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Blue Thunder Air Racing
Blue Thunder II Crew Report
October 31, 2009

Let me start off by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving coming up in 25 days or so. The Blue Crew highly recommends Diestel Farms turkeys for Thanksgiving. They can be obtained at most high quality grocery outlets.

Last month I said I would talk about the future plans for Blue Thunder II, and I will when those plans are a little firmer. So, this month I would like to talk a little bit about our Air Data Computer (ADC) and the Telemetry system used in Blue Thunder II. The amount of data that can be recorded by the ADC is limited only by the number of sensors positioned throughout the aircraft. About a hundred and twenty selectable parameters are transmitted to the ground via a two way communications modem that can be monitored by the ground crew in real time as long as the antenna in the aircraft is in line of sight of the base station antenna. When the system is fully developed, all the crew needs the pilot for is the hit the starter button. With the currant development of the ADC, the crew monitors critical parameters of the engine, such as oil pressure and temperature, as well the aircraft location, speed, altitude, lap count and lap speeds.

The photo above shows the display on one of the crew’s laptops and is relatively self explanatory as to what is displayed. The time frame on this snap shot is nearing the end of lap two on Sundays Super Gold race at Reno 9/20/09. The seven horizontal windows with the ordinate from -90 to 0 represent the trend of for the last 90 seconds. The trend windows show that the oil temperature was slowly rising with the cooler doors fully closed but still well below any limit temperature.

The photo at right is a display of the aircraft location. The location is at the end of lap two on Sundays Super Gold. The trace of the first lap is proof that I left gigafeet of clearance for Mike Dacey to go by on the inside as I was ordered to do.

Next month, I would like to show you a little more about the capabilities of the ADC and the telemeter system and correlate it with some of the problems Garry Mead had with his Glasair and show how our system may have been able to save him about $50,000.00.

As always, the “Blue Crew” sends heart-felt thanks for your continued support.
Gratefully,
Jan, John and The Blue Crew.
www.bluethunderairracing.com

The hair on your neck is standing straight up. Your eyes strain as you stare, closely observing shimmering objects in the distance. You feel your muscles tighten; you feel the electricity in the air. Amongst the wind, your ears begin to detect the faint sound of shear, raw, unimaginable horsepower, echoing off the distant mountains. The faint sound turns into symphonic vibrations of harmony, ever increasing in intensity. Your eyes now have a lock on multiple, winged-crafts splitting the boundary between sky and earth, and turning. The mechanical music still grows, your muscles tighter, your eyes widen. The rush of power blasts by in a shattering roar as the thunder travels through your ears and down to your feet, then another, and another and still more. As the sound fades, the crafts grow small, but the intensity remains. Your heart pounding, your adrenaline flowing, your body shaking, you have just witnessed the first lap, of an air race.

We get the same feeling. Blue Thunder Air Racing Team is a dedicated group of professionals who campaign a Thunder Mustang at the Reno Air Races in the Sport Division. They have been involved with air racing for nearly 40 years. Our team is determined to see the expansion of air racing to encompass more people, places, and sponsors. We believe through increased exposure comes increased interest. That is why we need your help.  

With your support, air racing will grow to have events throughout the country. With your interest, more people will be exposed to the sport and become fans. With your participation, you will see why so many people have become completely committed and addicted to this unique sport.

To some, it's a sport. To us it's a way of life.

Blue Thunder Air Racing supports our men and women in uniform.

Blue Thunder Air Racing would like to thank its sponsors; their generous support makes it all possible. 

Please take a moment to visit their websites and see how they may assist you:

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