Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams W-17 Stinger | 1970s | one | Formula One air racer |
| Williams-Cangie WC-1 Sundancer | 1970s | one | Biplane air racer |
| Williams-Gully Special | |||
| Williams Special | |||
| Type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Art Williams |
| Products | aircraft plans |
The Williams Aircraft Design Company was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Northridge, California and run by Art Williams. The company specialized in the design of racing aircraft. [1]
Several of Williams products were the result of collaboration with other designers. For instance the Williams-Cangie WC-1 Sundancer was designed with Carl Cangie and won first place at the 1973 Reno Air Races Formula One Class. [1]
The Williams W-17 Stinger design captured second place at the 1973 Reno Air Races in the biplane class. [1]
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams W-17 Stinger | 1970s | one | Formula One air racer |
| Williams-Cangie WC-1 Sundancer | 1970s | one | Biplane air racer |
| Williams-Gully Special | |||
| Williams Special | |||
Air racing is a type of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a previously estimated time.
The Reno Air Races, officially known as the STIHL National Championship Air Races, is a multi-day event tailored to the aviation community that takes place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada. Air racing is billed as "the world's fastest motor sport" and Reno is the only remaining venue. The event includes races in 6 classes and demonstrations by airshow pilots.
Reno Stead Airport is a large public and military general aviation airport located in the North Valleys area, 10 nautical miles (19 km) northwest of the central business district of Reno, in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. A former military installation until 1966, when it was known as Stead Air Force Base, the airport's sole remaining military presence consists of an Army Aviation Support Facility and the 189th General Support Aviation Battalion of the Nevada Army National Guard, flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The airport is owned by the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport.
The Scaled Composites Pond Racer was a twin-engine twin-boom aircraft developed for Bob Pond by Burt Rutan and his company Scaled Composites.
The AMSOIL Racer, also known as the Rutan Biplane Racer and the Rutan Model 68 Racer, was a race tandem wing plane which was designed by Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory, and built and flown by Dan Mortensen. It set several speed records, but crashed at the 1983 Reno Air Races.
Rare Bear is a highly modified Grumman F8F Bearcat that dominated the Reno Air Races for decades.
The Beck-Mahoney Sorceress was a racing staggerwing biplane originally designed by the father and son team of Lee and Seldon Mahoney with later improvements accomplished by pilot Don Beck.
Sylvester Joseph "Steve" Wittman was an American air-racer and aircraft engineer.
The Sharp Nemesis NXT is a sport-class kit-built aircraft. It is designed for air racing. It was designed by Nemesis Air Racing's president Jon Sharp, as a follow-on to the Sharp Nemesis. It is a two-seat, single engine, low wing, retractable gear kit aircraft. As designed, the aircraft is powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-NXT Thunderbolt six-cylinder engine.
The GP-5Sweet Dreams was a Super Sport Class racing airplane designed by George Pereira, owner of Osprey Aircraft. It was originally built by Gary Childs, who sold it to another builder, who in turn sold it to George Backovich. Backovich enlisted the help of designer Pereira to complete it in 2007, after changes to its automotive engine conversion, and switching the propeller manufacturer.
The Wittman DFA aka Little Bonzo is a homebuilt racing aircraft designed to compete in midget racing.
The Galloping Ghost was a P-51D Mustang air racer that held various airspeed records and whose fatal crash in 2011 led to several changes to make air shows safer.
On September 16, 2011, The Galloping Ghost, a highly modified North American P-51D Mustang racing aircraft, crashed into spectators while competing at the Reno Air Races in Reno, Nevada, killing the pilot, James K. "Jimmy" Leeward, and ten people on the ground. Sixty-nine more people on the ground were injured. It was the third-deadliest airshow disaster in U.S. history, following accidents in 1972 and 1951.
The Wedell-Williams Model 22 was a racing aircraft, two examples of which were built in the United States in the early 1930s by the Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation. It was one of three early projects by aircraft designer Jimmy Wedell to create a racer and was built specifically to compete in the 1930 All-American Flying Derby from Buffalo to Detroit. It was a braced, low-wing monoplane originally powered by an inline Cirrus engine and equipped with fixed landing gear in large spats.
The Miller JM-2 was an American Formula One Air Racing homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim W Miller and produced by JW Miller Aviation of Marble Falls, Texas. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Williams-Cangie WC-1 Sundancer is an American homebuilt biplane racing aircraft that was designed by Art Williams and Carl Cangie and built by Ralph Thenhaus in 1974. Plans were at one time available from Williams' company, the Williams Aircraft Design Co of Northridge, California. Only one was built.
The Williams W-17 Stinger is an American homebuilt racing aircraft that was designed for Formula One Air Racing by Art Williams and produced by his company, Williams Aircraft Design of Northridge, California, introduced in 1971. The aircraft was at one time available in the form of plans for amateur construction, but only one was ever constructed.
Voodoo is a highly modified North American P-51 Mustang that was the 2013, 2014 and 2016 Unlimited-class champion of the Reno Air Races. The pilot for these wins was Steven Hinton, Jr of Chino, California.
Wesley "Lee" Behel was an American aviator and air racing champion. He was the creator and, at the time of his death the president, of the "Sport Class" a group of racing airplanes designed for planes under 1000 cubic inches in size that participate in the Reno Air Races each year in September, as well as a retired Lt. Colonel in the Nevada Air National Guard.
Precious Metal is a custom-built racing aircraft based on the North American P-51 Mustang.