Ok so its not strictly an out and out racer, but this has got to be one of the more unusual aircraft used in an air race.! Sturgeon PP1 RK791 “80” photographed at the Elmdon races in 1949 (Firebrand in the background).
Don’t know where she was placed but i doubt if anyone would want to get in the slipstream of those contra-props..
What other ‘unusual’ aircraft have been entered in air racing.?
By: Wyvernfan - 23rd March 2009 at 11:58
Another ‘unusual’ racer from the same year as the Sturgeon.. Blackburn Firebrand TF5.A EK621 “81” at the Elmdon races 1949.
By: pagen01 - 20th March 2009 at 15:05
I take it that with so many relatively low powered types being classed as the winner, the handicap given to them against bigger more powerful types was somewhat over generous to say the least..
And a comparative lack of manouverability!
As Nashio points out, this was the second prototype SA.1 Sturgeon, looks quite nice compared to what would be done with the type!
There have been alsorts of oddballs in these air races, including jet prototypes.
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th March 2009 at 14:46
What a fantastic sight & sound it must have been!
Come on ‘Apple’ – stop faffying around with MP3 players and design a time machine!!
By: Wyvernfan - 20th March 2009 at 14:36
I take it that with so many relatively low powered types being classed as the winner, the handicap given to them against bigger more powerful types was somewhat over generous to say the least..
By: Nashio966 - 20th March 2009 at 14:33
i think thats one the prototype aircraft RK791?
By: Rlangham - 20th March 2009 at 14:26
The majority of the winners of the King’s Cup Air Race!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King’s_Cup_Race
The Auster Alpha which won the 1956 race is preserved in the Charnwood Museum
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March 20, 2009 at 2:20 pm