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Air Racing: NAA endorses timing method, Cherokee 140 team to race, Returning Champions, HUT hosts Comanche Fly-in, Confirmation Kits available
There is lots of news to share. We are excited to announce that the National Aeronautic Association (NAA at www.naa.aero) has endorsed the U.S. Air Race timing method as an approved process for record setting purposes. This means that any team that flies with us and desires to set speed records during the Marion Jayne Air Race will be able to apply for NAA recognition. The NAA is the record-keeper for United States aviation and has ties with the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), a sister organization to the Olympics.
Wisconsin has their first race team entry with Wanda Zuege and John Thompson (Race 2) of Am I High Aviation (wwwamihighaviation.com) racing the venerable Cherokee 140. I must share that Wanda did laugh/giggle at the thought of calling a Cherokee 140 a race plane however she realized that because the National Air Races is ‘Air Racing: Where it’s all about the pilots’, she and John have a chance at some bragging rights. In the Hutchinson 300 they will have quite an advantage with their speed and radius of turn. Wanda and John will race two of the three National Air Races as they will also be running the Ground School during the GTO (Gateway To Oshkosh) Convention. Their accelerated ground school has a 100% pass record.
Of course, Wanda and John will have to contend with returning Champions Shelby Bowles and Jim Reed (Race 41). This team exemplifies the spirit of race teams. In 2003 they had a surprisingly poor showing in the first of the three National Air Races. When I say poor, I mean they placed last in the California 300. Ever they competitors, they chugged on along in the Marion Jayne Air Race which was 7 legs and 2100 miles that year. The Cessna 337 Skymaster team didn’t win the first leg to Arizona or the second leg to New Mexico but they kept on coming. By the time they finished at the Cleveland National Air Show, they’d won their division of the Marion Jayne Race. The final challenge was the Cleveland 300 pilotage only race and they took first place to shoot them into Champion status for the combined three events. And along the way they helped one of their key competitors by hand-propping a Tiger when its starter failed. Come meet Shelby the Marine turned financial planner and Jim,
the engineer turned air show pilot. They have bushels of hangar flying stories to share. Oh, almost forgot to mention that these two are running a race in May. See www.crosscountryairrace.com for details.
Race start headquarters, Hutchinson, Kansas showed off its aviation hospitality at the March 31 – April 2 Comanche Fly-In. 65 people and 35 planes from 12 states enjoyed the Wells Aircraft services, Airport Steakhouse and Blue Duck Bistro cuisine while taking in a Comanche maintenance seminar and the fabulous Cosmosphere with a few sides trips for antique shopping thrown in for good measure. The Hutchinson Press covered the event with a photographer and reporter. This gem of a city managed to have perfect weather in the midst of tornado and storm season. We’ve asked the Chamber of Commerce to arrange for the same weather in July. They said they’d put in the request.
Confirmation Kits are now available so when you enter the races, you’ll have all the details, full rules, advice for new race teams and travel brochures from the route stops mailed to you. The time to enter is now before rates go up at the end of April.
Here is a reprise of the details from the previous newsletters.
The City of Hutchinson, Kansas is hosting the start festivities for the Marion Jayne Air Race and the Hutchinson 300 Air Race. Let me tell you a bit about this fabulous city that loves its airport. I first visited this central Kansas city in 1997 when it was a stop on our race. I was greeted with warm cookies from the Wells Aircraft FBO and a City of Hutchinson ceramic mug. There is an immediate feeling of welcome comfort here. Everything from the Arkansas River that started in the Rocky Mountains and passes through the city center and runs parallel to the vintage Avenue A boulevard of large Victorian homes to the how-the-race-to-space-unfolded Smithsonian quality exhibits shown in the stunning Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum. The Museum holds a mounted SR-71, the Apollo 13 Command module, an IMAX theater, Dr Goddard’s Lab, a café, shop and more.
If that isn’t enough to pique your interest, they have an excellent steak house in the airport terminal building, a water park in the hotel in which we’ll be staying and the new Salt Mine attraction is due to open soon. Shopper Alert – there is an antique district downtown and a unique Amish community about 20 minutes southeast of town. Those folks that come to our events will likely follow me in returning to Hutchinson again and again. We’ll talk about the intermediary stops on the 1800-mile Marion Jayne route in coming newsletters.
