New in the Sky: Pond Racer

This high-technology twin-boom work art endlessly novative Burt Rutan scarcely larger Formula yet its designed purely speed Pond Racer succeeds tromping big Unlimited class warbirds Reno will have made air racing history EL D Bookbinder IN THE PAST comparing mighty Unlimited class racer cute little Formula involved exaggerated study contrasts big achieved twice speed 10 20 times cubic inches 15 20 times horsepower since weighed 15 20 times much Pond Racer came along blew old standards out window Named warbird collector Bob Pond has financed outset high-tech twin-boom work art brain amazing Burt Rutan expected fly twice fast Formula yet little larger secret its two 193-cu-in Nissan VG3O V-6 alcohol-fueled engines type commonly used IMSA Grand Touring Prototype race cars Although theyre slightly smaller single engine midget racer twin Nissans pack wallop Theyll provide 15 times much horsepower Formula engine Getting 1000 horsepower out 32 liters requires advanced engineering sort never before applied air racing includes highly modified four bladed metal propeller designed John Roncz built Hartzell Converting power well over 500 mph requires airframe radical shape modern materials Credit basic work goes Burt brother Dick best known main pilot Continued page 65 August 1991 11 Big picture Rutan future now twin-boom fuselage places central pod far back balance attaches tail added strength Note integrated vertical fin canted butterfly surfaces stability during tests Above mid-August Pond Racer will attempt break 528-mph World 3-km Speed record piston-engined aircraft set Lyle Shelton 1989 After itll try Unlimited class championship Reno should tell something about its quality Send dollar Bell MAC 650 Pinecrest Dr Largo FL illustrated catalog Summer fun AMA/NFFS US Indoor Champs June 6-9 East Tennessee State University Johnson City TN Contact AMAINFFS/Flying Aces US Outdoor Champs Lawrenceville illinois June 1822 Contact Lin Reichel 3301 Cindy Ln Erie PA 16506 National Warplane Museum Flying Aces Contest Geneseo NY July 13-14 Contact Lin Reichel above Interscale 91 University Nottingham England Sept 20-22 Contact Reg Boor Interscale 91 103 Crow Hill So Middleton Manchester M24 iLA England UK Tel 061-643-4612 Well Gang always remember dope well-ventilated rooms dont fly models near power lines support AMA research library help kid get modeling soonEl New/Pond Continued page 11 exotic Voyager its nonstop round-theworld 1986 flight After barely two hours testing Dick Rutan Pond Racer worked up 360 mph showing handling qualities much better anticipated including single-engined flight according retired USAF fighter pilot added visibility air good [with] airplane Ive flown decades before World War H aircraft speed often viewed end itself 1913 Deperdussin hit 120 mph using first serious streamlining 2350-hp Supermarine S6b racing seaplane first broke 400 mph 1931 airplanes designed simply fast planes took importance daily life also became utilitarian Speed linked function airplane needed fast its job built fast Most built just plug along carrying crates produce Thats still true today planes fly astoundingly fast fast reason Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spyplane example reached speeds least 2500 mph protect people might object its flying over backyards Pond Racer different Harking back earlier era speed sought its own reward plane designed fly fast sheer joy Burt Rutan seems asking must aircraft justify its speed machine itself justification its speed vice versa Proud too judging Indy 500 screamwhich hardly necessary since no ones going mistake anything else sky Pond Racer shows sort rational NOR-RAY PRODUCTS INC 5008 SAND BEACH RD / WICHITA FALLS TX 76310 7-692-4475 EXHAUST SYSTEMS STOCK OR CUSTOM MADE ST -- SACHS A&M -- OS BGX1 QUADRA -- ZENOAH -- OPS MACHiNED FROM BARSTOCK DESIGtED TO FIT tISIDE TIGHT COWLS CALL US FOR YOUR SPECIAL EXHAUST NEEDS CUSTOM VACUUM FORMING CANOPES -- COWLS -- W*IEELPANTS NO J09 TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL Designed Modeler Modelers Cuts Both Sides Same Time Easily Cuts Straight & Tapered Wing Panels Available 30 40 50 60 Still Only $9650 $3OO 5&H Requires 0-24 V Power Supply 400 S&H Visa-Mastercard Video Available Send $2 information fine products HANDS OFF CUT TWO innovation Burt Rutan famous V-6 engines packed tightly 28-in-diameter cowlings extend rearward become tail booms central pod placed far back balance attaches tail added strength vertical fin integrated fuselage flanked canted butterfly surfaces stability during tests probably later removed Since engines side booms high-temperature exhaust oil water lines dont pass through near pilot compartmentan important safety feature An oil leak wont coat windshield often happens conventional racers Rutans construction materials primarily graphic composites unusual Unlimited although theyre becoming common Formula Graphic composites used airframe expensive wonderfully light strong enabling accept kind exotic curves old-fashioned materials cannot wing spar made PVC foam covered bidirectional carbon fiber cloth fitted caps made carbon fiber roving wing skins thin PVC foam cores sandwiched between layers carbon fiber cloth epoxy result airplane weighs 3500 lb empty engines gearboxes props superchargers Continued page 68 August 1991 65 kiectrw conversion PART 2 youve yen convert Gas design electric power lacked confidence attempt look no