This category will discuss the equipment, gear, and accessories involved in air racing, which is a form of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, the winner being the one who returns in the shortest time, the one who completes it with the most points, or who comes closest to a previously estimated time.
This is the shopping area of our guide, so we will focus on the products, manufacturers, and retailers involved in supplying the air racing industry. The sport itself will be covered in more detail within our Sports & Recreation section.
Air racing is a fast-paced sport in which pilots maneuver aircraft at incredible speeds through a series of pylons or around a defined course. The sport required highly specialized equipment and gear.
Central to the equipment necessary are the aircraft themselves. These are finely tuned, high-performance machines designed for speed, agility, and precision. The most common types of aircraft used in air racing are Formula One Class, Unlimited Class, Sport Class, and Jet Class.
Formula One Class aircraft are single-seat, fixed-wing aircraft powered by 100-horsepower engines, which are highly maneuverable and capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 mph. Popular models include the Cassutt III and the AR-6.
The Unlimited Class aircraft comprises some of the fastest piston-engine aircraft, often modified World War II fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, Hawker Sea Fury, and the F8F Bearcat. These planes can exceed speeds of 500 mph.
Sport Class aircraft are homebuilt or kit planes with a wide range of designs and engine configurations. Common models include the Lancair and the Glasair, which can reach speeds of around 400 mph.
Jet Class aircraft include military jet trainers such as the Aero L-39 Albatross, which can achieve speeds above 500 mph.
Besides the aircraft, pilots engaged in air racing rely on various gear to ensure safety, performance, and compliance with regulations.
Pilots will often wear specialized flight suits made from flame-resistant materials designed to protect them in case of an emergency, as well as helmets equipped with communication systems, visors, and sometimes oxygen masks.
To counteract the high G-forces experienced during tight maneuvers, pilots wear G-suits that use air bladders to apply pressure to the legs and abdomen, preventing blood from pooling and causing blackouts.
Parachutes are mandatory in most air racing events.
Advanced avionics systems are crucial for navigation, communication, and aircraft performance monitoring. These include GPS, altimeters, airspeed indicators, and engine monitoring systems.
Customized propellers and high-performance engines are used to achieve the speeds and agility required in air racing. Companies like Hartzell Propeller and Lycoming Engines provide specialized components for racing aircraft.
High-octane aviation fuel and specialized lubricants are used to maximize the performance of racing engines. Companies like Phillips 66 and Shell Aviation offer products tailored to the needs of air racers.
Besides those mentioned above, several manufacturers and retailers play a role in supplying equipment, gear, and accessories for air racing. These, along with websites focusing on the products used in the sport, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Manufactured by Aviat Aircraft, the Pitts S2C is a modern version of the classic Pitts Special aerobatic biplane renowned for its maneuverability and performance in aerobatic competitions and airshows. It has also been used in air racing events like the Reno Air Races and the World Championships at Oshkosh. Its specs and performance data, along with those of other S-class aircraft manufactured by Aviat Aircraft are also defined. Its in-stock inventory is shown and prices are included.
https://aviataircraft.com/aviat-aircraft-pitts/
Barnstormers: Experimental/Cassutt
Barnstormers is a popular site for buying and selling aircraft, aircraft parts, and related services, including a wide range of airplanes, jets, helicopters, experimental aircraft, and homebuilt aircraft, including Cassutt racers, which are Formula One Class aircraft used in air racing. Descriptions, photographs, asking prices, and contacts are provided, and any other available aircraft on the site may also be viewed. Those with aircraft to sell may also post ads.
https://www.barnstormers.com/category-18743-Experimental--Cassutt.html
Established in 1980 as Extra Flugzeugbau in Germany by Walter Extra, the aircraft company specializes in aerobatic aircraft, such as its Extra EA series and its Extra LT, LX, NG, SC, and SX. Its aircraft are highlighted on the company's site, and contacts for its sales and branch offices are posted on the site, along with maintenance services, parts, and manuals. Contacts and a contact form are included. Models like the Extra 330SX and Extra 300L are popular choices for air racing competitions.
https://extraaircraft.com/
Northwest Backcountry Aircraft
Before forming NBA, its co-owner, Bob "Hurricane" Hannah, was a professional motocross and Supercross racer, and later became involved in air racing, flying a modified P-51 Mustang. NBA specializes in backcountry and bush planes, offering aircraft from manufacturers like American Champion, Maule Aircraft, and Expedition Aircraft, with a focus on providing pilots with capable aircraft for backcountry flying, which includes aerobatic capabilities, including its Northwest Jet, its turbine division.
https://www.northwestbackcountryaircraft.com/
