25 April 2017
The opening two races of the 2017 Royal Aero Club 3Rs Handicap Air Race championship took place at Leicester Airport over the weekend, with two winners.
The Saturday race, the Beverley Snook Memorial Trophy, was won by former FLYER contributor and seasoned air racer Geoffrey Boot flying with his wife Suzie in a SIAI Marchetti SF260W, at an average speed of just over 197mph.
In second place was Gordon Bellerby and Navigator David Lee in a diesel-powered Robin DR401 flying an average of 144.76mph. Third was Alan Turner and Rex Levi, flying an average speed of 132mph in the slowest aircraft in the race, a Grumman AA-1C.
A total of 17 aircraft entered the race. A handicap system, based on times set in practice, allows aircraft of differing performance to compete against each other. They included several Vans RVs, Robin, Bulldog, Grumman, a Piper PA28, a SIAI Marchetti and a Cirrus SR22. Each flew 5 laps, totalling 100nm, over the Leicestershire countryside.
Ian Harding, right, receives the City Livery Aero Section Trophy from Edward Tadros, chairman of Ercol. Top: Geoffrey and Suzie Boot, Saturday winners, receiving the Beverley Snook Memorial Trophy from Ivan Court of Leicester Aero Club. [Photos: Dan Pangbourne]
Vans RV aircraft took the top three places: 1st Ian Harding (Vans RV-4), 2nd Erik Andersen (Vans RV-6), and 3rd, flying in their first event, Nick and Gaynor Kieswetter (Vans RV-6A).
1 comment
The weather was perfect over the weekend and the Leicester facilities were much appreciated by everyone who came to participate, officiate or just to watch.