View Full Version : Pre WW2 pylon racers.
Strega 2541
3rd Jul 2010, 21:35
Any info is greatly apreciated.
prefrebly 3 view drawings of the planes etc.
stepwilk
4th Jul 2010, 15:09
Get a book or two. "Thompson Trophy Racers," by Roger Huntington, is a good one--lots of photos, three-views, etc.
sycamore
4th Jul 2010, 15:35
Google is your friend.......history of air racing etc....
Strega 2541
4th Jul 2010, 20:29
I have been looking for a decent racing book to get.
There is a book called The Air Racer by C Mendenhall
have you heard of it
stepwilk
4th Jul 2010, 22:02
Haven't seen Mendenhall's book in years--I may even have a copy somewhere--but as I remember it was largely a collection of poorly-drawn three-views, and I think it consisted of three relatively thin, boxed, softcover volumes. Not recommended.
Strega - You might want to do some research on Steve Wittman and see where that leads you.
Steve Wittman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wittman)
Wittman Field in Oshkosh is named after him.
The EAA might also be a good source of info on his racing designs Chief Oshkosh and Bonzo.
EAA - The Spirit of Aviation - Oshkosh, WI (http://www.eaa.org/)
Steve Wittman was ahead of his time in many areas of aircraft design. His Buttercup design, though not a racer, is particularly interesting for its low drag innovations and wide speed range LuceAir ~ The Homebuilt Rag & Tube Aircraft Experts (http://luceair.com/)
Hope this helps.
sablatnic
5th Jul 2010, 16:15
One more book, "The Golden Age of Air Racing" by S.H. Schmid and truman C.Weaver. Quite a lot of 3views and lots and lots of text.
Bought it many years ago, and it is still lying under my bed.
Strega 2541
7th Jul 2010, 20:54
Hey, Thanks guys for all your input pls keep it coming. I am particularly interested in the Laird Super Solution. If u hv any pics, info etc it is all welcome.
drawbarz
7th Jul 2010, 21:25
Hi Strega,
I too have been interested in Early racing aircraft and in particular Matty Lairds Super Solution. Have you seen pictures of the recently built flying replica?
Check this website
Laird Super Solution (http://www.eskimo.com/~c180tom/laird.html)
All the best
John
stepwilk
8th Jul 2010, 17:59
Having flown plenty of open-cockpit airplanes, I suspect the "helmet-ripping" buffet supposedly described by Al Williams is as fanciful and warped by the newspaper as were the captions you describe.
Williams' career extended well beyond the 1930s. He flew a
Grumman F8F Bearcat airshow PR airplane in the '50s.