further answers questions EBob Kopski Model Aviation regrets space considerations forced last-minute division Bob Kopski s Electric Conversion two parts what follows Mr Kopski concludes discussion Electri-fly large noncompetition models text continues directly first segment can found July 1991 issue magazine Taking Senioritas heavier weight consideration substituted Sig %2 nose gear/mount fits exactly like kit-supplied %-in version main gear stock may decide strengthen tends spread landing allowing plane bounce So far Seniorita has flown windshield messed up kit window plastic unable get replacement material time first flight did install side windows made clear MonoKote Actually combination gaping hole windshield should opening firewall gives supercooling motor battery Drag course Seniorita flies slowly its minimal concern fact cooling works well think Ill leave windshield off Besides thats exactly flew cabin Playboy years agothe yellow transparent thats featured AMA film Diamonds Sky Check out reference purposes Senioritas completed wooden fuselage structure weighed 8/2 oz its 10A oz covering radio-equipped fuselage-andtail assembly landing gear weighs 27 oz covered power system motor battery wiring prop etc weighs four ounces another rule thumb power system Electric should make up 40 60 percent finished model weight case power system 52 percent final all-up flying weight 84 ozright wing loading 14 oz/sq ft Proper balance attained battery packs forward location against front former shown plane tail-heavy would have Id used spruce longerons Id have reconfigured packs three rows 5/4/5 shift battery weight forward other option would have add nose weightaagghh remaining space battery compartment filled foam blocks keep packs place force incoming air through cells Ive flying 11 x 8 prop Id rather use 12-in -diameter ground clearance would become marginal grass field nose wheel two inches mains 2 items Sullivan Sky Lite writing Seniorita has logged 43 flights its first month first flight mild snowstorm Average cruising flight time no-lift evening conditions over nine minutes will improve noticeably replace quite old well-used temporary packs stuck model just get going electrified Seniorita handles very well ground smooth positive taxi takeoff climbout Andno surprise hereit doesnt blow hole sky highly recommend use speed controla high-rate best results cause adds much fun flyin Finally Seniorita handles wind surprisingly well Electric has proven its effectiveness trainer So far six field visitors never before flown have handled Seniorita successfully Ive decided against trying install camera no doubt will make some illumination pods so-called illuminons strap wings night flying summer wouldnt consider plane werent such pussycat fly Next winter Ill look ski idea Right now Im looking small Glider tow What power system use differently sized models fit within focus articlethose wing areas about 700 1300 sq wing loadings comparable described Astro geared 25 40 systems both safe choices Use 25 planes wing areas lower end range 40 larger planes As examples Powerhouse 84 Cavalier Model Aviation plans Kadet Senior Senior Telemaster would adequately powered 40 although Ive seen some hotter ones 60s Use gears 25 40the larger slower props consistent relatively slow flight speeds intended Gears available 60 So choose appealing model design go Keep article handy work study photos follow rules thumb Fly quiet long high wont Starship lets salute anyway Live long prosper E New/Pond Continued page 65 accounting much weight about 4150 lb racing trim 25 ft 5 wingspan longer Formula Ones wing area about 70 sq ft slightly larger 66-sq-ft area 500-lb midget racer central pod 16 ft long overall length matches wingspan mid-August Las Vegas New Mexico Pond Racer will attempt overturn 528-mph World 3-km Speed Record piston-engined airplanes set Lyle Shelton 1989 succeed Dick Rutan will have fly least percent faster Shelton did over 5336 mph succeeds Pond will become first custom-built airplane hold classic record since 1937 prototype Messerschmitt 109 flew 380 mph break 352-mph mark Howard Hughes established Hughes Racer two years earlier After Pond will go Reno Race pilot Rick Brickert will attempt beat big airplanes huge engines true race plane hasnt happened since souped-up warbirds first came Unlimited class 1945 Pond Racer wins Unlimited championship will count no less achievement Doug Daviss whipped Army Navy custom-built Travelair Mystery launch Golden Age Air Racing 1929 crowd will go nuts watching one-of-a-kind little screamer whomp big bullies Individuality creativity will return big-plane racing first time since 1930s Racing fans everywhere will revel triumph new over old Sketch pads will fill up ideas experimental shapes engines imaginations loosed challenge trying yet speed Does nll point new Golden Age air racing Thats moot question Unlimited Class already facing depletion its ranks Modified warbirds being restored original configuration increase resale value few new ones works sudden emergence seemingly unbeatable new design could speed process leaving class far fewer competitive race planes Hopes circuit Unlimited races around country already serious jeopardy could suffer another blow Still no sport can survive experimentation stifled discourage development new racers would self-defeating Pond Racer works out hoped could stimulate enough new projects carry class greater heightsEl 68 Model Aviation