June 25, 2013 post race
We're still in Fayetteville awaiting the airplane repair and plan to head for home tomorrow. NOW for the final results. You can go to the ARC web site and get the 2013 Air Race Classic results in the place order and also the Air Race Classic number order. There is also a list of leg prizes. You'll note that the top ten winners are not eligible for leg prizes. They do that so more racers will take prizes home. Of course the top ten winners sometimes won within the first four places on a given leg, but those prizes went instead to others a little down the line.
I know that some of you pilots will be curious what the racers were flying and you probably don't have a program. So I'll give you a quick rundown: ARC racer #1 flew a Cirrus, #2 a Skyhawk, 3 Cherokee, 4 C.172, 5 Cardinal, 6 Cirrus, 7 Skylane, 8 Archer, 9 Skyhawk, 10 Skyhawk, 11 Skylane, 12 Skyhawk, 13 Arrow, 14 Cherokee, 15 Mooney, 16 Skylane, 17 Skylane, 18 Skylane, 20 Skylane, 21 Skyhawk, 22 Skylane, 23 Cardinal, 24 Maule, 25 Be Super, 26 Cardinal, 27 Skylane, 30 Cirrus, 31 Bonanza, 33 Cherokee, 35 C.175, 36 Skylane, 37 Dakota, 39 Skyhawk, 40, 42, & 43 Skylanes, 44 Skyhawk, 45 Skylane, 46 Be Sundowner, 47 Warior, 48 Arrow, 49 Skyhawk. You can see that it's primarily a Cessna race. They like the Skylane because with the large fuel tanks they enjoy a range that most of the other airplanes don't have, and the speed (along with the Cirrus) to lay back and wait for anticipated tail winds. This was an extremely unusual race to have headwinds while flying west to east almost all the way. I've never seen a race before that only the first two places got positive scores and all the rest had negatives.
And that's about it for the blog. It was a fun and challenging race with a terrific group of women.
Gene Nora Jessen, Patty Mitchell and BJ Carter
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
June 23, 2013 Race results
The scores are in. We've never before been in the top ten - but we did it this time. The 3 Musketeers took 10th place. We'll have all the scores in the next few days but we're sure we did have a negative score and were told that except for the top two places, all the scores were negative. So it was a strong headwind race. We're very happy.
Gene Nora
The scores are in. We've never before been in the top ten - but we did it this time. The 3 Musketeers took 10th place. We'll have all the scores in the next few days but we're sure we did have a negative score and were told that except for the top two places, all the scores were negative. So it was a strong headwind race. We're very happy.
Gene Nora
race scores
We met with the judges yesterday - first the timing judges. We keep track of our own time, two of us hitting the stop watches as we pass the timing lines. We agreed with the judges.
Then the penalty judges. We carry two electronic devices the race gives us. The tracker worked quite well with the track locaton though their speeds were screwy. We showed a perfect race. However, the Bad Elf (nobody could tell me where the name came from) gave wild altitudes. We showed crossing one timing line at 41 feet which should have been 200'. Of course they have ground observers and we have the 3-person crew in the airplane watching it like a hawk. Everybody had trouble with the Bad Elf and I think they will be throwing all those discrepancies out. So they decreed that we'd flown a perfet race.
Our preliminary score is -3.656 and since they re-inspect the top 15 airplanes that means we're in the top 15. Can't believe that with a negative score, which means we're 3.656 knots below our handicap of 123.76 and we're in the top 15. However the race was heavy on headwinds and those who will admit their preliminary scores are all negative. So we'll know the whole picture tonight.
We had three Idaho entries in the race. The other two were Sherry Kindle and Wendy Frazer flying a Cessna 175. They carry an unbelievable load of electronics, are first timers and flew a good race. We also had Mary Ann Richards with Lois Chattin who got tangled up with the group in the bad weather at the start of the race and by the time they got into the race couldn't finish by the deadline. We were terribly disappointed for them. Another Idahoan Dr. Pamela Bird from Sandpoint flew co-pilot for an experienced racer from Arizona. So we'll get the final scores tonight. GNJ
We met with the judges yesterday - first the timing judges. We keep track of our own time, two of us hitting the stop watches as we pass the timing lines. We agreed with the judges.
