Big Aust. air race today
PA staff correspondent Sydney More than 160 aircraft — from fast executive jets to Tiger Moths — are taking part in the 4200 km Perth to Sydney air race, starting this morning. The sole New Zealand entry is a Cessna Centurion, piloted by Rick Rimmer, who will be accompanied by three fellow members of the Wellington Aero Club. It will be among the first aircraft away from Jandakot Airport, Perth. The top-performance entries are two Lear jets, which I
have been given a handicap speed of 439 knots. The handicapping is based on a formula similar to that used in the 1969 EnglandAustralia air race. The New Zealanders are handicapped at 177 knots, which puts them among the higher - performance tenders. The Tiger Moths are the lowest rated, at 75 knots. New Zealand interest is reinforced by the inclusion of several Australian-owned Airtourers among the entrants.
Mishaps have hit the race even before the start. A Piper Cherokee entered by a South Australian man
crashed soon after taking off from Adelaide for Perth on Saturday. Neither of the two men on board was hurt when the aircraft nose-dived into a barley field in blinding rain. The race will be under visual flight rules, and all radio navigation equipment will be sealed. This means that basic, navigation skills will have to be used during the monotonous crossing ofthe Nullabor Plain, where the only landmarks are salt I pans. The route will take in 17! “over-fly” check-points, and three overnight stops. The race will end at Bankstown Airport, Sydney, on Sunday.
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Press, 20 October 1976, Page 3
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262Big Aust. air race today Press, 20 October 1976, Page 3
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