220:"dress rehearsal" more than anything else. After takeoff for the final event on Sunday, the left engine threw a rod out the side of the block and created a tunnel of fire 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter and about 15 feet (4.6 m) long. An onboard halon extinguishing system put the oil fire out and an uneventful single-engine landing was made. The engine installations were very compact and "close cowled", meaning the bodywork covering the engines had little clearance. The carbon fiber engine cowling was a structural component of the aircraft and as such had to be protected from heat-soak after shutdown. This was accomplished via two 2-stroke weed blowers immediately after the blades stopped turning, quickly followed by two air conditioner blowers attached to the air inlet "scuppers". The engine cowlings were lined with corrugated
229:
the majority of the time while airborne. Eventually it was determined that the oil drain holes were undersized in the rocker area of the heads as they were not intended to run at a constant high RPM in an automobile application. At race speeds, the engines were turning 8000 RPM, geared down to 2000 at the prop, the engines were expected to run at this level for the 15 minutes of the race. Fully half of the radiator inlet ducting was blocked off after the first test flight on March 22, 1991.
26:
228:
before fireup. This was due to the tight tolerances of the engine main bearings. Because methanol burns much cooler than gasoline, cooling was never an issue. Actually the cold nature of the methanol gave the team a problem with oil viscosity. The thick, graphite laden oil would "puke" overboard for
215:
in the race configuration. Methanol was the preferred fuel because no intercoolers were needed, and so the associated drag was eliminated. After the day's running had concluded the engines were again configured to burn gasoline to preclude the corrosive effects of methanol. The aircraft was entered
219:
The decision was made by Pond to attend Reno with the same engines used for flight testing. In fact, a vibrator was still attached to the left vertical stabilizer to initiate flutter as part of the planned flight test program. There was no expectation of victory the first year. It was viewed as a
249:
On
September 14, 1993, the Pond Racer was entered again and once more, piloted by Rick Brickert. During qualifying, the aircraft began leaking oil and suffered an engine failure leaving the right propeller unfeathered. Brickert pulled up, lowered the landing gear, and chose to perform a
210:
The aircraft made its debut at the 1991 Reno air races having been flown from the Scaled
Composites factory under escort. Gasoline was used as the fuel for the flight to Reno as this gave a greater range. The onboard engine control computers were replaced with equipment for metering
216:
in the Silver class and qualified at 400 mph (640 km/h), flown by experienced test pilot Rick
Brickert. The aircraft developed mechanical problems before the race was officially started and dropped out as a DNS.
201:
to produce 1,000 hp (750 kW). However, those fitted to the Pond Racer only ever achieved a peak of around 600 hp (450 kW). The engines drove 4-bladed propellers via propeller speed reduction units.
156:
Bob Pond commissioned the design with the idea of developing a modern aircraft that could compete with the vintage warbirds in the
Unlimited Class at the Reno air races. Bob Pond was concerned that each year at the
161:, valuable and historic aircraft were being crashed and destroyed, not to mention many engines being damaged or wrecked beyond repair. The Pond Racer was hoped to be an alternative to vintage aircraft like the
1355:
1365:
1200:
1060:
1055:
1335:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1255:
1165:
1160:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1195:
1185:
1170:
1150:
1090:
1075:
1145:
324:
1005:
1140:
1070:
1040:
1035:
990:
985:
1469:
935:
1449:
557:
1015:
729:
1464:
224:
of .007 thickness. Airflow was vital to structural integrity. Conversely, the powerplant units had to be preheated to nearly
723:
254:
by retracting the gear again. The aircraft overshot a smooth landing area and crashed in rough terrain, killing the pilot.