Then the penalty judges. We carry two electronic devices the race gives us. The tracker worked quite well with the track locaton though their speeds were screwy. We showed a perfect race. However, the Bad Elf (nobody could tell me where the name came from) gave wild altitudes. We showed crossing one timing line at 41 feet which should have been 200'. Of course they have ground observers and we have the 3-person crew in the airplane watching it like a hawk. Everybody had trouble with the Bad Elf and I think they will be throwing all those discrepancies out. So they decreed that we'd flown a perfet race.
Our preliminary score is -3.656 and since they re-inspect the top 15 airplanes that means we're in the top 15. Can't believe that with a negative score, which means we're 3.656 knots below our handicap of 123.76 and we're in the top 15. However the race was heavy on headwinds and those who will admit their preliminary scores are all negative. So we'll know the whole picture tonight.
We had three Idaho entries in the race. The other two were Sherry Kindle and Wendy Frazer flying a Cessna 175. They carry an unbelievable load of electronics, are first timers and flew a good race. We also had Mary Ann Richards with Lois Chattin who got tangled up with the group in the bad weather at the start of the race and by the time they got into the race couldn't finish by the deadline. We were terribly disappointed for them. Another Idahoan Dr. Pamela Bird from Sandpoint flew co-pilot for an experienced racer from Arizona. So we'll get the final scores tonight. GNJ
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Air Race June 20 - Spearfish, Brookings, Holdbridge, La Hunta
This was a heavy day flying 3 legs. We left the hotel at 5:30 and were off from Spearfish by sunrise @ 6:30. We flew the first leg Spearfish to Brookings high with good tailwinds and turbulant. About half way through the leg we lost the good winds and dropped down low to get out of the headwind. There had been thunderstorm activitiy which dissipated as we expected.
We fueled up at Brookings and needed to depart to get in three legs in one day so dealt with headwinds flying quite low. It was the longest leg, quite hot and tiring. Brookings to Holdbridge took us into Nebraska on a route I'd never flown before and the hill country along the Missouri River was quite beautiful. We fueled at Holdbridge and moved on towards La Junta, which, incidently is where Bob learned to fly the B25 - WWII.
We flew another low leg, again dealing with headwinds. Bob has been following the tracker and wanted to know why we occasionally deviated slightly off course. We were going around the tall towers (airplane catchers). They're on the chart & IPad, however, visibility was murky and sometimes the flashers had burned out so we had to stay alert re the towers. And he wanted to know why we climbed as we approached La Junta. That was because La Junta is on higher ground and we had to climb for the airport from our low position. The approach and timing procedures are rather complicated and deviating from the race' s printed approach draws a penalty. Those trackers leave no secrets, but it's fascinating to us to see our exact course and how all the other racers are doing.
I've mentioned before how messed up the original race start was and there was a group of racers who didn't get off with the main body. Those racers have finally gotten into the race, however, they're so far behind that they'll never finish by the deadline tomorrow noon. Their deadline in Fayetteville has been extended to 5:00 PM and their race ends in Rawlins, WY at which time they'll proceed directly to Fayetteville for the windup festivities. One more day of racing. Good night.
Gene Nora
This was a heavy day flying 3 legs. We left the hotel at 5:30 and were off from Spearfish by sunrise @ 6:30. We flew the first leg Spearfish to Brookings high with good tailwinds and turbulant. About half way through the leg we lost the good winds and dropped down low to get out of the headwind. There had been thunderstorm activitiy which dissipated as we expected.
We fueled up at Brookings and needed to depart to get in three legs in one day so dealt with headwinds flying quite low. It was the longest leg, quite hot and tiring. Brookings to Holdbridge took us into Nebraska on a route I'd never flown before and the hill country along the Missouri River was quite beautiful. We fueled at Holdbridge and moved on towards La Junta, which, incidently is where Bob learned to fly the B25 - WWII.
