Biplane Class

The Biplane Class is represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong, and the Smith Miniplane, giving pilots a chance to apply their skills to racing on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph.

Biplane Class aircraft race on an oval course [click on small diagram at right below for a larger version]. Unlike the larger aircraft from other classes, the Biplanes begin racing at take-off. Aircraft are positioned on the East-West runway [Runway 8/26] two abreast according to their Qualifying position.

Biplane Class Race Course diagram: click on the image above to open a larger version in a new window.

A flagman positioned at the south side of the runway releases each pair of aircraft, with a short delay between pairs. If prevailing winds determine that the preferred takeoff direction is eastbound [the "normal" condition], pairs of aircraft accelerate past the home pylon and turn left at Pylon 1 onto the race course. If the preferred takeoff direction is westbound, aircraft must circle around the Scatter Pylon at the west end of the runway, and then fly back eastbound to enter the course at Pylon 1.

Having made the number of laps required to complete the race, at the finish line which runs from the Home Pylon due south towards the grandstands, the aircraft generally zoom climb, trading off airspeed for altitude and putting them into a comfortable position to cool down and set up for landing.

A typical Biplane Class race typically takes from five to eight minutes depending on the number of laps in the race and the speed of the aircraft.