Air Racing

REASONS FOR GOING TURBINE POWERED

1) Reliability. The ability to stage multiple events, even weekly events in the summer season.

2) Use Unlimited Hydroplane racing as a model, e.g. with piston power, 5 events per season, with turbine power 12 to 15 events per season. Quite often with piston power, only 2 out of 5 hydroplanes finish an event. With turbine power you should have at least 4 out of 5 finishing, thus giving you greater parity.

3) Multiple events would result in more television coverage and the ability for teams to acquire major sponsorship, thus offsetting costs.

4) Worldwide availability of turbine power. Older turbines at comparable horsepower to the existing piston horsepower of the unlimited category can be purchased at a fraction of the cost. These turbines are available from military, civilian, and salvage, as well as from Russian and Chinese sources.

5) The ability to maintain and repair, e.g. the unlimited hydroplane shops do their own work, and there are a multitude of turbine repair shops across America.

6) There are large groups of turbine mechanics to draw from, such as, military and commuter airlines.

7) The investment level to build a turbo-prop unlimited air racer will be much lower than that of the existing equipment. Therefore encouraging more racers to be built, even some foreign entries which would be the greatest boom to air racing. A good example would be The America's Cup.

The Allison 4000 hp
Model: Late 100's series
Ignition: MSD - electreonic
Turbo Chargers: Two Holsets

The P-51 is powered by the T-53 L701A the world's most popular turbine.
Over 19,000 have been produced under license in three countries.
Allied-Signal plans to produce this engine through the year 2020.
At 625 lbs. and 1450 hp, it is unmatched. This is the same engine used
to power 50 T-28's made by AIDC(T-CH-1).

Integrate turbines into
existing unlimited class.

1. Horsepower vs. weight formula using Rare Bear as baseline.
4500 hp / 10,800 lb; e.g.
2/hp - 1 lb. / 1 34/hp
per lb.

2. Define the physical profile using the smallest existing competitive racer as the baseline. No more Pond Racers. Use racers that can be seen.

3. Define all race courses to favor existing unlimited racers.

Murdo Cameron