THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF AEROSPACE TESTING, DESIGN & MANUFACTURING EXPO EUROPE WWW.AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM JUNE 2014 JUNE 2014 JUNE NASA’s Commercial Crew Program heats up with launch abort testing at SpaceX, while Space Boeing and Sierra Nevada The next step continue to make progress PUBLISHED UKIP BY MEDIA & EVENTS LTD 737 MAX REPORT A350 TEST UPDATE ALTERNATIVE FUELS Chief project engineer Michael Teal EXCLUSIVE: Details about the recent A joint research campaign could talks about the latest powerplant environmental testing of the A350 at have far-reaching implications for testing for the 737 Max the McKinley Climatic Laboratory the global aviation community C –130 UPGRADE • GLOBAL TEST SITES: SPACE • CFRP INSPECTION • INAUGURAL F1 AIR RACE www.AerospaceTestingInternational.com z Air Race F1 Winning formula With the first demonstration race having successfully taken place in Spain, Air Race F1 is now set to become a World Series in 2015. We talk to the pilots and the organizer BY CHRISTOPHER HOUNSFIELD ver the clear northern Catalan This latest air sport needs to be skies, 11 internationally taken seriously. The Reno annual air Orenowned pilots battled it race is huge, and hundreds of out at Europe’s first-ever international thousands attend, but it is a national Formula 1 class air racing series – Air sport within the USA. Air Race F1 STEVE Race F1 – in Lleida, near Barcelona, is global. The results of the first race TEMPLE Spain. Pilots from the USA, UK, France were ratified by three recognized and Sweden revved up to showcase international air associations from the some of the world’s best air racing, in USA, France and UK, respectively the which French pilot Christian Guilie International Formula 1 Air Racing won the overall title on June 1, 2014. Association, the Association des Pilotes It was not against a clock like in d’Avions de Formules and the Formula Red Bull Air Racing, or straightforward Air Racing Association. timed flights. The pilots flew a circuit against each other, vying for lead spot. THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOTS Imagine F1 car racing, but 3D, and a Jay D Jones is president of J J Air lot faster. Works, and happens to be one of the As the roar of the hugely powerful pilots. He came second out of the eight aircraft has died down, and the ‘Gold’ racers, showing an average champagne has been drunk, the event speed of 239mph. He is adamant that could mark a totally new era of air the race brings back the golden age of JAY racing, which could bring back a air sport: “This race in Spain is back to JONES golden age not seen for more than the real air racing that was started in 50 years. 1947 where eight competitors JUNE 2014 10 | AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM Air Race F1 z JUNE 2014 AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM | 11 z Air Race F1 BELOW: The air race involved teams from four different nations. Even the demonstration drew crowds above 6,000 RIGHT: Christian Guilie’s engineering crew start up the aircraft pre-race competed with each other at the same time around the pylons. The best combination of pilot and airplane will The mAn behind iT All cross the finish line first.” Jeff Zaltman, CEO, Air Race F1 Aircraft are tested thoroughly and to the same criteria as motor racing: wing area no less than 66ft2, empty how did AiR RAce F1 of the knowledge that the Formula 1 air racing weight of no less than 500 lb, fuel come To FRuiTion? support crews have, but at least I can capacity no less than 5 gallons, and the Air Race F1 came appreciate their expertise, dedication and engine must be a Continental 0-200 about following my importance; support is integral to the sport. with 100hp. Other criteria include JEFF years of development height, wheel size, vision requirement ZALTMAN of other forms of air how does AiR RAce F1 diFFeR FRom Red and seat height. racing and air sports bull AiR RAce, The Reno AiR RAces And The On top of this, there are strict events and media projects. I had long RockeT RAcing leAgue? technical guidelines on any engine identified Formula 1 air racing as a format that It is quite different from any other competition modification or detailing – just the could have high growth opportunities, and format out there. In the Red Bull Air Race, only same as for auto racing – such as finally I found the right moment to run with it. one aircraft competes at a time against a sweep volumes, compression ratios The sport has a lot of history, but has not clock; Formula 1 is eight aircraft competing and carburetor guidelines; and had the benefit of proper promotion and directly against each other in a real race. The