We flew another low leg, again dealing with headwinds. Bob has been following the tracker and wanted to know why we occasionally deviated slightly off course. We were going around the tall towers (airplane catchers). They're on the chart & IPad, however, visibility was murky and sometimes the flashers had burned out so we had to stay alert re the towers. And he wanted to know why we climbed as we approached La Junta. That was because La Junta is on higher ground and we had to climb for the airport from our low position. The approach and timing procedures are rather complicated and deviating from the race' s printed approach draws a penalty. Those trackers leave no secrets, but it's fascinating to us to see our exact course and how all the other racers are doing.
I've mentioned before how messed up the original race start was and there was a group of racers who didn't get off with the main body. Those racers have finally gotten into the race, however, they're so far behind that they'll never finish by the deadline tomorrow noon. Their deadline in Fayetteville has been extended to 5:00 PM and their race ends in Rawlins, WY at which time they'll proceed directly to Fayetteville for the windup festivities. One more day of racing. Good night.
Gene Nora
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
June 19th - Day 2 of the air race
Correction for tracking the race - trackerleaders.com/arc13 We are are racer #25.
Busy day. To the Logan airport at 5:30 AM for a dawn departure. If you look at an aeronautical chart you'll see that there's a dramatic climb in a narrow canyon to start the day. Whew. I wouldn't try it except in the cool of the morning. Arrived at Rawlins, WY - great hospitality though it wasn't necessary to bring in their well-known high winds across the runway. Spearfish, SD next across the Black Hills. It was a challenge making the flyby. Dropped down from 9,000' suddenly across the last ridge to "read" the airport, find the sod runway for the flyby then back across the main runway to land while also giving way to the airplanes arriving for the flyby. More crosswinds. It was a challenging day.
There are a large number of racers who still haven't started the race due to the low weather at the start. There's never been a start where some of the racers couldn't get to the alternative start and started at different times. Don't know how they'll all finish - we're right on track. We're off to Brookings, SD early in the morning. We didn't go on this afternoon due to thunderstorms en route. Gene Nora
Correction for tracking the race - trackerleaders.com/arc13 We are are racer #25.
Busy day. To the Logan airport at 5:30 AM for a dawn departure. If you look at an aeronautical chart you'll see that there's a dramatic climb in a narrow canyon to start the day. Whew. I wouldn't try it except in the cool of the morning. Arrived at Rawlins, WY - great hospitality though it wasn't necessary to bring in their well-known high winds across the runway. Spearfish, SD next across the Black Hills. It was a challenge making the flyby. Dropped down from 9,000' suddenly across the last ridge to "read" the airport, find the sod runway for the flyby then back across the main runway to land while also giving way to the airplanes arriving for the flyby. More crosswinds. It was a challenging day.
There are a large number of racers who still haven't started the race due to the low weather at the start. There's never been a start where some of the racers couldn't get to the alternative start and started at different times. Don't know how they'll all finish - we're right on track. We're off to Brookings, SD early in the morning. We didn't go on this afternoon due to thunderstorms en route. Gene Nora
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Pasco, Washington
Takeoff was to have been at 8:30 this morning but it didn't happen. This is a VFR race - Visual Flight Rules. No flying in the clouds, which may have ice in them anyway. We're all hanging around the airport due to weather.
Our leg #1 is from Pasco at about 120 degrees passing near Pendleton, La Grande, Baker, Boise then timing at ID26 and landing at Mt. Home for fuel. The hangup is at Meacham, ID. If you've driven from Boise to Pendleton, Meacham is just about the high point where you drop down for Pendleton. The weather is low at Meacham and this is VFR. So we can't go until the weather lifts at Meacham and we can all get through.
We are now all carrying trackers and will have them turned on all the time we're in the air. You can track us on your computer. Go to trackerleaders.com and check on ARC 2013 then go to racer 25.
You'll find us in real time. If we're not moving we're stopping for fuel or sleeping.
Later - same day. The air race leaders decided that the race start weather en route from Pasco is not going to improve today or tomorrow. They directed the racers to find their own way to Mt. Home to start their individual races, i.e. there would be no group takeoff. So we all took off, some filing instruments and the rest flying directly south then east around the crummy weather. We stopped in Caldwell for fuel then flew the fly-by at Mt. Home and on to Logan, UT. Around 20 racers made it to Logan before dark - the deadline. Others have stopped at various places along the way and will be in to Logan tomorrow and on with the race. So the race has started, though in a rather unusual way.
