Dispatch from KMDH, Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois: Standing on my wing, I look down the long double row of airplanes. Like an old-style barn dance, the two lines of planes face each other, spinner to spinner, across a wide taxiway. We’re arranged from fastest to slowest; the fastest planes on the east, the slowest planes on the west. […]
Air Racing from the Cockpit: A hard day’s work
Dispatch from KTRL, Terrell, Texas: I pull my mixture control knob all the way back, turn the key three clicks to the left to shut off the mags, and reach up to flip the master switch down. Race 53’s engine doesn’t like to stop running, but finally sputters, coughs, stops. The spinning prop makes one last […]
Air Racing From the Cockpit: An ethical dilemma
Dispatch from KIYA, Abbeville, Louisiana: As I turn off the taxiway for the hold-short line, I glance back over my left shoulder to watch the parade of Aeronca 7 Champions move forward. Each a different shade of yellow and red, with their stubby noses high in the air, their tails low, they look like a pack […]
Air Racing from the Cockpit: An unexpected pair of victories
Dispatch from KGYI, Sherman, Texas: I’m sweating. Figuratively speaking. The other plane is right behind me. I strain my neck first left then right, looking out my back windows trying to spot him. I don’t see him, but I know he’s got to be right on my twin tails. The tower cleared his takeoff as soon […]
Air Racing from the Cockpit: Speed kings
Dispatch from T74, Taylor, Texas: I’m singing out loud, off-key, in the cockpit. I can do this because I’m alone in the plane. I’m not normally the singing type, but I’m in a buoyant mood. First, after a weather delay, we’re finally on the race course. Second I’m flying. And third, my airspeed indicator is showing […]
Air Racing from the Cockpit: Start your engines
Dispatch from KOCH, Nacogdoches, Texas: My left hand is wrapped tightly around the yoke, my right hand grasps the windscreen support bar, and I’m holding on for dear life. No, I’m not going that fast. In fact, I’ve had to slow down to keep my race plane out of the yellow arc. I’m getting pounded to […]
Air Racing from the Cockpit: Planning to win
Dispatch from 7,500 feet over Texas, somewhere north of Lubbock: I’m on my way to the first race of the season, the Azalea Air Race, in Nacogdoches, Texas, in the Sport Air Racing League. For me just getting there will be a day-long, 620-mile cross country with three fuel stops. It’s not the closest race that […]
Air racing from the cockpit
Dispatch from KSXU, Santa Rosa, New Mexico: I’m an unlikely air racer. First, I’m 52 years old. Second, I have no sponsors beyond my 401K plan. Third, my plane is… ah… pedestrian when it comes to airspeed. Still, with all those cards stacked against me, I plan to race this season. And I plan to win. You’re […]