Cassutt article in Loop

[Trevor 886]

There's an interview with Richard in Loop magazine about his Cassutts.

The web version is here:

http://www.loop.aero/features/features/2006/October/4

The magazine is free and you can subscribe online.

Trevor 886

[Gate Master]

Thanks Trevor, good article, seems a squadron of Cassutts may be on the cards !!!!
Andy

[Carolyn Grace]

The article is really very good in Loop and I am so proud of Richard.  The air to air photo was taken by Daisy Burge who is a budding photographer and taken by her in her first ever air to air sortie from the front seat looking back in my Stampe whcih is open cockpit on a very rough and windy day.  The girl did well. Darren has been helping Daisy with her work and she clearly has real talent.


The photo of Richard was taken by our own Maggie Radcliffe after Richard's return from Longleat last year. Maggie is accomplished in her portrait phtography and this does show with this photo.

Carolyn Grace

[BlueRobin]

Hi guys, I saw the article also and flagged it up over on Key's forum.  I would quite like to do air racing in the future and I think the Cassutt article has given me the aeroplane to do it in!  A to B spam canning is getting mundane for me.

Carolyn, I am the same height as Richard and noted the "numb bum" problem.  My brother is a carpenter and so to prevent housemaid's knee from constant kneeling down, uses padding inserted into pockets over his knees.  Said pads are also about a cheek  size so here's an idea.  Sew two large pockets in the back of a flightsuit and insert a pair of knee pads there.  Best ones you can get (imo) are Snickers, see here:

http://www.snickersonline.co.uk/accessories.htm (9115/9117)

They're not very thick so shouldn't consume available cockpit height.

Bizarre I know but hey, can't hurt.

Cheers




Neil

[Trevor 886]

Neil

If you're interested in air racing check out the Royal Aero Club website for more information:

http://airraceuk.org/

The Cassutt was a Formula 1 racer, but now it's all handicapped. The only proviso is that the aircraft has to do at least 100mph flat out. We've had Austers racing this season alongside the RVs and Barons and a whole bevy of Cessnas and Pipers. The slow ones take off about 30-35 minutes before the others, which have to lap them to catch up. The theory is that everyone crosses the finish line at the same time if they've flown equally accurately, which doesn't happen of course! And the slower ones do win - a Rallye won the Schneider Trophy this year, and a Jodel the Saturday race at Alderney.

There is usually a two-day Air Race School held at North Weald every March, then a race check ride is required with one of the official pilots in order to get a racing licence. I've done some race ferrying, been a navigator for one race and a Turning Point Marshal for three others. It's certainly great fun, and something a bit different, but to do it seriously you need deep pockets!

Here's a view from the cockpit of a race turning point - the little orange pyramid just visible at the road junction. This was at Le Treport in France.



Trevor 886

[BlueRobin]

Nice shot but height looks a little high compared to the Kings Cup flying out of Baginton, 1960 

[Trevor 886]

Roger Hayes - who is flying the aircraft has won the King's Cup four times. The normal race height is now 500 feet agl, unless the Stewards decide otherwise. You are allowed to descend from Point Alpha to 100 feet over the finish line.

That is where we came unstuck at Le Treport. We were first over the line, but the judges reckoned we were under 100 feet, so we were disqualified. Ironically, the guys behind us, who then got the result, had a very good chance of sweeping the board for the championships. Everything hinged on the last race at Alderney. They were disqualified for low flying and only managed to take the Sonic Championship for the Saturday races!

I think the old-time races must have been even more fun. 

Trevor 886

[stevie k]

Surely your nose and ears start to bleed above 100 foot -