I notice that these blogs all carry my signature, though I haven't written then all. So I think we'll we signing them. GNJ
Our leg #1 is from Pasco at about 120 degrees passing near Pendleton, La Grande, Baker, Boise then timing at ID26 and landing at Mt. Home for fuel. The hangup is at Meacham, ID. If you've driven from Boise to Pendleton, Meacham is just about the high point where you drop down for Pendleton. The weather is low at Meacham and this is VFR. So we can't go until the weather lifts at Meacham and we can all get through.
We are now all carrying trackers and will have them turned on all the time we're in the air. You can track us on your computer. Go to trackerleaders.com and check on ARC 2013 then go to racer 25.
You'll find us in real time. If we're not moving we're stopping for fuel or sleeping.
Later - same day. The air race leaders decided that the race start weather en route from Pasco is not going to improve today or tomorrow. They directed the racers to find their own way to Mt. Home to start their individual races, i.e. there would be no group takeoff. So we all took off, some filing instruments and the rest flying directly south then east around the crummy weather. We stopped in Caldwell for fuel then flew the fly-by at Mt. Home and on to Logan, UT. Around 20 racers made it to Logan before dark - the deadline. Others have stopped at various places along the way and will be in to Logan tomorrow and on with the race. So the race has started, though in a rather unusual way.
I notice that these blogs all carry my signature, though I haven't written then all. So I think we'll we signing them. GNJ
Sunday, June 16, 2013
We had a beautiful flight over to Pasco from McCall across Hells Canyon, Enterprise, and Walla Walla. We were inspected thoroughly - pilot certificates, medical, proof that we'd taken appropriate ground school on line, insurance document, etc. Then came the airplane. This year a female airplane and powerplant mechanic group was responsible for the airplane inspections, which was appropriate since this was a women's air race. 6% of the US pilot ranks are female as are 2.5% of the mechanics, Their rounds were followed by their students. The inspection crew will also be at the finish to reinspect the top ten places. For example, the prop governor was marked in yellow - and if it's adjusted along the way the inspectors will catch 'em. Why don't they trust us?
Lori McNichols founded and operates a well regarded mountain and canyon flight school in McCall, Idaho. Lori's presented her course which was well received. It was obvious that some of the flatlanders were a little up tight about mountain flying. This evening, Sunday, is the takeoff banquet, though we don't depart until Tuesday. Nobody wants to party the night prior to the big takeoff. Tomorrow, more mandatory classes and safety meetings. Enough! GN
Lori McNichols founded and operates a well regarded mountain and canyon flight school in McCall, Idaho. Lori's presented her course which was well received. It was obvious that some of the flatlanders were a little up tight about mountain flying. This evening, Sunday, is the takeoff banquet, though we don't depart until Tuesday. Nobody wants to party the night prior to the big takeoff. Tomorrow, more mandatory classes and safety meetings. Enough! GN
Meeting Day
Today the roll is called by team numbers. We must be here and answer roll call. Today is the first day of meetings and tomorrow is the day everything is discussed including the rules, the fly by instructions at each of 9 stops. These are very important to insure that your time is recorded down to a tenth of a second. You can either choose to fly by to continue or fly by to land. We do not have enough fuel at race power settings to fly by to continue so must stop to get fuel.
So much planning goes into this race and the excitement is in the air as we all try to update our IPads with the route, learn new technologies and prepare to launch by number on Tuesday morning. First stop is Mountain Home Idaho.
Patty Mitchell aka Pattypilot
So much planning goes into this race and the excitement is in the air as we all try to update our IPads with the route, learn new technologies and prepare to launch by number on Tuesday morning. First stop is Mountain Home Idaho.
Patty Mitchell aka Pattypilot
Monday, June 10, 2013
Preparations underway for Race 25
The Beechcraft is waxed, decals going on and bags are packed in preparation for the arrival at the start of this years Air Race Classic.
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