Tusnami lowered their Horizontal Stab and picked up 20 kts.
But like you say, all this will be close to the vest until race day.
My big question is, is the prop so specific for the current speed and if they pick up 20 kts what effect does it have on it. These guys run in arena's where cause and effect of the slightest change can be good or cause problems...
The Carb change IMHO is huge, I would love to see a SAE type paper on this and all the other tweaks if this thing comes out of the shoot with speed no one ever dreamed of...
Ha! I was shaving this morning and was thinking about the same thing.
Great Minds and all that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.