Some old Reno pics

[Jan]

And now for another puzzler... What airplane is this?? (Walt Olrich collection)

[Jan]

Swedish-heritaged gentleman climbs into Stiletto. (John Tegler photo)

Sorry bout' the light streaks, I didn't get that copied correctly.

[Jan]

The Race 84 crew... in 1984. (Another photo by Shawn's Dad)

[Jan]

T'was a distinctive shape. Head-on as seen here, compare it with the images of N13Y in Kenn's photos (Photo by Shawn's Dad)

[wingman]

What a distinctive shape, with that stubby Aeroproducts prop and set back cockpit. I think this is the only Merlin Mustang to put the pilot so far back.

[wingman]

Yes, the airplane was reskinned in Zeuschel's shop in Sylmar. There used to be a huge picture file at Zeuschel Racing Engines that showed the building of the racer in great detail. I'm sure that Rick can verify that fact, also Pete Law was around the shop as his nephew Erik Law had just started working for "Z". In addition when the aircraft was converted to a TF-51D Pete Regina had to reskin it back to aluminum. From my time on Strega's team the removed magnesium skin was stored at his place, along with the turtle deck. Not all of the secrets of big time air racing have leaked through the cracks yet. .

I would not think there'd be many secrets this size -- I've never heard a hint of this. Actually I didn't know you could do such a thing. I assume the cowling was aluminum, and maybe the tailcone?

Magnesium?

[ZacYates]

I've only just discovered this thread thanks to a message from Will - W O W. This is an absolutely fascinating thread!!

[wingman]

I agree, Kenn -- great and useful set of photos. Is the sketch from now during the restoration, or from the 1940s?

I noted in the sketch that the single stage Merlin did have ADI and had a"special prop reduction gear". It had a high lift camshaft and it says capable of 3250 rpm. Not a stock Merlin.

Here is larger version of the sketch. If you click on the image and then click again you should get a large version for easier readability.

Neal

[Jan]

Nice set of photos Kenn. The sketch of the mods is very cool. And great to see Pete standing front and center.

[kennsmithf2g]

Sketch on display of the mods done to N13Y



Here is a link to my pictures of N13Y from her post-restoration unveiling

https://kennsmithf2g.smugmug.com/Airplanes/151013-AEHSSARH-Meeting/151016-N13Y

[Jan]

Stiletto was my favorite Mustang. Since it was made up from parts and so custom it was ashame that they tore it down to make a TF. Johnson's airplane was pretty cool for the time. Prop blades that were short, home made exhaust stacks. The air exits for the radiators on top of the wing were fairly crude compared to Stiletto's, and it's still around.

Yes, N13Y is indeed still around. Currently you can find it at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. Johnson made quite a few mods to the airplane, some of which you mention. Some worked well, others, like the exhaust stacks didn't. As John indicated, after Cleveland came to an end, Johnson was on a quest to capture the 3KM world propeller-driven speed record - at the time held by Messerschmitt test pilot Fritz Wendel who had flown an Me-209 to 469 mph in 1939. (Wendel was also the first to the Me-262 in 1942).

Of course, Darryl exceeded that in "Conquest 1" in 1969 at 482 mph. A decade later it was Steve in the RB-51 (I still have a red rivet from the airplane on my desk) at 499.018 mph - a number that was likely etched in Lyle's mind another decade later when he pushed the Bear to the current record at 528.31 mph. And then in 2017, Stevo throttled "Voodoo" to 531.64 mph, faster but not by the FAI-required one percent.

Johnson's attempts at a record are another interesting bit of history. Here's a look at N13Y where she rests today and another similar perspective of Stiletto. I can't find a photo credit for this one of 84 so if you're out there and you see this, speak up please.

[BellCobraIV]

Aircraft Cylinder and Turbine, leased a shop to Randy Scoville, leased a shop to Mike Nixon, Mike Nixon rented Pete Law part of his shop to do his magic. Across the street AC&T leased me a shop, across from me is where Ray Poe and Bruce Boland were building the "little airplane" people from all over the Van Nuys area were pulled into the Tsunami project. Dave Cornell made a few parts for it. There was a man that wanted to see if his laser device could be used to make a wing from scratch super straight. Yep, he did. Back across the street Mike Nixon now had another shop where Dago Red was being built. Lot's of action in a tiny world.

[BellCobraIV]

Let's not forget "The little airplane". During the fastest TAS race ever that's what Lyle called on the radio from the top of the course. "Where's the little airplane?" Tiger was hiding in Lyle's shadow and he lost sight of him going up the backside of the course, Skip was still running too much RPM and Tsunami was back aways. So Lyle kept the power up anticipating the two coming up on him. As the race settled in Lyle kept a two second separation over the Witch, so the power was up, on the last couple of laps Skip reduced the RPM and here comes Tsunami.

[BellCobraIV]

The original drawings for the wing modifications on Stiletto were in a drawer in the back section of the Zeuschel shop. In those drawings the flaps were.supposed to be ducted, with the exit air going straight through the flap and out the back. Stiletto was another airplane that should have been able to be preserved as it was supposed to be. Yes, it was turned into a TF, but big deal it's not a racer anymore. Very sad. Sometimes when your in the pits fighting your own monster and it's issues it is easy to look across the ramp and see/respect what the other guys have made. I always respected Stiletto it was a beautiful effort. "Clone This!" lettered on the wingtip up at "Z's during the build.

[SpinB]

Can you imagine how much it would COST (in the current economy)to run a program, or even attempt a program like Stiletto now?