The FAT lady is singing

The ladies cooked through an amazing 10 hours over the last few days trying to simulate race conditions while pushing the plane and motor into race mode. Teresa completed her IFR currency in anticipation of some good news and Denise practiced hilly and gusty landings for unknowns.

Upon landing back at Hartford after a 3 hour round trip to New Hampshire, the ladies taxied the purple plane to the maintenance hangar and battened it down for the Monday morning reveal. Though the plane performed flawlessly, the entire crew felt a bit melancholy that the plane's race fate was concealed in a few paper pleats and now completely out of the team's hands.

Monday morning came and sadly the oil filter showed once again consistent specks of aluminum and a few larger flakes. Not enough mind you to ground the plane, however clearly the condition is not self-correcting. The engine IS burnishing off metal from somewhere and it will need constant 10 hour monitoring under normal flying conditions.

Clearly racing a plane over unfamiliar terrain, rapidly changing weather, and thousands of miles demanding the highest performance is not NORMAL. Therefore after several more hours of phone calls, thoughts and consults, the prudent thing to do was Withdraw from the 41st Air Race Classic.

The plane will make an appearance in Frederick, Maryland, and has been extended the honor to take its place on the line with the full field of competitors during the impound, however when race day arrives, the Purple Hearts will yield their start time to the competitive teams. The 'Hearts' will be allowed to launch and offer a final fly-by goodbye as the last crew to take to the air and head for home rather than West with the others.

10 hr. cut filter