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[[3 images]] THOMPSON TROPHY EVENT Sponsored by Thompson Products, Inc. including THE ALLEGHENY LUDLUM AWARD Sponsored by the Allegheny Ludium Steel Corp. Col. Fred J. Ascani, USAF, winner of the 1951 Thompson Trophy Event, with Fredrick C. Crawford, Charmain of the Board of Thompson Products Inc. THE Thompson Trophy Race was established as an annual event at the National Air Races in 1930, sponsored by Thompson Products, Inc. It has been continued as aviation's foremost high-speed closed course classic under leadership of Frederick C. Crawford, its Board Chairman. In 1946, when the first post-war Thompson Trophy Race was flown, the classic was transformed into a double feature event. It was the first closed course race in which jet powered military planes ever participated. The "J" Division, as it was termed, was flown over a 30-mile rectangular course for a distance for a distance of 210 miles. The contest was won by Major Gus E. Lundquist at an average speed of 515.85 mph that pulled and awed spectators up on their feet. Major Robin Olds came in second in the duel of the six P-80's at an average speed of 514.71 mph. The 1947 Jet Division of the Thompson contest was won by Lt. Col. Robert L. Petit of the U. S. Air Force. The colonel zoomed his gray Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star eight times around the 22½ mile course at an average speed of 500.70 mph. Second place winner was Lt. Joseph R. Howard whose average speed was 497.94 mph. There was no jet division of the Thompson Trophy Race in 1948, but it was resumed in 1949 at Cleveland. Flying North American F86's of the U. S. Air Force, Capt. Martin C. Johanson came in second at an average speed of 580.15 mph. Distance was 225 miles over a 15 mile course. The 1951 event at Detroit was a distinct departure from previous Thompson races in that it was a 100 kilometer world speed record attempt by a U. S. Air Force jet. Col. Fred Ascani, USAF, flying a North American F-86E Sabre Jet, smashed American and world speed records for the 100 km. closed course race, with an average speed of 635.411 mph. The new record was set during speed trials the day before. Trial time was recorded by NAA and permitted to stand when Col. Ascani's later Air Race performance averaged only 628.698 mph. Again this year the Thompson Trohpy event in Dayton will be a world speed record attempt by a USAF North American F86D jet over a 100 kilometer closed course. In addition to awarding the Thompson Trophy, the Allegheny Ludlum Award will be made to the pilot by the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, provided his speed exceeds the present 100 kilometer official world speed record. A Winner Every Time with Cherry Blind Rivets Cherry Blind Rivets are standard in the aircraft industry because they help win the race for faster production and lower unit costs. In many industries, these and other Townsend fasteners account for big savings in assembling a metal, woods, plastics, and fabrics quickly and securely. Townsend Company Established 1816 NEW BRIGHTONM, PENNSYLVANIA Cherry Rivet Division, Santa Ana, California STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS FACILITIES-70,000 sq. ft. floor space. Equipment for all types of metal fabrication. Anodizing plant. ENGINEERING-Special, customer engineering staff. WELDING-Heliarc, seam, spot and oxyacetylene. Technicians guide every phase of production. FABRICATION-Great variety, using both standard and Lavelle designed dies and fixtures. INSPECTION-Complete microscopic and mechanical equipment. Lavelle AIRCRAFT CORPORATION · NEWTOWN, BUCKS COUNTY PA. NATIONAL AIRCRAFT SHOW
