Round-engine Racers

The second title in the new RaceplaneTech series examines two of the most competitive types of air racers flown at the Cleveland Air Races (1946-1949) and today's National Championship Air Races, held each year at Reno, Nevada. Bearcats, often modified with engines nearly twice their original horsepower, have dominated the Reno air races since the early 1960s. Heavily modified Corsairs were the dominant aircraft in the post World War Two races, and at Reno, the Super Corsair is the bent-wing bird to beat. Racing Bearcats and Corsairs includes great photos and illustrations of Reno racing planes and explores the complex design and development work that is required to produce a racer. It details modifications made to the powerplants and airframes, and based on interviews with the pilots and crew chiefs, provides a first-hand account of this fascinating area of aviation.