Flight Speed Record Attempt By Richard "Smokey" Young at Thermal Airport on Swift Fuel!

Pilot Richard 'Smokey" Young set a new world record! Read the Article from The Desert Sun below :)

www.mydesert.com
September 12, 2010

Pilot sets new, unofficial speed record in Thermal

On second try, plane reaches top speed of 260 mph — using biofuel

By: Nicole C. Brambila
The Desert Sun

Pilot Richard "Smokey" Young set a world record Saturday — at least preliminarily.

Attempting to establish a new 100-kilometer — 62 miles — closed-course speed record for a piston-engine aircraft weighing between 660 and 1,320 pounds at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, the pilot surpassed the existing record with a top speed for the day of 260 mph, officials said.

In the existing 2004 world record, set by former astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson for the fastest flight over a closed course, a plane traveled 233 mph, according to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in Switzerland, which will have to finalize Saturday's results and confirm Young has bested the previous record.

"I've never had (a record) changed, but it has to go through the process," said Brian Utley, who will certify the flight as a member of the contest and record board for the National Aeronautic Association.

Final certification of a new record could take up to three months, officials said.

Nevertheless, Young accomplished his goal Saturday despite having to try multiple times.

His first try in the morning was fast, but he missed a required checkpoint along the course, and the flight could not be certified.

Rather than give up, Young opted for a second attempt at 6 p.m. Saturday. He said he expected to top out at about 260 mph.

"I feel really good about it," he said of his successful attempt Saturday evening.

It appeared that his spirits stayed high throughout the day.

"We're running the engine right at its point. To be honest with you, that's why I'm running it over water," Young said just before his first attempt early Saturday.

"It's probably one of the riskier flights I've done."

He flew a Continental O-200 engine using biofuel made by Swift Enterprises Ltd.

"It's an experimental plane with an experimental engine using experimental fuel," Young said. "It's green technology really to the max. Nobody else is making biofuel for aviation. Nobody."

Based in Lafayette, Ind., and founded in 2001, Swift Enterprises is testing its biofuel for commercialization. The fuel is made from tall, sweet sorghum.

"This is a whole new way of looking at fuel," said Brian Stirm, director of Flight Propulsion Research, following Saturday morning's flight.

Biofuels are considered by some in the aviation field as a possible solution to reducing greenhouse emissions.

"This is history; you bet it is," said Stefani Paulus, a company spokeswoman. "It's never been done before, not in a race plane with biofuel."

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Young runs the Aviation Pilot Training Program at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

The Thermal airport made an ideal location to attempt a record-breaking flight because high-density air is ideal for flying, and the uncontrolled airstrip offered more flexibility than one with a control tower, Young said.

After his success Saturday evening, Young also touted his use of the experimental fuel.

"I think what's really satisfying is doing it with the biofuel," he said.

"My hat's off to SwiftFuel."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Smokey
• Richard Young
• Thermal Airport
• Speed Record
• Flight
• Flying
• Cochran Airport
• Tradition Aviation
• Former Sly Dog
• Air Racing
• Swift Fuel
• Biofuel for Aircraft
• Biofuel
• Race Planes
• Homebuilt airplane
• Swift Enterprises
• Renewable Fuel

[WondrousPurple]

The airspeed has been verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. It's official! Congratulations Smokey Young!

[pilotgirlie]

@WondrousPurple WOOOT! 

[n3981k]

congratulations! Good for you sir!!!