unlimited airframe classifications

[Hans Oberev]

Just for the record, could we establish base lines for the following airframe classifications:
Stock Lady Jo
Stockish RIII
Highly Modified Strega / GG / Rare Bear / Voodoo
Purpose Built Tsunami / Shockwave

Specifically, what would it take to move one plane from one classification to another besides lots of money?

[Skyracer]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

Specifically, what would it take to move one plane from one classification to another besides lots of money?

Even more money!

[Leo]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

Hmmm... I always considered racers like RRIII "Super Stock"
Looked at Merlins Majic the same way, stock airframe basically with a few "bolt on" mods and a souped up engine.
JMHO

[split-s]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

(Bear's engine-note suggested "Pro-Stock"!)

"Stock" implies purpose-built for any purpose other than racing. You could have the same variety of classes for any type, Ercoupes, Fairchild 227s, Beavers ... %^)

Hey -- the DeHavillands could possibly bring back the Schneider Cup with a float-plane class!

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[Kahuna]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

Just for the record, could we establish base lines for the following airframe classifications:
Stock Lady Jo
Stockish RIII
Highly Modified Strega / GG / Rare Bear / Voodoo
Purpose Built Tsunami / Shockwave

Specifically, what would it take to move one plane from one classification to another besides lots of money?

.the speed and the result always tells what classification it is

[JET1]

its UNLIMITED racing......

"piston powered, propeller driven" --- why bother with anything else.

[AirDOGGe]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

Might need a few more classifications.

"Stock" to me means, as it originally came from the factory or manufacturer. No mods, no add-ons. Howard Pardue's Bearcat comes to mind. An untouched Lancair does too.


For that reason, Tsunami is stuck in the homebuilt class, as it's a one-of-a-kind and always existed that way. I wouldn't call it stock, though some might. I think "purpose-built racer", as Nascar's "STOCK" cars are classified fits better.


Aircraft like NXT are pretty much sport-stock classified, as many are being built for general use. Though raced, it wasn't necessary designed for that purpose only. In essence, it's a super-slick GA airframe with excellent racing potential kept in mind during it's design stages.


The Thunder Mustang can also be labeled sport stock, though the ones with racing-prepared V-12's and even turbines would move those examples to MODIFIED sport stock.


Ridge Runner and Lady Jo could swap places with certain parts bolted on or removed.

Highly modified warbirds in the Dago Red/Strega/Rare Bear/Sumthin' Else class would, as was done with Stiletto, require a true warbird restoration and mucho buckereenos.

[FedexBob]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

And how can we forget the wackiest home-built Unlimited ever...The Pond Racer. Composite airframe, twin turbo Nissan V-6s on alcohol! Guess it wouldn't be allowed as an Unlimited these days, as it was about 1000 lbs too light.

[race9]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

My list of classifications goes Stock, Super-Stock, Highly Modified, and Homebuilt.

[Skyracer]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

Speed being the relative common factor, "FAST", "FASTER", and "FASTEST" classifications are meaningful. "STOCK" just doesn't fit anything in racing. For the purposes of this thread, FAST=$, FASTER=$$, and FASTEST=$$$.

[split-s]

Re: unlimited airframe classifications

And how can we forget the wackiest home-built Unlimited ever...The Pond Racer. Composite airframe, twin turbo Nissan V-6s on alcohol! Guess it wouldn't be allowed as an Unlimited these days, as it was about 1000 lbs too light.

Pond Racer didn't even look functional, a classic case of overthinking the project. How could a twin-boom configuration be cleaner than a single-axis fuselage?

Twin-engine racer? How about a push/pull config? Then you'd only have one engine overheating on the apron. Unless you drove both props off one mill ...

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