Away from his day job as Acro’s BMS Quality Assurance Manager, Bob Johnson is also a keen Air Racer. A former RAF pilot, he has been flying all his life and so taking to the skies a few weekends a year has filled a gap in his life that Bob missed since leaving the RAF.
Air Racing events happen across the UK at six different airfields, with two races per event, so 12 races in all. Competitors are set off at different times depending on the speed of their aircraft. The first one to cross the line after four or five laps wins (unless disqualified). This is called a pursuit race.
Usual races cover a total distance of around 80-100 nautical miles. Most of the race is flown at 500ft above ground level or more for safety and noise abatement but the start and finish is much lower.
This season Bob has raced for the world-famous Schneider Cup, as well as the King’s Cup just last weekend (September 28th) in Banbury, where Bob came in fifth in a very competitive race.
Bob has had a challenging season as he lost is navigator for the Schneider Cup race, and last year at the King’s Cup his engine blew up, so it’s safe to say that he was very pleased to cross the metaphorical line in fifth place with a new navigator guiding him on his route.
Acro has sponsored Bob for a few of his races this season and he’s been very grateful for the support as he’s only been with the company for a short time.
Bob said: “It’s really good fun and we get to spend time together for a few weekends over the course of the year. The weekend usually involves a meal when we arrive on the Friday, a practice run on the Saturday morning, then a race in the afternoon, and then another meal and some laughs. Then we reassemble on the Sunday for the second race.
“I was hoping for a win at the King’s Cup, but it wasn’t to be this year. It was the closest finish in the history of the King’s Cup and after a 100 mile race there was only five second between the first five aircraft – in fact those in third, fourth and fifth place finished within a second of each other. Needless to say, I came fifth.”
Bob added: “Thanks so much to Acro for its support this year and here’s to next season, where with a good engine and a present navigator, I hope to have an even better season.”
