This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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I was wondering when this would surface..

Fri May 22, 2009 11:09 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEASE-IT ... 240%3A1318

a little late for this year...

Sat May 23, 2009 6:19 am

Did that thing ever fly?

Sat May 23, 2009 6:27 am

good question!
my bet would be no, so that means that whoever "leases" it becomes the test pilot, and all around guinea pig.

No thanks.

as well since it has been knocking around for years in about the same condition who knows if it is even ready for flight.

How can they offer it for lease as a racer if it has yet to even be tested??
They have no performance numbers, and no proof it can even race, let alone be competitive.

the whole project looks like a desperate attempt at raising funds.

Sat May 23, 2009 7:33 am

I prefer this one.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24471&highlight=racer

thats the new ulimited racer

Sat May 23, 2009 9:12 am

Michel Lemieux wrote:I prefer this one.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24471&highlight=racer


that meets the weight standard

NO...

Sat May 23, 2009 9:17 am

Fouga23 wrote:Did that thing ever fly?


they did computer sims and it has been fast taxied but never flown. I have seen it several times over the years and it is from a cursory inspection very nicely built. Yes it would take a LARGE PAIR to race it. Test flights if done properly I would think may be fairly safe. if you need to jettison the aircraft you are SOL it has a roll cage second to none ala blown fuel dragster but if you were in a spin or some such similar upset attitude you would ride it down.
I don't think we will be seeing it soon at Reno.

Sat May 23, 2009 3:08 pm

That plane looks fine to me. In fact the workmanship appears to be excellent, just an experimental aircraft. I don't see what all the vitriol is about. It's probably fast, and needs to be flown carefully on test flights to determine stall speeds, etc.

???

Sat May 23, 2009 3:28 pm

Seems odd that they never few their own airplane.
But heck Chris you go ahead and fly it. :idea:

Sat May 23, 2009 6:28 pm

Why would they be leasing it rather than selling it? Cynical perhaps, but do they have much to gain by insuring it heavily in case the leasers crash it, or they can keep it once the leasers have testflown it demonstrated its flyability??

Are not leases such as this, of very experimental aircraft - or warbirds, for that matter - unusual?

Sat May 23, 2009 6:38 pm

Maybe they're craftsmen, who don't fly.

there is a reason

Sat May 23, 2009 6:41 pm

Jack Cook wrote:Seems odd that they never few their own airplane.
But heck Chris you go ahead and fly it. :idea:


they started building it for the Reno unlimited class, back when Bob Love was racing. it took years of development and experimentation and just when they thought they might be ready to get it in the air RARA changed the weight rule and it was too light to compete in the gold class at that point. Their goal was unlimited gold racing and so they started on a new bigger heaver plane.

Sat May 23, 2009 8:03 pm

I'mn guessing that this isn't the old "MACHBUSTER" right? (Which looks like this thing)

Mark H

Sat May 23, 2009 8:06 pm

P51Mstg wrote:I'mn guessing that this isn't the old "MACHBUSTER" right? (Which looks like this thing)

Mark H


Not exactly the same aircraft, but an outgrowth/evolution of that program. Same owner.

???

Sat May 23, 2009 10:01 pm

Whatever happened to the T-6 thing called Wildfire with a R-2800?

Sun May 24, 2009 2:27 am

Wildfire, ya the never ending saga of when that will race.
Apparently they are pretty close, it has flown, and is being prepared.
But the main issue with it has always been that it was reported to fly very badly at best, and was slow.
I was of the opinion that starting with a T6 was not such a great idea, the wing fairing looks strange, the cowl is ungainly, and the canopy looks very strange.
Everyone has their own view of what works and what looks good, but I would think that the amount of money, and time ( lots of both I believe) would have been better spent in another direction.
Like the Matt Jackson racer, (yet to fly) Tsunami, Miss Ashley II, etc.
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