fsxar177
Long-Time Enthusiast
The name 'Cleland' became synonymous with air racing in the late 40's. 'Cook' was born in Cleveland Ohio, and this became his hometown. Joining the Navy just prior to Pearl Harbor, It was while serving that Cleland learned to fly the Corsair. Immediately upon his return to home-life, Cleland began operating out of a small airport outside Cleveland, in Willoughby, Ohio. Being much interested in participating in the upcoming National Air Races in '46, he purchased a Goodyear built Corsair, FG-1D, which was registered NX69900. It was well prepared for racing, was said to sport a 2,400 horsepower R-2800, and given the name "Lucky Gallon", race #92.
Cleland entered the aircraft in the main event, the 300 mile, 10 lap pylon race dubbed the "Thompson Throphy". He qualified 6th at 361.809mph, and finished 6th at an average speed of 357.465mph. Though impressive, Cleland was most dis-satisfied.
This is where the Cleland story begins to gain momentum...It was aftet the races of '46 that Cleland, believing the Navy's honor was on the line, convinced his friend, and Admiral Mr. William Halsey, about being allowed to purchase a monster Goodyear F2G corsair. As it turns out, he was able to purchase three of them immediately two of which were race-modified in house at the Vought factory in Connecticut! It is for these Corsairs that 'Cook' is most well known. His ambition paid off In 1947, once again at the all famous National Air Races, at Cleveland Airport, where, 'Cook' qualified his F2G-1 race #74 in 1st, at 401.787mph! He also went on to win the Thompson that year in race #74, while his partner DRichard Becker finished 2nd place in race #94. Though bittersweet, as the third member of the Cleland team, Tony Janazzo was killed, when he became overtaken by exhaust fumes mid-race, and crashed his Corsair race #84.
1948 would bring ill-fortune to the Cleland/Becker team, as both aircraft would suffer mechanical difficulty with their air scoops early in the race for the Thompson.
They would return though in 1949, with three corncob corsairs, with Becker qualifying 1st at 414.592mph, Cleland 2nd at 407.211mph, and McKillen 4th at 396.280mph! Ben McKillen would race the Cleland owned #57 Corsair to 1st place in the Tinnerman Throphy, and Cleland would race his #94 to 1st place, in the fateful '49 Thompson.
This repaint, for the Aircraft Factory F4U Corsair, depicts Cleland's first corsair. Goodyear FG-1D which was originally produced with BuNo. 13481, and delivered to the USN in early 1945, and then sold to Cleland in 1946, It was registered as NX69900, named "Lucky Gallon", and listed as Racer number 92. In 1950 it was badly damaged in high winds on the ramp at Willoughby, in 1953 the wreck was added to the Walter Soplata Aviation Collection at Newbury, Cleveland, Ohio. Since 2000, it has been said that numerous main fuselage components of this aircraft still exist, and are kept in storage.
I will release this paint, in conjunction with at least one other FG-1D of the era, in due time..
Joseph
Cleland entered the aircraft in the main event, the 300 mile, 10 lap pylon race dubbed the "Thompson Throphy". He qualified 6th at 361.809mph, and finished 6th at an average speed of 357.465mph. Though impressive, Cleland was most dis-satisfied.
This is where the Cleland story begins to gain momentum...It was aftet the races of '46 that Cleland, believing the Navy's honor was on the line, convinced his friend, and Admiral Mr. William Halsey, about being allowed to purchase a monster Goodyear F2G corsair. As it turns out, he was able to purchase three of them immediately two of which were race-modified in house at the Vought factory in Connecticut! It is for these Corsairs that 'Cook' is most well known. His ambition paid off In 1947, once again at the all famous National Air Races, at Cleveland Airport, where, 'Cook' qualified his F2G-1 race #74 in 1st, at 401.787mph! He also went on to win the Thompson that year in race #74, while his partner DRichard Becker finished 2nd place in race #94. Though bittersweet, as the third member of the Cleland team, Tony Janazzo was killed, when he became overtaken by exhaust fumes mid-race, and crashed his Corsair race #84.
1948 would bring ill-fortune to the Cleland/Becker team, as both aircraft would suffer mechanical difficulty with their air scoops early in the race for the Thompson.
They would return though in 1949, with three corncob corsairs, with Becker qualifying 1st at 414.592mph, Cleland 2nd at 407.211mph, and McKillen 4th at 396.280mph! Ben McKillen would race the Cleland owned #57 Corsair to 1st place in the Tinnerman Throphy, and Cleland would race his #94 to 1st place, in the fateful '49 Thompson.
This repaint, for the Aircraft Factory F4U Corsair, depicts Cleland's first corsair. Goodyear FG-1D which was originally produced with BuNo. 13481, and delivered to the USN in early 1945, and then sold to Cleland in 1946, It was registered as NX69900, named "Lucky Gallon", and listed as Racer number 92. In 1950 it was badly damaged in high winds on the ramp at Willoughby, in 1953 the wreck was added to the Walter Soplata Aviation Collection at Newbury, Cleveland, Ohio. Since 2000, it has been said that numerous main fuselage components of this aircraft still exist, and are kept in storage.
I will release this paint, in conjunction with at least one other FG-1D of the era, in due time..
Joseph
