Formula One Class

Formula One aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine (the same 100 hp engine used in a Cessna 150). Weights and sizes of every major engine part must be within stock limits. The cam profile and carburetion are strictly controlled. Race aircraft must have 66 square feet of wing area, weigh at least 500 pounds empty, and have a fixed landing gear and fixed pitch propeller. The fastest Formula One aircraft can reach 250 mph on the 3.19-mile race course at Reno. Many Formula One aircraft are built by the pilots that race them and are a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of air racing.

Formula One 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 Formula One aircraft begin racing at take-off. Aircraft are positioned on the East-West runway [Runway 8/26] two abreast according to their Qualifying position.

A flagman position 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" state of affairs], 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.

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

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

You can visit the official Web site of the Formula One Racing Class at http://www.if1airracing.com/.

Search the database of race results from Reno.