1315:
813:
535:
1350:
1330:
1205:
703:
626:
485:
530:
367:
550:
1320:
1270:
1265:
846:
784:
677:
1454:
1250:
1135:
826:
662:
1459:
1444:
865:
543:
1345:
1325:
1220:
1085:
1045:
915:
718:
708:
621:
1439:
895:
890:
885:
880:
875:
870:
1095:
1080:
751:
698:
693:
189:. This resulted in a very light, strong aircraft. To power the plane two Electramotive 3 liter
48:
1360:
910:
631:
225:
80:
520:
194:
8:
1065:
1050:
178:
565:
1225:
1190:
735:
1275:
1210:
1180:
667:
566:
502:
497:
481:
464:
459:
386:
381:
145:
53:
955:
945:
940:
581:
405:
197:
automobile engine. The engines were originally developed for auto racing and were
1393:
1230:
1155:
1030:
616:
454:
166:
41:
1175:
975:
856:
841:
836:
794:
652:
158:
25:
1433:
1411:
1340:
1025:
1020:
1010:
995:
980:
970:
960:
950:
756:
713:
606:
601:
596:
591:
586:
506:
468:
390:
251:
1405:
1399:
1280:
1260:
1240:
1000:
789:
779:
657:
525:
238:
234:
198:
182:
162:
1235:
1417:
1387:
1381:
230:
141:
64:
1245:
1215:
965:
803:
672:
647:
190:
426:
212:
137:
169:
that would be as fast and spectacular in the air as the warbirds.
818:
257:
221:
186:
495:
Mormillo, Frank B. (January 1994). "Unfulfilled
Promises".
385:. Vol. 120, no. 12. December 1993. p. 31.
368:
airliners.net Scaled
Composites 158 Pond Racer - Untitled
1431:
463:. Vol. 118, no. 11. pp. 106–115.
342:400.0 mph (643.8 km/h, 347.6 kn)
258:Specifications (Performance 1991 Reno meeting)
551:
193:engines were chosen. These were based on the
1402:(vice president/general manager, test pilot)
567:Rutan Aircraft Factory and Scaled Composites
501:. Vol. 46, no. 1. pp. 47–51.
424:
1414:(director of flight operations, test pilot)
558:
544:
494:
452:
418:
478:Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1991–92
475:
439:
1432:
403:
151:
539:
480:. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data.
397:
1470:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
244:
531:A WAV file of the Pond Racer fly-by
13:
1450:1990s United States sport aircraft
285:20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
14:
1481:
514:
453:Garrison, Peter (November 1991).
379:"Pond Racer Destroyed in Crash".
327:, 600 hp (450 kW) each
205:
177:The airframe was constructed of
24:
427:"Aerofiles information - Rutan"
745:Rocketcraft (as subcontractor)
372:
361:
352:
136:) was a twin-engine twin-boom
114:September 14, 1993 (Destroyed)
1:
346:
317:4,140 lb (1,878 kg)
311:3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
241:as part of the test program.
1465:Aircraft first flown in 1991
1420:(SpaceShipOne sole investor)
406:"AIRPLANE PAGE - Reno races"
233:was the initial test pilot.
130:Scaled Composites Pond Racer
7:
663:Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer
641:Aircraft (as subcontractor)
476:Lambert, Mark, ed. (1991).
425:K.O. Eckland (2008-02-13).
237:also flew the plane as did
10:
1486:
140:developed for Bob Pond by
1374:
928:
916:Mojave Aerospace Ventures
906:
855:
772:
765:
744:
686:
640:
574:
445:Mormillo 1994, pp. 49-51.
172:
118:
110:
102:
94:
89:
79:
71:
59:
47:
37:
32:
23:
18:
687:Technology demonstrators
829:Spirit of Steve Fossett
575:Aircraft (main designs)
569:aircraft and spacecraft
305: in (7.741 m)
270:General characteristics
752:McDonnell Douglas DC-X
1408:(manager, test pilot)
911:The Spaceship Company
521:Mojave Virtual Museum
358:Lambert 1991, p. 474.
