 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Veteran flyers, Maisie Stears, as pilot, and Mary Creason, as co-pilot, will compete as a team in the 2006 US Air Race! With flying events held from July 16th to 23rd, these are prestigious cross country races. The goal of these races is to get from one point to another in the shortest possible time, under conditions comparable to everyday flying. Teams fly one or all three of the included races: the exciting cross country race from Hutchinson, Kansas, to Stevens Point, Wisconsin; the Hutchinson 300-mile race in Kansas; or the race in Wisconsin. The theme for 2006 is "Air Racing: Where It's All About the Pilots". The longest race, the 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race will begin in Hutchinson, Kansas and finish at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Five mandatory fueling stops are located along the route. Teams follow the river valley
towards the eastern plains of Colorado and then fly north in the shadow of
the Rocky Mountains. From there, they fly-over the scenic Badlands to the
edge of the Black Hills where some teams will remain overnight and attend a
Mt. Rushmore presentation.
Next, racers go to Montana and the Missouri River. Turning east, flights will follow the Missouri until it is joined by the Yellowstone River at Lake Sakakawea. Heading east across North Dakota and Minnesota, the racers fly above the tip of Lake Superior and finish in mid-Wisconsin. A cross country air race is a test of all pilot skills in the real world of flying. The goal is to fly the designated course in the fastest time. As such, the races are precisely timed. Aircraft are handicapped, thus equalizing them for competing against one another. Planes are also handicapped with the weight they will carry during a race. Special divisions provide for non-handicapped planes of the same type, model or horsepower. Turbo or supercharged engines fly in separate divisions. All flying is daylight VFR only. The US Air Race will be timing and tracking the racers with the special build GPS loggers. Playing by the rules while remaining competitive is the secret to enjoying these unique events. The US Air Race was founded by famed race pilot and entrepreneur, Marion Pollard Jayne. Marion was named one of the 100 Aviation Heroes for the First Century of Flight at the 2003 Kitty Hawk Centennial Celebration along with the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart and others. Jayne left a legacy of accomplishments. She motivated other pilots through instruction and by setting a stellar example of achievement on six continents. She is the only US pilot to have raced twice around the world. She won Gold and Silver FAI medals in world races and holds the world record for the most victories in cross country speed races. The Marion Jayne Air Race is a fun gathering of diverse pilots, planes, magnificent scenery, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. We wish Mary and Maisie tailwinds and blue skies!
Learn more about the USAR here!
More Air Race Information at this
website,
Air Racing |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