The finish for the Marion Jayne Air Race is at the Gateway to Oshkosh, GTO(TM) Convention and Fly-in operated by Jones Publishing – the folks who bring you the Cessna Owner Organization and Piper Owners Society monthly magazines. Their Convention and Fly-in has seminars, fun food gatherings, ground schools and very comfortable transportation to and from EAA’s AirVenture event at Oshkosh for the opening three days. When we lived in Illinois, we used to go to Oshkosh all the time. It was a great experience flying in but I still remember taxiing for 45 minutes to a parking space and then pulling the plane down the taxiway as we were the umpty-umpth plane in line for departure – that light Twin Comanche got heavy. The bus rides sound like we get all the fun without so much of the work. I’m all for that.
Our theme this year is "Air Racing: Where it’s all about the Pilots". Race Team ‘8 is great’ is competing again this year. Last year the Texas married folk of AnnElise and Bobby Bennett nearly took the top award in their rookie race efforts in their personally renovated 172. Now they are addicted. Bobby had been a pilot for years when he challenged AnnElise with “If you learn to fly, I’ll buy you an airplane”. She did and he did so the rest is happy flying history. It was AnnElise’s turn to excite Bobby with this whole idea of air racing. They are a relaxed fun couple on the ground and keen competitors in the air. They are looking forward to seeing their new friends from last year.
We hope that you'll join with us too and enjoy the fabulous camaraderie that develops with shared flying adventures. You can fly one, two or all three of our races: the exciting cross country 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race from Hutchinson, Kansas to Wisconsin, the Hutchinson 300-mile Air Race in Kansas and/or the Wisconsin 300-mile Air Race in Wisconsin. A cruise at your own speed division is also available. These fabulous flying events will be held July 16-23, 2006. Participants will receive custom trophies, cash, completion plaques, prizes and the priceless bragging rights.
Teams may compete in cruise or speed divisions in the 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race. Custom divisions (such as, turbo or all RVs) are possible for five or more teams. The events are open to all qualified pilots and planes. Flying will be done under Federal Aviation Regulations in daylight, VFR conditions of 1000’ and 3 miles or better. Race planes are individually handicapped which makes each event a test of flying skills. Our goals are to promote the sport of General Aviation and the events’ proceeds will benefit aviation endeavors. As always, participants have the opportunity to dedicate an aviation scholarship. Scholarships will be distributed evenly among men and women and awarded by drawings in Kansas and Wisconsin.
We are excited to bring you a projected route abounding in scenic splendor and clear of nearly all special use air space. The route begins in Hutchinson located in the middle of Kansas on the Arkansas River. You’ll follow the river valley towards the eastern plains of Colorado and then fly north in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains to the scenic Badlands and the edge of the Black Hills in South Dakota’s Rapid City where teams may remain overnight and see the fabulous evening Mt Rushmore presentation. Then it is off to Montana and the Missouri River. Turning east, you’ll follow the Missouri River a bit until it is joined by the Yellowstone River to create beautiful Lake Sakakawea. Still heading east, you’ll cross North Dakota and Minnesota just south of the boundary waters and then turn southeast and fly just over the tip of lake Superior and finish in mid-Wisconsin. As in the past, legs are about 300 sm and with an easy two-legs-a-day strategy, you’ll land in time for all th
e fun on the ground. The free entry kit is at www.us-airrace.org and has more details.
The renaissance-style 300-mile races are where pilotage and precise flying reign supreme as teams compete with only a compass and sectional charts for navigational aids across a mystery route. The Marion Jayne Air Race is where the full panel is used with weather and aircraft knowledge being added to the competitive equation. After 3 days and 1800 miles of cross country flying, teams will be honored awards. The results of the three national races will be combined to determine the winner of the stunning Marion Jayne Perpetual Trophy.
The U.S. Air Race, Inc. was founded by famed race pilot Marion Jayne. Jayne is the only U.S. pilot to have raced twice around the world. She placed second in the 1992 race and won the FAI Gold Medal in 1994. Marion has been honored as one of the century's 100 Aviation Heroes along with the Wrights, John Glenn, Eileen Collins and others at the 2003 Centennial Celebration. Her personal success, her two races around the world, her life before flying were cited as well as her entrepreneurial spirit in founding 4 air races - three of which are still run annually. The 2006 National Air Races honor her memory and contributions.
Our ‘Safe, Fair and Fun’ catch phrase was coined at the 1995 inaugural event and characterizes how we work together as organizers and participants to have successful flights. Our teams have flown over 480,145 miles with a perfect safety record. For first-time participants a special briefing is held and new teams are given an experienced event buddy to make their rookie experience goes smoothly. Come join us for the fun flying, the camaraderie, the cruising and/or the competition. You’ll have hangar flying stories for years to come!
Wishing you Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Pat
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer
President, U.S. Air Race, Inc.
National Air Races and Air Cruise
www.us-airrace.org

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