Monday, June 11, 2018
Friday, July 8, 2016
Re-Cap Fun Stats n' more
Well the race has come and gone and the purple plane is safely hangared out of modesty while it undergoes its annual exam. In general the ladies are happy to be home but at the same time somehow feel 'strange' to be back on the ground without a constant eye to weather, sweat, fuel burn, and relentless schedules. It was quite an adventure and the good news if they didn't get enough then there is always NEXT year!'
For the Type A business types here is a recap of the important facts regarding the race ...
During the race the Purple Hearts landed in 9 states and crossed over 2 others for a total of 2720 miles. In re-locating the plane and returning it to its homebase in Connecticut, the team crossed or landed in an additional 13 states representing just a smidge under HALF of the national total (save for territories). The plane covered an incredible 5770 nautical miles over 9 flying days or for the 'flying types' in the audience, 49 Hobbs hours - about a whole years worth of flying for a recreational pilot. The average speed of travel was 135.4 miles per hour overall and 138.8 during the 19 hours and 36 minute race. During ONLY the race, the team burned 1416 pounds of dead dinosaurs (236 gallons of 100LL AvGas) at a total cost of $1041.17 or about $4.41 average per gallon - roughly 11.5 air miles per gallon.
As an ongoing 'joke between the ladies as they flew in the very tight quarters of the cockpit, here is the official list of phrases most often heard during the 4 days of the race:
Sadly folks, this officially ends the story of the 2016 Purple Hearts. Should you have questions or comments, or are simply interested in possibly racing in the future, drop us a line and we will be sure to tell you all we know or better yet, where to go to get you to the right place. Thanks to our generous fuel sponsors Hartford Jet Center and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics; Archer II LLC for the use of their purple, proud and fabulous aircraft, our favorite fans, and of course to our worthy charity 'Operation Homefront'. Your collective interest, care, and QUALITY truly will always remain a part of Classic Racer 48, Team Purple Hearts! Thank you all!
Fair Skies and favoring tailwinds,
Teresa, Cary & Denise
For the Type A business types here is a recap of the important facts regarding the race ...
During the race the Purple Hearts landed in 9 states and crossed over 2 others for a total of 2720 miles. In re-locating the plane and returning it to its homebase in Connecticut, the team crossed or landed in an additional 13 states representing just a smidge under HALF of the national total (save for territories). The plane covered an incredible 5770 nautical miles over 9 flying days or for the 'flying types' in the audience, 49 Hobbs hours - about a whole years worth of flying for a recreational pilot. The average speed of travel was 135.4 miles per hour overall and 138.8 during the 19 hours and 36 minute race. During ONLY the race, the team burned 1416 pounds of dead dinosaurs (236 gallons of 100LL AvGas) at a total cost of $1041.17 or about $4.41 average per gallon - roughly 11.5 air miles per gallon.
As an ongoing 'joke between the ladies as they flew in the very tight quarters of the cockpit, here is the official list of phrases most often heard during the 4 days of the race:
- That's the bees' knees!
- I'm so hungry for a banana.
- Where's my belly pack?
- Keep that fuzzy fruit away from me!
- The Stratus is overheating.
- We have too much crap.
- Who is that flying underneath us?
- Ohhh YEAAH! (after putting cold towel on our necks)
- I'm so sick of granola bars.
- Pass me THAT bag ...
- I promise not to look!
Sadly folks, this officially ends the story of the 2016 Purple Hearts. Should you have questions or comments, or are simply interested in possibly racing in the future, drop us a line and we will be sure to tell you all we know or better yet, where to go to get you to the right place. Thanks to our generous fuel sponsors Hartford Jet Center and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics; Archer II LLC for the use of their purple, proud and fabulous aircraft, our favorite fans, and of course to our worthy charity 'Operation Homefront'. Your collective interest, care, and QUALITY truly will always remain a part of Classic Racer 48, Team Purple Hearts! Thank you all!
Fair Skies and favoring tailwinds,
Teresa, Cary & Denise
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Georgia Fly-by, Landing & Ramping
Since fly-bys are exciting, here is one more at Jimmy Carter Regional Airport (KACJ) in Americus, Georgia on the last day of the race 6/24/16 around Noon. The team still has one more leg to go to finish the race in Daytona Beach, Florida and they must pass the final timing line by 17:00 EDT. The Purple Hearts would go on to complete the race at 14:34 Eastern, leaving them over 2 hours before the deadline. After 2500 miles of hot, relentless flying, the audio track towards the end of the clip provides clues as to the ladies' anticipation of the final leg and the successful completion of the race.
The landing is smooth and uneventful, followed by a typical ramping during the race. The fuel crews are very quick. The discussion at the end regarding the 'Tabs' is a standard measurement inside the fuel tanks. The crew calculates how much fuel they will need to get to their next stop including a required reserve for emergencies. Since AvGas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, the 'Hearts' can increase their airspeed if they carry less weight in fuel, therefore management of this resource is a constant reality in all aspects of a long cross-country air race. -ed
The landing is smooth and uneventful, followed by a typical ramping during the race. The fuel crews are very quick. The discussion at the end regarding the 'Tabs' is a standard measurement inside the fuel tanks. The crew calculates how much fuel they will need to get to their next stop including a required reserve for emergencies. Since AvGas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, the 'Hearts' can increase their airspeed if they carry less weight in fuel, therefore management of this resource is a constant reality in all aspects of a long cross-country air race. -ed
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Take-off and Fly-by Video
As noted earlier, when data becomes available we will direct a few posts looking back over the race to some interesting facts or views that fill in some holes about the Air Race Classic experience. This is a video of a typical launch at Murfreesboro, TN as seen by the pilots. The plane climbs out and makes a loop around the airfield about 3 miles out and centers up with wings level. The fly-by is between 200 and 300 feet above ground level. This is a courtesy temporarily extended to the racers every year by the FAA but ordinarily planes flying so low above populated spaces, motors growling under full power is not allowed.
The racer's time for the next leg STARTS when the plane crosses the timing line. Fly-by speeds for the Purple Hearts in calm weather is typically around 150 miles per hour but that speed is rarely achieved for long durations of the race without tailwinds, due to weather and a desire to keep the power plant off of redline. (Note: the reflection of the Stratus ADS-B transponder receiver in the cockpit window)
The racer's time for the next leg STARTS when the plane crosses the timing line. Fly-by speeds for the Purple Hearts in calm weather is typically around 150 miles per hour but that speed is rarely achieved for long durations of the race without tailwinds, due to weather and a desire to keep the power plant off of redline. (Note: the reflection of the Stratus ADS-B transponder receiver in the cockpit window)
The Take-Off & Fly-By occur in the 1st and last minute
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