Designation: FORMULA ONE

Cassutt

Cassutt Formula One Pylon Racer

A picture of the Cassutt Formula One Pylon Racer

Formula One pylon racing began in 1947 when the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company sponsored the event at the National Air Races.  The sport quickly became a favorite of the fans because the two-mile rectangular closed course brought the action right in front of the spectators with the planes racing at 50 feet off the ground, often wing tip to wing tip.  Planes were restricted by wing size, weight, and engine displacement so that all were evenly matched.  Aircraft design was very important, and most planes were designed and constructed by individuals.  Tom Cassutt, a pilot for Trans World Airlines, designed and built his racer in 1958.  He quickly issued plans for it hoping that more people would build racers to expand the competition.  Few Cassutt racers have been built exactly according to the plans, most incorporate some changes desired by the person building the plane.  However, Cassutt based planes have been quite popular and successful in Formula One racing and more than 800 have been built.  The Cassutt in the Pima Air & Space Museum collection was originally built and test flown by Roy H. Brandes in 1993.  It was refurbished, repainted and donated to the Tucson Airport Authority for display at the Tucson International Airport by Jim and Kathy Haun.  In June 2002, due to renovations at the airport terminal the aircraft had to be removed.  The Tucson Airport Authority donated it along with another aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum.

Wingspan 14 ft 11 in.

Wingspan

Length 16 ft 6 in.

Length

Height 4 ft 3 in.

Height

Weight 730 lbs (loaded)

Weight

Max. Speed 230 MPH

Maximum Speed

Engines One Continental C-85-8F four-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower

Engine

Crew 1

Crew


Manufacturer
Cassutt

Markings
Jim and Kathy Haun, 1997

Designation
Formula One Pylon Racer

Serial Number
NONE

Pima Air & Space Museum

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