Warbird Information Exchange

more photos from my stash,
This is N88RT, Race 88, owned at the time by Bruce Redding.

Cool, Matt,

I've flown with Bruce in that airplane some. It sure was set up different from a stocker!

Who is in the back seat?

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Scotty G
www.LightAndLift.com
www.WarbirdAeroPress.com

I have no idea who was in the back.
I know T-6s very well, and I could not find all the speed tricks on that plane. It was a scary plane to stall, in a dirty stall, it would tuck it's nose and if you were ready for it, you could stop it as it went straight down

As I remember, the T-6 tech committe was not real pleased with the airplane...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

They just did not read the rules the same way Bruce did. I know one of the rules stated there must be 5 instruments in the back seat panel, Bruce complied to the letter of the rule, he installed 5 aircraft clocks.

Now that is funny! I'd never heard about that.

Matt -- do you have any idea what the weight of the airplane was, or at least how much lighter than a stocker it ended up?

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

I don't know how much lighter it was, but I know it had the baggage compartment removed, spacer blocks removed, A model cowling, flush glass, counter sunk stress panel screws, wheel well seals, no landing or nav lights. close fitted ailerons, rudder offset removed, Battery installed in the tail cone and I swear the engine had no piston rings, it was the easiest 1340 to pull thru.

We later reinstalled the baggage compartment, and spacers.

It was fast enough that one day Carl was flying it from Falcon field to Deervalley for inspection. Rick Hosking was flying lead, Rick's SNJ has a geared 1340 and a 3 bladed prop and is faster than a stock T-6, so he is always cautious about his power settings when he was lead. He called Carl on the radio and asked how the power setting was, Carl replied that he could push it up some as he was pulled way back. Rick did not believe that, so Carl pulled up wing tip to wingtip with Rick and said, When I say Go, Go to 30 inches.
At 30 inches, Rick would walk away from any T-6. Carl Said GO, and then left Rick like he was sitting still, he never had a prayer in keeping up.

Thanks for all the information -- I did some business with Bruce at the time but could never get him to talk much about the airplane, and I've always been curious.

On the course during qualifications at Reno 1987 -- Dennis Beuhn at the controls. They were doing a lot of sorting out of the airplane at Reno that year...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

And another...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Hello All, I am the current owner of Race 88 I bought it from Bruce in 2001. I have put almost 500 hrs on it since I have owned the plane. It is one of the best flying T6's I have flown. As far as the stall I don't know if something has changed but it stalls in all configurations like a normal T6 maybe if anything a little better. It is still very light and fast and a joy to fly. Only thing I have added to the plane is a Airwolf oil filter. I do know that the rumor mill still is alive on Race 88 I think it is one plane they would not like to compete against at Reno!

Welcome to Wix, and glad to hear you are enjoying Race 88. I flew in it several times around Phx with Bruce and Carl, and once from Sana Monica to Phx.
I know when Carl did the stall series it was a handfull, but that was before some of the race mods were taken out.