Race with the Wind: How Air Racing Advanced AviationIn the decades leading up to World War II, air races were often the proving grounds for radical new aviation principles and designs. The people and machines of air racing during this period made tremendous strides and contributed incredible new technologies, aerodynamics, powerplants, and airframes. This unique look at the key players and aircraft of the early 20th century's great air races examines and explains how innovative racing technologies found their way into future fighter and passenger aircraft. Coverage of exciting races like the Schneider Trophy, Pulitzer Trophy Race, and the National Air Races, an in-depth look at their contributions to aeronautics, exclusive line drawings illustrating the technologies, and archival photography make this a must for air racing fans and aviation enthusiasts. |
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Aero aerodynamic Aeronautical Air Mystery Ship air-cooled engines airfoil airframe Altair altitude American articulated con rod aviation biplane Blériot Bob Gross Bowers collection built Company cooling Curtiss D-12 cylinder Direct Drive drag coefficient engine cowling feet flight Flyer France fuel fuselage gasoline gine Glenn Curtiss gross weight horsepower John Garrett collection Kingsford Smith Lamblin lift drag coefficient liquid-cooled engines Lockheed Lockheed Vega MacRobertson MacRobertson Race maximum speed Menasco miles per hour military Model 44 Racer Monoplane NACA National Air Races Packard percent performance Peter pilot pounds Pratt & Whitney production propeller Pulitzer pursuit aircraft racing aircraft ratio Reims retractable landing gear Schneider Trophy sea level Supermarine Supermarine S.6B surface radiators Table Thompson Trophy tion Travel Air Mystery Trophy Race Twin Wasp Vega Wasp Wasp engine Wasp Jr Wedell Wedell-Williams Model 44 wing area wing loading Wright Field York zero lift drag