Well, here is something unusual, and exciting. It’s a Pond Racer from the early 90’s. Warbird owner and industrialist, Bob Pond became concerned about the number of classic warbird airframes being lost to modification and crashes for the Reno Air Races. He commissioned Burt Rutan to design the Pond Racer with the idea of developing a modern aircraft that could compete with the vintage warbirds in the Unlimited Class at the Reno air races. Powered by under-developed and troublesome auto engines, the aircraft never really achieved it’s design speed, and ultimately crashed (fatally) during qualification for its first races. Had development continued, it is believed that the design could have achieved it’s goals, but development was halted after the crash and the project dropped.
Pity, because it’s an exciting and different aircraft, and we think it should make a great model. So, with this in mind, we will soon begin development of the model, to be electric powered to reduce asymmetric engine problems.
Let us know if you’re interested in this little guy….
Scaled Composites Model 158 “Pond Racer” – Design, Development, Production and Performance
The Scaled Composites Model 158 Pond Racer was a highly advanced experimental racing aircraft designed by Burt Rutan and built by Scaled Composites for competition in the Unlimited Class at the Reno National Championship Air Races. It was one of the most radical aircraft ever designed for air racing, combining a lightweight composite structure, twin automotive-derived engines, and a unique twin-boom configuration intended to achieve fighter-like speeds with a relatively small powerplant package.
The aircraft was developed during the late 1980s and early 1990s by Bob Pond, a prominent Unlimited Class air racer and businessman, who sought to create a new generation of racing aircraft capable of competing against heavily modified piston fighters such as the P-51 Mustang, Hawker Sea Fury and Bearcat.
The programme was ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful. The aircraft suffered from engine reliability and development problems, and the prototype was destroyed in a fatal crash during testing in 1993, killing pilot Steve Hinton Sr.
Background and Design Objectives
Unlimited Class air racing traditionally favoured highly modified wartime fighters. These aircraft had:
- large displacement piston engines
- enormous horsepower
- heavy structures
- high operating costs
Bob Pond’s objective was to create a much lighter aircraft using:
- advanced composites
- modern aerodynamics
- smaller high-output engines
- minimum drag design
The design target was approximately:
- 400 mph (350 kt) racing speed
- competitive performance with far less weight
- reduced fuel consumption
- lower operating costs
The aircraft was designed specifically around the Reno racecourse environment rather than general aviation requirements.
Designer and Manufacturer
Designer:
Burt Rutan
Manufacturer:
Scaled Composites
Location:
- Mojave, California, USA
The Pond Racer was designated:
Scaled Composites Model 158
Development History
Development began in the late 1980s.
Major milestones:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Design work commenced | Late 1980s |
| Construction began | Early 1990s |
| First flight | 22 March 1991 |
| Reno race debut | 1991 |
| Crash | 1993 |
The aircraft underwent extensive testing before entering competition.
Although it attracted enormous attention because of its futuristic appearance, it never achieved its intended competitive potential.
Design Philosophy
The Pond Racer represented a departure from traditional air-racing aircraft.
The key concepts were:
Lightweight Composite Construction
Reduce structural weight while maintaining strength.
Twin-Engine Configuration
Provide sufficient power while improving reliability compared with a single highly stressed engine.
Minimum Drag
Reduce aerodynamic losses through:
- narrow fuselage
- small frontal area
- clean surfaces
- efficient cooling arrangements
High Power-to-Weight Ratio
The design goal was similar to a fighter aircraft:
- large thrust output
- low mass
- high acceleration
Airframe Configuration
The aircraft used a highly unusual configuration:
- twin booms
- central cockpit nacelle
- twin engines mounted in wing-root pods
- pusher propellers
- low-mounted wing
- twin vertical tails
This arrangement resembled some features of aircraft such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, but the Pond Racer was much smaller and optimised purely for speed.
Wing Design
The wing was a major contributor to the aircraft’s performance.
Features:
- straight, low-aspect-ratio wing
- composite structure
- extremely thin aerodynamic section
- minimal drag profile
The wing was designed for:
- high-speed flight
- racing manoeuvres
- low-altitude efficiency
Unlike conventional aircraft designed for climb and cruise efficiency, the Pond Racer’s wing was optimised for sustained high-speed circuits.