individual parts weights such as development, so I decided about 18 months Rocket Racing League is a fascinating concept cranks, push rods, valves, pistons ago to use my 10 years of experience in this but never really took off, and the race would and connecting rods. area to focus solely on Formula 1 air racing take place thousands of feet away from Jones says, “F1 racers are built to and to take it into the mainstream of the audiences. It is a sound platform for gaming go fast, fly low and turn left. But F1 sporting world. So, Air Race F1 is the new but it doesn’t benefit from having any history aircraft are also built with love by international series dedicated to this sport, or existing fan base. The Reno Air Races are airplane enthusiasts and designers with a focus on media and commercialization the mecca of the sport and a grand event, but who think they can make a faster and and sustainability. it takes place only once a year and is a US a better design that can slip through National Championships – not an international the air better than their competitors. You used To be An AiRcRAFT TechniciAn. series like the Air Race F1. However, we do “I have spent years trying to remove did That inFluence The cReation oF AiR hope to have a good working collaboration any gram of drag on the aircraft – RAce F1? with it in the near future. everything from the wheel parts, My time in the US Navy as an avionics intersection fairing, cowling shapes, technician on carrier-based attack aircraft how did You geT inTo AiR RAcing? fuselage, engine cooling and engine certainly contributed to my early inspiration As a basic private pilot, I met other pilots who induction. Each part added to the to both fly and develop an aviation career. In do some amazing things, and I wondered, ‘Why airplane is tested over and over, and particular it helps me to grasp and contend don’t more people know about this stuff?!’ So each variation is test flown to remove with the technical side of Formula 1 air racing – I decided there might be an opportunity to any drag, and tested for flutter, which is at least as demanding as any introduce new audiences to air racing, and air vibration and performance.” maintenance support environment that I saw sports in general, as the last frontier of sport Steve Temple is another air in the military. I’m still not a very technically yet untapped. I chose air racing as the most race pilot who took part in the minded person, and I don’t have a tiny fraction audience-friendly format, and off I went! demonstration race in Spain, and JUNE 2014 12 | AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNatIONAL.COM Air Race F1 z LEFT AND BELOW: Engine and component checks on aircraft Catch 22 (Jane Jarvis) was unlucky not to complete the last laps because of technical problems. He agrees that the aircraft have to follow stringent guidelines, but that they do vary: “There are some purpose-built racers such as the Boyd GR-7 Panther YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE FIRST environments. This meant that there was some and the French Arlety [moulded to the DEMONSTRATION RACE SERIES IN SPAIN. HOW discrepancy between rules, airplanes and even pilot’s body]. Most are sport flying DID IT GO ? perspectives. But everyone came together in a machines, meaning you can fly them at I couldn’t be happier with the outcome! There surprisingly seamless and collaborative the weekends from airport to airport were many hurdles and unforeseen obstacles, manner to make this happen because they all and also do some minor aerobatics but they were quickly overcome by the wide recognized the benefits for the growth and with them. The most widely accepted support and motivation of all the people who development of the sport. racing design is a Cassutt.” contributed to the event, including pilots, Ultimately, all parties equally wanted a safe engineers, racing associations, enthusiasts event and a fair and fun competition that THE SETUP and even the authorities and governmental participants and audiences would enjoy. The The teams have many support crew organizations. The biggest mark of its success airport management team we worked with was and engineers on the ground. Temple is that everyone – from host city to competing also super-helpful and indeed a driving force in explains, “Typically there is one pilots – want to come back for more next year. the development of the event. It was their dedicated pilot and a crew chief who vision and effort that kept the event alive. The functions as the aircraft mechanic. In HOW DO THE AIRCRAFT PERFORM? ARE THEY aviation authorities were also admirably open order to facilitate safe starting, many ALL DIFFERENT? to analyze this and to study the event.