226:operating temperature
132:(Company designation
265:Unfulfilled Promises
766:Spaceflight program
325:Electramotive VG-30
179:composite materials
152:Reason for creation
33:General information
1455:Twin-boom aircraft
1390:(former president)
1460:Mid-wing aircraft
1445:Scaled Composites
1427:
1426:
924:
923:
668:Williams V-Jet II
498:Air International
245:Problems and loss
146:Scaled Composites
126:
125:
95:Introduction date
54:Scaled Composites
1477:
847:Stratolaunch Roc
814:White Knight Two
785:White Knight One
773:Programs / Ships
770:
769:
560:
553:
546:
537:
536:
510:
491:
472:
455:"The Pond Racer"
446:
443:
437:
436:
434:
433:
422:
416:
415:
413:
412:
401:
395:
394:
376:
370:
365:
359:
356:
335:
304:
303:
299:
296:
272:
144:and his company
28:
16:
15:
1485:
1484:
1480:
1479:
1478:
1476:
1475:
1474:
1440:Racing aircraft
1430:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1394:Michael Alsbury
1370:
920:
902:
851:
761:
740:
682:
636:
627:Model 367 BiPod
570:
564:
517:
488:
449:
444:
440:
431:
429:
423:
419:
410:
408:
402:
398:
378:
377:
373:
366:
362:
357:
353:
349:
331:
301:
297:
294:
292:
268:
260:
247:
208:
175:
167:Hawker Sea Fury
154:
67:
42:Racing aircraft
12:
11:
5:
1483:
1473:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1425:
1424:
1422:
1421:
1415:
1409:
1403:
1397:
1391:
1385:
1378:
1376:
1375:Notable people
1372:
1371:
1369:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
932:
930:
926:
925:
922:
921:
919:
918:
913:
907:
904:
903:
901:
900:
899:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
862:
860:
857:Ansari X Prize
853:
852:
850:
849:
844:
842:SpaceShipThree
839:
837:RocketMotorTwo
834:
833:
832:
824:
811:
810:
809:
801:
787:
782:
776:
774:
767:
763:
762:
760:
759:
754:
748:
746:
742:
741:
739:
738:
733:
727:
721:
716:
711:
706:
701:
696:
690:
688:
684:
683:
681:
680:
675:
670:
665:
660:
655:
653:Bell Eagle Eye
650:
644:
642:
638:
637:
635:
634:
629:
624:
619:
614:
609:
604:
599:
594:
589:
584:
578:
576:
572:
571:
563:
562:
555:
548:
540:
534:
533:
528:
526:Memorial image
523:
516:
515:External links
513:
512:
511:
492:
486:
473:
448:
447:
438:
417:
396:
371:
360:
350:
348:
345:
344:
343:
340:Maximum speed:
329:
328:
318:
312:
306:
286:
280:
259:
256:
246:
243:
207:
206:Aircraft debut
204:
174:
171:
159:Reno Air Races
153:
150:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
106:March 22, 1991
104:
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
87:
86:
83:
77:
76:
73:
69:
68:
63:
61:
57:
56:
51:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
30:
29:
21:
20:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1482:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1437:
1435:
1419:
1416:
1413:
1412:Peter Siebold
1410:
1407:
1404:
1401:
1398:
1395:
1392:
1389:
1386:
1383:
1380:
1379:
1377:
1373:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
933:
931:
929:Model numbers
927:
917:
914:
912:
909:
908:
905:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
868:
867:
864:
863:
861:
858:
854:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
831:
830:
825:
823:
822:
817:
816:
815:
812:
808:
807:
802:
799:
798:
793:
792:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
777:
775:
771:
768:
764:
758:
757:Rotary Rocket
755:
753:
750:
749:
747:
743:
737:
734:
731:
728:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
691:
689:
685:
679:
678:X-47A Pegasus
676:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
656:
654:
651:
649:
646:
645:
643:
639:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
613:
610:
608:
605:
603:
600:
598:
595:
593:
590:
588:
585:
583:
580:
579:
577:
573:
568:
561:
556:
554:
549:
547:
542:
541:
538:
532:
529:
527:
524:
522:
519:
518:
508:
504:
500:
499:
493:
489:
487:0-7106-0965-5
483:
479:
474:
470:
466:
462:
461:
456:
451:
450:
442:
428:
421:
407:
400:
392:
388:
384:
383:
375:
369:
364:
355:
351:
341:
338:
337:
336:
334:
326:
322:
319:
316:
315:Gross weight:
313:
310:
309:Empty weight:
307:
290:
287:
284:
281:
278:
275:
274:
273:
271:
266:
264:
255:
253:
252:belly landing
242:
240:
236:
232:
227:
223:
217:
214:
203:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
170:
168:
164:
160:
149:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
88:
84:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
55:
52:
50:
46:
43:
40:
36:
31:
27:
22:
17:
1406:Brian Binnie
1400:Mike Melvill
1396:(test pilot)
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
828:
820:
805:
796:
790:SpaceShipTwo
780:SpaceShipOne
658:Toyota TAA-1
611:
496:
477:
458:
441:
430:. Retrieved
420:
409:. Retrieved
404:Fitzgerald.
