HAYWARD, Calif. – From all over the West Coast, 27 aircraft and pilot crews are preparing for competition in the 49th annual Hayward Air Rally, set for June 21.
This proficiency challenge offers aviators the opportunity to demonstrate their airmanship skills of fuel planning and cross-country flight without the use of advanced navigation equipment, according to organizers.
The actual rally course is announced the day prior to the event. The course consists of two legs, each approximately 250 nautical miles. The first leg is from Hayward (HWD) to Redding, Calif. (RDD). The second leg extends from Redding to Bend, Ore. (BDN). Each rally leg contains multiple checkpoints, which must be visually identified. Prior to departure from Hayward, each pilot turns in estimates of their enroute flight times and fuel consumption for each of the two legs. This will be the Air Rally’s fifth visit to Oregon.
Traditionally flown without the use of GPS, LORAN, DME, RNAV or Digital Fuel Flow Meters, flight teams are scored on their ability to precisely predict flight times and fuel consumption enroute to the two required landing points. Flight crews are scored on a combination of identifying check points, matching predicted time (to the second) and matching predicted fuel usage (to the tenth of a gallon). The lowest score wins.
Penalty points are accumulated for incorrectly identifying checkpoints, as well as deviating from time enroute and fuel estimates. Recently-adopted rules allow pilots with advanced-technology cockpits to also compete and be ranked fairly against those with traditional equipment.
The winner of the 2012 Hayward Air Rally was Sam Sun of San Diego, flying a Grumman Tiger. A two-time winner of this event, he is returning this year to defend his championship.
The rally is open to pilots of single and multi-engine piston aircraft with a minimum range of 400 nautical miles. Student pilots may participate as pilots if an appropriately rated flight instructor accompanies them. Copilots/navigators need not be licensed, nor even a pilot, to participate.
Rally proceeds are used to fund summer youth aviation camp scholarships. This year the Hayward Air Rally has selected four California teenagers to receive fully-paid scholarships, including tuition and roundtrip airfare, to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Advanced Air Academy summer 2013 program.
In partnership with local chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the International Organization of Women Pilots, Inc. (99s), the Hayward Air Rally announced the winners of the four scholarships as Luis Fernando Mendez of James Logan High School in Union City; Lacey Peddicord of Foothill High School in Palo Cedro; Adam Sciupac of Lynnbrook High School in San Jose; and Kathryn Smith of Mission San Jose High School in Fremont. The Air Academy is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and is an in-residence camp for students to develop and explore their interest in aviation.
Corporate sponsors of the rally include Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., Ascend Development HWD, Brightline Bags, David Clark Company, Flight Guide, the City of Hayward, Jeppesen, Professional Air, Redding Municipal Airport, Redding Jet Center, and Suburban Air. The event is also supported by the Alameda County and Mount Shasta chapters of the 99s, the International Association of Women Pilots.
For more information: HwdAirRally.org