Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

[wolfee]

Re: Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

When did they stop the pylon camping, mid to late 70s?

Silver springs was there but it only had a handfull of house.

I dont think Red Rock was even thought of back then. was it still all BLM land?

My how things change eh... sigh

[speeddemon]

Re: Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

While not up to the quality of the wonderful shots from Sledge39, here are a few more of Gene Aker's #22. The first was taken in 1967, while the other two are from 1968.

Just the 'geek' factor popping out...but if you take a look in the background of the 1967 photo, you'll see a 'pre-Miss Candace' N79111 sitting across the paddock from Lancer Two. Gotta love the candy stripes!

[trustdecals]

Re: Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

Here are a couple of profiles...we have decals for them as well just thought you might like to know....

David Reisz
thrustdecalsonline.com

[supercub]

Re: Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

If those pics were taken in 68, then that paint scheme was on for more then two years. Gene Akers was a tanker pilot, flying TBM's out of Columbia CA. I worked on the plane in the afternoons after going to classes at CJC. I did a lot of sanding on the leading edge, masked it off, and Sterling Bigbee who owned the local shop did some touch up painting. I'm sorry, but I always thought that was one ugly paint color, and paint scheme. I don't remember the year, but I flew Gene to Reno to pick up the Corsair after the races. We were to meet up over Tahoe for some photo's, but he had engine problems, and didn't make it. I remember another time I took him to Lemoore to pick up the Corsair after an airshow. We flew in, got out and were meet by a couple of line personal. Gene informed them, he was there to pick up his Corsair.......they couldn't believe someone actually owned a Corsair........they were thinking of one of the many JET Corsairs that were parked there, didn't even know there was such a thing as a prop Corsair. The airplane flew very little, I believe mainly due to financial constraints......but on one occasion, he took off from Columbia.......came around, made a low pass, pulled up and rolled it........just as it went inverted the engine started to cut out. He got it turned around, dropped the gear and flaps and made probably the fastest touch down ever at Columbia...........no one thought he'd get it stopped before hitting the small hill at the north end of the runway......but he did manage to get it stopped. He ran it up for several minutes, and then took off again, and flew for several uneventful minutes. When he came back in and shut down........we drained the sumps.......and literally got quart after quart of dirty, yucky water from the sumps. If memory serves me right, I believe an officer in the Navy was a partner in the plane during Gene's ownership. Even with the ugly paint scheme, I still hold fond memories of that plane.......for one, I got to taxi it once........loooooooooooong nose on that thing........plus I got to work on her. It left Columbia sometime in the Early 70's. I was glad she got new Navy Blue paint scheme, shortly after leaving Columbia. I believe the plane is in a Museum now.........does anyone know? I have several pictures of the plane, but sorry, no way of scanning them.
Brian

[speeddemon]

Re: Corsair Lancer 2 Race # 22

First showed up in '67, bare metal with green cowl and tail. Painted in the Lancer Two paint scheme in '68 and '69. By the time Gene raced her again, in the 1970 Mojave 1000, it was painted in the faux-Navy paint scheme...still running as #22, though.

I believe that this airplane ended up in the EAA Museum collection at Oshkosh.