Condor Shoestring
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=Shoestring
|image=Mercury Air (Condor K-10) Shoestring N16V.jpg
|caption=Shoestring N16V awaiting restoration
|type=Formula One Air Racing aircraft
|manufacturer=Mercury Air, Condor Aero for homebuilding
|designer=Rodney Kreimendahl
|first_flight=1949
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=
|variants=
}}
The Condor K-10 Shoestring (originally known as the Ast Special and the Mercury Air Shoestring) was a Formula One Air Racing aircraft built by Carl and Vincent Ast to compete in the Cleveland National Air Races in 1949. It was a highly streamlined mid-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The mainwheels were covered with spats. The shoestring differed in approach to the 66 sq ft wing limitation, choosing a longer high aspect ratio tapered wing compared to the stubby wings of others.{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|date=November 1971|page=39}} The original aircraft (registered N16V) was extensively rebuilt in 1965 and 1974, and by that time had won fourteen first places, three second places and four third places.
Design and development
Although the original design drawings appear to have been lost or destroyed, one of the aircraft's owners, John Anderson, had Piper engineer Landis Ketner make a completely new set from examination of the aircraft itself. These plans were used by Jim Strode to build a second aircraft, incorporating changes of his own including a completely new cowling design. This machine first flew on 15 July 1970 as Yellow Jacket (registration N88JS). Under the name Condor Aero, Ketner soon made the plans available to homebuilders.{{cite journal|journal=Air Trails|date=Summer 1971|page=81}}
Variants
;K-10 Shoestring
:1949 Original
;Condor Aero
:"Yellow Jacket"
Specifications (typical)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Air Trails Summer 1971
|prime units? = imp
|crew=One pilot
|length m=5.38
|length ft=17
|length in=8
|span m=5.79
|span ft=19
|span in=0
|height m=1.42
|height ft=4
|height in=8
|empty weight kg=256
|empty weight lb=565
|gross weight kg=362
|gross weight lb=800
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Continental C85
|eng1 kw=64
|eng1 hp=85
|max speed kmh=386
|max speed mph=240
|climb rate ms=15.2
|climb rate ftmin=3,000
}}
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References
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=256 }}
- {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78 |publisher=Jane's Yearbooks |location=London |pages=532–33 }}
- {{cite journal |last=Davisson |first=Budd |date=November 1971 |title=Yellow Jacket: Son of Shoestring |journal=Air Progress }}