399:
380:
374:
363:
354:
339:
332:
330:
320:
314:
308:
288:
282:
276:
269:
267:
262:
261:
248:
239:Steve Hinton
235:Mike Melvill
218:
209:
199:turbocharged
183:carbon fiber
176:
163:P-51 Mustang
155:
133:
129:
127:
103:First flight
81:Registration
72:Number built
49:Manufacturer
333:Performance
321:Powerplant:
291:25 ft
195:Nissan VG30
1434:Categories
1418:Paul Allen
1388:Doug Shane
1382:Burt Rutan
797:Enterprise
732:(uncrewed)
726:(uncrewed)
612:Pond Racer
582:VariViggen
432:2009-07-08
411:2009-07-08
347:References
231:Dick Rutan
142:Burt Rutan
65:Burt Rutan
19:Pond Racer
1384:(founder)
730:Model 396
724:Model 395
648:Adam A500
632:Model 401
617:Boomerang
507:0306-5634
469:0015-4806
391:0015-4806
289:Wingspan:
263:Data from
134:Model 158
122:Destroyed
866:Tier One
213:methanol
165:and the
138:aircraft
60:Designer
859:flights
736:Vantage
719:Triumph
714:Grizzly
709:Catbird
622:Proteus
607:Voyager
602:Long-EZ
597:Defiant
592:Quickie
587:VariEze
300:⁄
283:Length:
222:inconel
111:Retired
90:History
505:
484:
467:
460:Flying
389:
382:Flying
187:Kevlar
173:Design
85:N221BP
806:Unity
704:BiPod
277:Crew:
827:VMS
819:VMS
804:VSS
795:VSS
699:ATTT
694:ARES
673:X-38
503:ISSN
482:ISBN
465:ISSN
387:ISSN
323:2 ×
185:and
128:The
119:Fate
98:1991
38:Type
1366:406
1361:401
1356:400
1351:396
1346:395
1341:375
1336:372
1331:367
1326:355
1321:351
1316:348
1311:346
1306:344
1301:343
1296:342
1291:341
1286:340
1281:339
1276:333
1271:326
1266:318
1261:316
1256:313
1251:311
1246:309
1241:302
1236:301
1231:300
1226:287
1221:281
1216:276
1211:271
1206:260
1201:257
1196:254
1191:247
1186:241
1181:233
1176:231
1171:226
1166:206
1161:205
1156:202
1151:191
1146:181
1141:179
1136:175
1131:173
1126:170
1121:169
1116:165
1111:164
1106:163
1101:158
1096:151
1091:144
1086:143
1081:133
1076:126
1071:120
1066:115
896:17P
891:16P
886:15P
881:14P
876:13P
871:11P
821:Eve
191:V-6
1436::
1061:97
1056:91
1051:89
1046:81
1041:79
1036:78
1031:77
1026:76
1021:74
1016:73
1011:72
1006:70
1001:68
996:61
991:59
986:58
981:54
976:49
971:40
966:35
961:33
956:32
951:31
946:28
941:27
457:.
181:,
148:.
936:1
800:†
559:e
552:t
545:v
509:.
490:.
471:.
435:.
414:.
393:.
302:4
298:3
295:+
293:4
279:1
75:1
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
