Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

[AAFO_WSagar]

Are we excited about the future of Air Racing? YOU BET WE ARE!!!!

Young Steven Hinton showed his potential at RARA's June Pylon Racing School and AAFO.COM'S David Leininger not only got the opportunity to fly with "Stevo" for an A2A mission, he talked with this young man about his future in the sport and how he got to where he is today.

click here or image above for feature

Nice Work Dave! MANY thanks for your determination to "get the story" and for sharing it here!

[RCoulter]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

VERY nice article and photos Dave!

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Great story of a great future air race pilot in the making. Thanks for sharing.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

VERY nice article and photos Dave!

Great story of a great future air race pilot in the making. Thanks for sharing.

I'm here to tell ya, David REALLY went the extra mile with this story, both to get the words down and manage the flight! I mean REALLY!

The photography is stunning, with the help of Mark "Pylon1""Cobra" Kallio, we went through great effort to try to do the very best work possible on the presentation and downsizing of the images.

Great photography deserves great post processing and presentation, the results speak for themselves!

[MRussell]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Damn good article, but, "decaying sport" ???

Thanks for sharing!

[Victor Archer]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Great article and photography. Excellent work Dave.

[paintboy]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Thank you all for the kind words, but most of the credit should go to Bill "Tiger" Destefani, LD, and Steven Hinton for their cooperation. I was merely the guy with the opportunity. It wasnt all hard work as the air to air photos will show. What a terrific stick Steven is. Each hand signal I gave "Stevo" was met with a crisp and immediate movement of Strega into position. If only all my shoots were that easy.
Anyway, to defend my comment of air racing being a decaying sport. I made that statement based on the current age of the race pilots participating in the sport and the fact that airframes and parts are becoming harder and harder to locate. For every Stevo that joins the fold, there are many currently participating past middle age. The Unlimiteds can not go on much longer based on those two elements. Do I want to see Unlimited Air Racing end......NO I DO NOT! But, will air racing survive when the heavy weights are gone? Only time will tell, but the Sport Class is keeping things interesting. Thank you again for the positive feedback on the story. There are a few more in the cue waiting their turn. And it's all for you, the readers enjoyment.

Dave

[sierra fox]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Thanks for sharing this story and the great photos, it's all about the opportunity

[MikeS]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Great story! We'll throw a link up for it on the Indy Transponder tomorrow morning! Great read!

[John]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Very, very well done, it's great to see the younger generation taking an interest in this great sport!

[laminar]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

cool stuff, thanks for writing it

[laminar]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

Damn good article, but, "decaying sport" ???

Decaying=Not Sport Class

[MerlinV12]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

The unlimted class is still alive!!

[Inverted]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

This is exactly what I wanted to see in the sport. I am 26 and trying very hard to make it into air racing before 30. Even that is young. A 21 year old piloting an unlimited racer is awesome. Reading the article it seems they are taking all the steps they need to, to get young Hinton prepared. It also sounds like he has the maturity to handle it. I look forward to seeing him race next year.

[MMPerk]

Re: Strega Photo Report - The Witch's New Handler

The passing of the torch...