Reno Air Races | P51 Dago Red Crew Video
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- #renoairraces #airrace #p51 #dagored #mustang
In 1998, Dago Red battled Dreadnought in the Gold Unlimited Race at Reno Stead Airport.
Pilot: Bruce Lockwood
Crew Chief: Bill Kerchenfaut
Owner: Terry Bland
Wayne Sagar at AAFO.com Stated: The race for the Gold was far from a cakewalk for winner and new champion Bruce Lockwood and Dago Red. Remember what I have been saying about Dennis Sanders and his mount Dreadnought? She was right on his heels at the start of the race and when Bruce slowed down a bit too much for an upcoming turn... Dreadnought not only passed him, but passed him with authority! In actuality - Dreadnought posted her best lap speeds ever by blistering the course at over 460 mph! At first, we thought that Dago Red had a problem and was going to exit the race course. But we soon realized that this wasn’t the case. Soon afterwards Bruce Lockwood shook off the amazement, reattached his bottom jaw, and then prepared to reel in the fleeting Dreadnought. When he was aboutClick here for larger image to pass him at pylon #1 - Bruce ran into some rough air behind the big Sea Fury (propwash and/or wake turbulence) - which almost sent Dago on her back and caused Bruce’s helmet to hit the canopy "rather hard". A scary moment at best, Bruce’s reactions and keen piloting skills served him well, as he almost instantaneously regained control of the floundering aircraft. Soon afterwards, he managed to pass Dreadnought and took command of the race till the finish. A very close battle until the end - Bruce commented that "It was a great race. I’m sure the fans liked it".
More Info:
30 July 1983: Flying a modified World War II-era fighter, Frank Taylor set a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Speed Over a 15/25 Kilometer Straight Course ¹ with an average speed of 832.12 kilometers per hour (517.056 miles per hour)-(0.686 Mach). The record flight took place at Mojave Airport (MHV) in the high desert of southern California. The runway elevation at MHV is 2,801 feet above Sea Level (853.8 meters). The airport is about 19 miles (30.6 kilometers) northwest of Edwards Air Force Base.
Flying magazine briefly commented the record run:
“. . . he ran the Mustang’s Merlin engine at 110 inches of manifold pressure [7.93 Bar] and 3,800 r.p.m. (it was designed for 61 inches and 3,000 r.p.m.) and fed it 110 gallons [416.4 liters] of 115/145-octane fuel with manganese additive, enough for only two passes.”
-Flying, Vol. 112, No. 1, January 1985, at Page 64.
Taylor’s air racer was Dago Red,² a North American Aviation P-51D-30-NA Mustang. The fighter had been built at Inglewood, California, in 1944 and assigned U.S. Army Air Corps serial number 44-74996. When the U.S. Air Force retired the last of its Mustangs from Air National Guard service in 1957, 44-74996 was sold as surplus.
Dago Red would have appeared like this F-51D when in U.S. Air Force markings. This fighter, 44-74998, was the second Mustang to be built by North American Aviation at Inglewood after Dago Red. (U.S. Air Force)
The airplane was issued the civil registration N5410V. The Mustang changed ownership many times before it crashed after an engine failure at Concorde, California, 16 August 1970. After a decade in storage, the wreck was rebuilt as an air racer.
North American Aviation P-51D-30-NA Mustang 44-74996, N5410V. (Unattributed)
The P-51D was modified for air racing. It’s wings were “clipped” (shortened) and the upper fuselage re-shaped, both intended to reduce aerodynamic drag. Approximately 2½ feet (0.76 meters) were removed from each wing tip. The Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine also received many internal modifications to increase power output, and to survive that increase. The Merlin turned a Hamilton Standard “paddle blade” propeller. (Dago Red‘s current engine is based on the post-war Rolls-Royce Merlin 620-series commercial variant.)
On 21 August 1989, an Unlimited Class Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, Rare Bear, exceeded Dago Red‘s record speed while setting its own FAI record,³ averaging 850.24 kilometers per hour (528.315 miles per hour) over a shorter 3 kilometer course. Both airplanes’ records stood until they were retired due to changes in the sporting code.
In addition to its world speed record, Dago Red has won the National Championship Air Races six times.
Ah, my first year on the crew.... that brings back some fond memories (and some strong emotions) David - thanks! Hard to believe Kerch is no longer with us - I miss that guy... he was the glue that bound that team together.
Hey Mark! Yes indeed, what a year. Great people. And yes, Kerch was a gem. Truly one of a kind. We did have some fun, didn’t we?
I WAS THERE,,,,LOVED IT
A truly memorable year!
The Glory days
And glorious they were!
All glory is fleeting; all glory is fleeting; all glory is fleeting...
Yep
I got a chance to see the Dago Red plane on display in Pomona, California, at a race track nest to the airfield there. I believe the owner's name at the time was Frank Taylor.
Impressive plane and team
Untouchable...Voodoo maybe....Rare Bear on a good day...Strega about the same....
Glory days!
and were is dago red now
In pieces. Supposedly on its way back to stock.