Tomorrow's Racers

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

I would expect custom built aircraft to be used , meeting the current rules as near as possible. Less reliable auto based engines can be used for low cost and availability as there is not a pilot to worry about.
Maybe we will then see more twin engined planes which I think would be great.
There is still the worry of crowd safety so we do still have to worry about aircraft getting too close to the crowds , but also trying to keep the current atmosphere associated with aircraft rounding a pylon at 500mph almost over the heads of the crowd.
Maybe we will see more racing over the ocean (float planes ?) as the fear of pilots drowning is no longer a problem. Maybe a Red Bull air race style event in the canyons except with several aircraft flying at once. Crashes might even become a common occurrence (good for TV ratings).

["Race" Driver]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

I would expect custom built aircraft to be used , meeting the current rules as near as possible. Less reliable auto based engines can be used for low cost and availability as there is not a pilot to worry about.
Maybe we will then see more twin engined planes which I think would be great.
There is still the worry of crowd safety so we do still have to worry about aircraft getting too close to the crowds , but also trying to keep the current atmosphere associated with aircraft rounding a pylon at 500mph almost over the heads of the crowd.
Maybe we will see more racing over the ocean (float planes ?) as the fear of pilots drowning is no longer a problem. Maybe a Red Bull air race style event in the canyons except with several aircraft flying at once. Crashes might even become a common occurrence (good for TV ratings).

Um...I think NOT!!!! What are you????? This is racing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you Thinking????????????????


Geez....ok....I'm done....Did anyone see Danica stomping down the pit lane today at Indy......I'm there....We Race....Damn the Torpedos!!!!

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

What was your main complaint making it not racing.

We still have a pilot controlling the aircraft (except he is on the ground).

I can see a dislike for auto-engines ( I would not fly in a high powered aircraft with one myself), but when a team is on a limited budget it may be the most cost effective solution for an unmanned aircraft. Think Pond Racer with development.

[race9]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

It's a great idea, except for the fact that pilots would never do it. The money would have to be insanely good.

[eeyore]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

Remotely flown racing planes? It's being done. If I want to see model airplanes race I'll go do that. But Air racing is what it is and I love the sport as it is. Nothing in life is safe and air racing has a better safety record than Indy

[t-dub]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

What makes Air Racing (and any motorsport for that matter) exciting is the fact that pilots are livin' "on the edge". Even though none of us want to see anyone get hurt, it's the fact of them risking life and limb and pushing themselves and their machines to the limit that keeps the excitement factor pegged to the limit. Just the fact that they're flurting with possible disaster raises the hair on my neck! With that said, pilotless Air Racing would be kinda boring............"Those daring young men and their flying machines"

[B52Hfan]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

'HIGH-TECH' has a place in the world. Air Racing isn't it! I've been around to many 'RC' airplanes to get 'moist and giggly' over this concept. Let's leave the drones out of racing. Now, I'll go and watch some paint dry.

[T.F.]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

Let's not throw out the idea of Predator racing right away.

[Bob]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

how would it be different than a flight sim racing game? I mean the pilots just sit there staring at monitors drinki9ng coffee.....

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

From the pilots point of view it is definately second best (ignoring safety issues), but for the spectators there would be very little difference and it might even be better as the limits could be pushed harder.
We would have higher speeds, tighter turns. Jets would use afterburners and could be supersonic.
Don't compare it with small RC planes as these have no atmosphere due to using small engines (350cc in model umlimiteds I think) and currently at fairly low speeds (200mph).

Think full size warbirds going past and with or without a pilot makes little difference to someone on the ground when travelling at 500mph.

[t-dub]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

From the pilots point of view it is definately second best (ignoring safety issues), but for the spectators there would be very little difference and it might even be better as the limits could be pushed harder.
We would have higher speeds, tighter turns. Jets would use afterburners and could be supersonic.
Don't compare it with small RC planes as these have no atmosphere due to using small engines (350cc in model umlimiteds I think) and currently at fairly low speeds (200mph).

Think full size warbirds going past and with or without a pilot makes little difference to someone on the ground when travelling at 500mph.

Read my post above. Do you think NASCAR would be popular if the cars were radio controlled? NO! Even if they went 300mph, no one would really care. The fact is, the danger factor is what makes it so appealing to the majority of fans.........

[SpinB]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

I'll just say this......a Global Hawk was brought down by an inadvertant
TM Transmitter Signal! (UP RANGE from ops area!)

With encroachment issues in the forefront of thought, Stead may not be a good place for this type of racing. I have experience with 'broken' command links....it's not pretty....at least we had a parachute when our piglet strayed too far...

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

I did mention that flying over the ocean might be a good idea to reduce the risk of encroachment.
Interference is a problem so you would have a backup AI which could take over and safely land the plane if this occurs. Modern radio control uses a pin code to only allow the correct signal through but the whole signal can be blocked if there is something like a lightning strike.
The aircraft would have rules where they can fly so they always keep away from the crowd even if control is lost.

What happens if a pilot has a heart attack or blacks out through G- forces nowadays ?

Ther ewould still be a pilot controlling the remote controlled aircraft but I except some of the glamour is lost to the blood thirsty crowd. Whether the aviation enthusiasts see it this way is another matter.
Every time I see an aircraft crash killing the pilot totally sickens me and leads to people calling for a ban.

I also follow motorcycle racing and visited the Isle of Man TT races last year. All the same issues come up. The purists claim adding safety barriers and padding changes the purity of the sport.
Each to their own I guess.

[F-16 CREW CHIEF]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

I believe the next generation of race pilots will be the ones who know the right people, bring enough money to buy the ride and the pilots who earn the ride with exceptional airmanship in any air race class. The personality of the pilot should be that of a fighter pilot or a race car driver; The win at all cost personality which lyle,tiger, darryl,bob love and skip showed us all over the years.

[F-16 CREW CHIEF]

Re: Tomorrow's Racers

From the pilots point of view it is definately second best (ignoring safety issues), but for the spectators there would be very little difference and it might even be better as the limits could be pushed harder.
We would have higher speeds, tighter turns. Jets would use afterburners and could be supersonic.
Don't compare it with small RC planes as these have no atmosphere due to using small engines (350cc in model umlimiteds I think) and currently at fairly low speeds (200mph).

Think full size warbirds going past and with or without a pilot makes little difference to someone on the ground when travelling at 500mph.

you can't fly supersonic over public land.