Owl Racer OR65-2
| Owl Racer OR65-2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Owl Racer Ricochet G-AYMS in May 1971 | |
| Role | Racing aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | George Owl |
| Introduction | 1969 |
|
| |
The Owl Racer OR65-2 is a racing aircraft designed by George Owl in 1969 for use in Formula One Air Racing.[1]
Development
The prototype was built by John Alford. A second example, G-AYMS named Ricochet was built by Farm Aviation in the United Kingdom and was first flown at Panshanger Aerodrome Hertfordshire by Squadron Leader M.A.Kelly on 13 April 1971. The aircraft was raced at North Weald Airfield on 31 May 1971 but crashed in the River Thames at Greenwich later that day following propeller failure.[2]
Design
The OR65-2 is a single seat mid-wing aircraft with a bubble canopy and conventional landing gear. The tapered wing uses wood construction with plywood covering. The fuselage is constructed of steel tubing with fabric covering.[3]
Operational history
Owl racers raced under the names Pogo, Fang, Ricochet and Yellow Peril.[4] The first race of Pogo occurred in St. Louis with Bud Pedigo as pilot in 1969.[5]
One OR62-2 crashed in 1971 dues to a prop failure,[6] and another in 1975 due to a fuel system failure.[7]
On display
An Owl racer is on display at the Pearson Air Museum at Vancouver-Pearson Field.
Specifications (OR65-2)
Data from Air Trails
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m)
- Wingspan: 16 ft (4.9 m)
- Wing area: 66 sq ft (6.1 m2)
- Powerplant: 1 × O-200 Continental Horizontally Opposed Piston, 100 hp (75 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 191 kn; 354 km/h (220 mph)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Bibliography
- Jackson. A.J., British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3, second edition, 1974, Putnam & Company Limited, London, ISBN 0-370-10014-X
References
- ↑ Jackson, 1974, p. 277
- ↑ Jackson, 1974, p. 277
- ↑ A. J. Jackson. British civil aircraft, 1919-1972. p. 277.
- ↑ Air Progress: 16. October 1971. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Charles A. Mendenhall. Air Racer.
- ↑ "Report on Owl Racer G-AYMS" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ↑ "NTSB report LAX75FUG28". Retrieved 15 April 2012.