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Pilots to battle it out in air race over Perthshire

Dave McElroy.
Dave McElroy.

For the first time in 100 years of air racing, the Royal Aero Club will hold a high octane event in the skies above Scotland.

Up to 20 light aircraft from all parts of the United Kingdom will converge on Perth (Scone) Airport for two races this weekend.

The race pilots and their crews who are competing in the penultimate event of the club’s 2014 air racing season are being hosted by members of the Scottish Aero Club.

Those watching the skies on Saturday and Sunday will be able to spot the single-engine piston aircraft familiar to anyone who has taken a flying lesson as they compete.

Each plane will fly five laps of a 20-mile circuit starting and finishing at the airport with turning points just south of Coupar Angus, the A93/A923 junction and mid-way between Murthly and Kinclaven.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rSd3A_prENI%3Frel%3D0

The races will last around an hour during which time the airfield will be closed to other traffic with the planes competing at speeds of between 100 and 200mph.

Each will be handicapped according to its maximum speed potential and this will result in some close-quarter racing and exciting finishes over Perth Airport.

Former club chairman Dave McElroy recently completed a round-the-world flight in a single-engine aircraft in aid of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

He competed in last year’s air races and said: “Air racing requires neither super aeroplanes nor super pilots.

“All that is needed is an aircraft capable of maintaining 100mph, together with training and a checkout by the Royal Aero Club’s Racing Records and Rally Association.

“There is a highly sophisticated handicapping process that neutralises the speed advantage of the faster aircraft, so winning an air race is down to pilot skill, not aircraft performance. Discipline, accurate navigation and precise turning around the course markers is what separates the winners from the others.”

For insurance reasons Perth Airport will not be open to the public but it will be possible to see the aircraft in action at various vantage points around the course.

The races will start at 3.30pm on Saturday and between 11am and noon on Sunday.