Fuselage and Twin-Boom Layout
The central fuselage contained:
- cockpit
- flight controls
- avionics
- fuel systems
The twin booms carried:
- engine nacelles
- propeller systems
- vertical stabilisers
Advantages:
- reduced fuselage drag
- excellent aerodynamic cleanliness
- efficient engine installation
Disadvantages:
- complex structure
- difficult systems integration
- cooling challenges
Construction
The Pond Racer used advanced composite technology typical of Scaled Composites aircraft.
Materials included:
- carbon fibre composites
- Kevlar composites
- fibreglass composites
- lightweight honeycomb cores
Advantages:
- high strength-to-weight ratio
- smooth aerodynamic surfaces
- reduced structural mass
The aircraft weighed dramatically less than the fighter aircraft it was intended to challenge.
Cockpit
The cockpit was designed around the racing mission.
Features included:
- single pilot position
- reclined seating position
- compact canopy
- racing instrumentation
- limited visibility compared with conventional aircraft
The pilot sat centrally to maintain balance between the two engine nacelles.
Landing Gear
The aircraft used:
- retractable tricycle landing gear
Features:
- lightweight construction
- minimal aerodynamic drag
- narrow track arrangement
The landing gear was designed primarily for smooth paved runways rather than operational field use.
Powerplant Development
The aircraft was powered by:
2 × Continental Tiara 6-285 engines
These were heavily modified automotive-derived racing engines.
The original concept called for approximately:
- 1,000 hp total
However, the engines ultimately produced substantially less than planned.
Approximate achieved output:
- 650 hp total
The engines drove:
- three-bladed constant-speed propellers
Engine Problems
The engine installation became the major limitation of the project.
Problems included:
- inadequate cooling
- lubrication difficulties
- reliability problems
- structural failures
- inability to achieve planned horsepower
The narrow engine nacelles required extremely compact installations, which restricted airflow and cooling capability.
This prevented the aircraft from reaching its intended performance.
Aerodynamic Performance
The Pond Racer incorporated several advanced aerodynamic features:
- very low frontal area
- streamlined nacelles
- smooth composite surfaces
- efficient propeller placement
- clean wing design
The theoretical performance was impressive, with projections approaching:
- 400 mph racing speeds
However, actual race performance was considerably lower due to engine limitations.
Production
The Pond Racer was a one-off experimental aircraft.
Manufacturer:
- Scaled Composites
Aircraft produced:
1 prototype
Registration:
N47RA
Production period:
- 1990–1991
No production version was planned.
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Aircraft type | Unlimited air racer |
| Crew | 1 |
| Length | Approximately 7.6 m (25 ft) |
| Wingspan | Approximately 8.5 m (28 ft) |
| Configuration | Twin-boom pusher |
| Structure | Composite |
| Engines | 2 × Continental Tiara 6-285 |
| Intended power | ~1,000 hp |
| Achieved power | ~650 hp |
| Empty weight | Approximately 1,800 lb (816 kg) |
| Maximum weight | Approximately 2,600 lb (1,180 kg) |
Performance
| Performance | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Intended maximum speed | ~400 mph (348 kt / 644 km/h) |
| Demonstrated speed | Approximately 350 mph class |
| Cruise speed | Not applicable (racing aircraft) |
| Range | Approximately 500 miles (800 km) |
| Climb performance | Not officially published |
Because the aircraft never reached full development, published performance figures vary significantly.
Racing Career
The Pond Racer competed at:
Reno National Championship Air Races
The aircraft was visually spectacular but struggled against established Unlimited Class aircraft.
Problems included:
- insufficient power
- reliability issues
- engine overheating
- limited development time
Despite its innovative design, it could not match the performance of highly developed piston racers.
Crash and Programme End
On 17 September 1993, during a test flight near Mojave, California, the Pond Racer crashed after suffering an engine-related failure.
Pilot:
Steve Hinton Sr.
was killed.
The accident effectively ended the programme.
Legacy
Although unsuccessful as a racer, the Pond Racer remains one of the most technically interesting air-racing aircraft ever built.
It demonstrated several concepts that became influential in later aircraft:
- advanced composite construction
- extreme lightweight design
- unconventional aerodynamic layouts
- integration of racing technology with aerospace engineering
The aircraft represents the philosophy of Burt Rutan’s designs: accepting unconventional configurations to achieve specific performance goals. While the Pond Racer did not achieve victory at Reno, it remains a landmark example of experimental aircraft design and one of the most visually distinctive unlimited racers ever created.