*HATS-OFF TO HOWARD*

[Big_Jim]

Re: *HATS-OFF TO HOWARD*

Yes, indeed, Mark, alot of us do remember witnessing Howard's incredible feat of airmanship & his quick-response to that hairy engine issue right after takeoff. I'll never forget it.

Here's a pic I took of Race #66 right after Howard got his Fury safely back down, w/he & his crew intently inspecting inside the engine compartment.

DBD

They should have been intently inspecting the fuel tanks.

[BuckyD]

Re: *HATS-OFF TO HOWARD*

Hey Wingman~

WOW! Thanks, Neal, for sharing that spectacular pylon capture of Howard & his beautiful Bearcat rounding the stick. Now THAT great shot is a fitting HP tribute in & of itself. V-much appreciated by Howard's family, friends & all his 'true-blue' fans who respect his legacy in aviation & all he contributed to the air racing motorsport.

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: *HATS-OFF TO HOWARD*

Another six-pack mini-photo gallery, this time featuring Howard Pardue's beautiful Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat~ Race #14 (NX14HP), which he began competing w/at the Reno '83 event, following his NCAR debut in his Wildcat the previous year.

Photos (L-R):

1 & 2. Mon. 9/12/83-Reno NCAR: Howard's arrival at Stead is captured in the first photo, w/long-range fuel tank in-place, and in the second pic HP taxis-in following a late afternoon test hop before sunset. Pardue managed to make it into the Bronze w/his F8F, but pulled-out on Lap 6 f/a DNF. Returning to competition the next year, Howard won his first Reno heat race by taking Saturday's UNL Bronze HT3C & worked his way up to compete w/his Grumman in Reno '84's Silver Final.

3. Thur. 9/12/85-Reno NCAR: Bearcat Race #14 rests parked in her pit stall, while getting lots of grooming fm the crew in-prep f/racing. Howard is standing alongside the LH wingtip. HP & #14 made it into the Reno '85 Silver on Sunday, finishing in 5th-place.

4. RACE: Sun. 9/18/94-Reno NCAR-UNL Silver Final-Outer 8 Pylon (L-R): Brian Sanders in Sea Fury #924 leads Tiger Destefani's P-51 #7 Strega (running on a stock ferry Merlin motor) & Howard Pardue in his XF8F-1 #14. Pardue finished first, but cut Pylon 1 on Lap-1 & got bumped back to 3rd-place @ 352.437-av/mph, giving Tiger the win @ 362.347-av/mph & Brian Sanders- 2nd-place @ 355.074-av/mph.

5. RACE: Sun. 9/15/95-Reno NCAR-Silver Final: Pardue & his nimble B-Cat bank around the pylon in 2nd-place, during his running duel w/Stu Eberhardt's P-51D #22-'Merlin's Magic' throughout that entire contest. Eberhardt won @ 375.061-av/mph, w/Howard right on his tail @ 374.778 (-which about matched his 9th-fastest qualifying speed of 374.226-mph).

6. Wed. 3/22/95- Phoenix 500 Air Races- Howard Pardue's notorious traveling mascot sidekick- 'Grumman the Gorilla' (-noted for his great tastes in wings & wheels, amongst other things), was- always ready to go racing, & faithfully-guarded Pardue's rare & beautiful Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat & Hawker Sea Fury at all the airshows & air races attended by Howard.

DBD