[dhtahoe]

Life is funny sometimes. In the past few years I have been working my way into Unlimited Air Racing because I know I can't race mountain bikes forever. The airplane that I work on Rare Bear is the most winning airplane at the Reno Air Races(It won the gold for it's 12th time in 04). This year the crew chief died in a tragic accident at an airshow a few weeks ago opening a spot for me to join the team full time. Not how I wanted to get on, but that's life. I just found out yesterday that the Rare Bear once retired will be placed in the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. The best part is that my name will be on the left landing gear door. Never in my life did I ever think that I would become a part of aviation history. The Bear is the airplane low and inside just before winng last year.(white/gold)

 

[McGRP01]

Very cool!!! Congrats on making history!!

 

[pixelninja]

That's really cool! (except for the part about the ex-crew chief) Congrats on being part of aviation history.

 

[spookydave]

That's pretty cool. Well, not the part about the crew chief. I've watched that plane for years. It must be pretty awasome to be a part of it.

 

[Damn True]

Ive seen that plane at airshows. When you get close, it starts talking dirty to you at inaudible levels. Very cool.

 

[blt2ride]

Congratulations! That's very cool.

 

[Curb Hucker]

congrats man

 

[rpk1988]

They race airplanes?? Tighttt! Congrats dude.

 

[MudGrrl]

Congrats!

Are you going to attend the unveiling in DC?

 

[BSEVEER]

Very cool, congrats. I have been to the Reno air races and have seen it race.

 

[dhtahoe]

Congrats!

Are you going to attend the unveiling in DC?

Yeah I THINK that's how it works???

 

[Dirt rider]

that is so cool

hey what make/model engine powers it? is the the same engine used in the military bearcat?

how hard its it to get parts for a plane like that, do you have to make alot of them?

 

[N8 v2.0]

that is so cool

hey what make/model engine powers it? is the the same engine used in the military bearcat?

how hard its it to get parts for a plane like that, do you have to make alot of them?

dood... meet google...

 

[N8 v2.0]

Nice clean plane... Bearcats were so bad ass carrier planes for their time..

 

[Cooter Brown]

Dude! That's freakin sweet, congrats.

And condolences to your passed pilot's family

 

[dhtahoe]

that is so cool

hey what make/model engine powers it? is the the same engine used in the military bearcat?

how hard its it to get parts for a plane like that, do you have to make alot of them?

Wright R-3350@4000hp w/o NOS and about 5000 when you hit the little green button.Original powerplant P&W R-2800. R is for radial the # is the cubic inches. So it has 18 cylinders, 32 sparkplugs, 3350+ c.i., 1 HUGE carb, and a propeller off of a Skyraider(3 blade gone)that is 16 feet in diameter with a cord(width)that is 20 inches. It moves so much air that it can and will suck a crew member into it if you get too close during run-ups. EVERYTHING hand made from wing skins to engine cowlings. At takeoff it is just above idle it is so overpowered. If you compare the frontal mass to a Mustang in the picture above it's as aerodynamic as a barndoor. So that's why it has twice the c.i. than a merlin(Mustang)engine.

Cooter: The pilot didn't die the crew chief(head mechanic)did.

 

[Mani_UT]

Wow Dhtahoe!

I cannot believe you're involved in that scene (reno air races and such). That is some really really cool stuff that's going on there. I read somewhere you were planning on pole racing too?

 

[dhtahoe]

Wow Dhtahoe!

I cannot believe you're involved in that scene (reno air races and such). That is some really really cool stuff that's going on there. I read somewhere you were planning on pole racing too?

Yeah I want to build an F1 plane(entry level) soon. I like flying close to the ground... It's fun!!! When I quit racing DH next year that's the next adventure.

 

[splat]

That is very cool , on many levels . congrats