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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Rutan Model 68 Racer
    Latest Model:Model 68 Racer
    Construction Number:1
    Last Civil Registration:N301LS
    Latest Owner or Location:EAA Aviation Museum, Whittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

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    Dates

    Event

    1970

    Constructed as a Model 68 Racer.

    By 1 September 1979

    To unknown owner with c/r N3NG.

    From 1 September 1979 to 3 September 1979

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL.
    Competed at the Cleveland Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 174.757 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 149.757 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 175.467 mph.

    From 18 July 1980 to 20 July 1980

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL.
    Appeared at the Texas Championship Air Races at San Marcos to compete in the Biplane class, but did not qualify. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen from Auburn, CA. Raced in Heat 1 Bronze. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 162.057 mph. Raced in Heat 1 Silver. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 151.810 mph. Raced in Round 2. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 144.106 mph. Raced in Heat 2 Bronze. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 147.652 mph. Started the Consolation race, but did not finish. Started the Silver race, but did not finish. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 166.778 mph. During the Gold 1 Heat cut pylon 1 on lap four. During the Silver Final race pulled out on lap 6.

    From 10 September 1980 to 14 September 1980

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 11th place with an average speed of 156.75 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 157.48 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 160.88 mph.

    To unknown owner with c/r N301LS.

    From 15 September 1981 to 20 September 1981

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 16th place with an average speed of 139.65 mph.

    Circa 15 September 1981


    Photographer: Charlene Aro
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, Nevada.

    Circa 15 September 1981


    Photographer: Charlene Aro
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, Nevada.

    From 14 September 1982 to 19 September 1982

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL RUTAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Racing Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 208.06 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 209.21 mph.

    Circa 29 July 1983

    Certificate of airworthiness for N301LS (LOMBARD-DILLEY-68, 1) issued.

    29 July 1983

    To Ams/air Corp, Superior, WI keeping c/r N301LS.

    From 12 September 1983 to 18 September 1983

    Raced as #3, named AMSOIL RUTAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Racing Biplane class. The primary pilot was AlKramer. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 210.33 mph. Started Heat, but did not finish. As the aircraft headed around the Scatter Pylon, Mortensen, in #3, felt that #89 was on a collision course with him and swerved to the left to avoid the collision and impacted the ground at over 200 mph. Miraculously, the airplane was a total wreck, but the pilot walked away from the crash with nothing more than minor cuts and bruises plus a dislocated shoulder and a sprained ankle. The race was not completed as the other three aircraft pulled off the course and landed.

    From 10 September 1984 to 16 September 1984

    Raced as #91, named Amsoil Dealer Special.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 190.34 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 182.70 mph. Started the Trophy race, but did not finish.

    From 9 September 1985 to 15 September 1985

    Raced as #91, named Pacific Flyer.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dan Mortensen. Qualified in 12th place with an average speed of 182.138 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 171.987 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 175.479 mph.

    From 14 September 1987 to 20 September 1987

    Raced as #91, named AMSOIL PACIFIC FLYER.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dave Morss. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 184.874 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 171.623 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 176.360 mph.

    From 12 September 1988 to 18 September 1988

    Raced as #91, named AMSOIL PACIFIC FLYER.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Dave Morss. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 190.408 mph. Started Heat 1A, but did not finish. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 183.496 mph.

    From 17 September 1990 to 23 September 1990

    Raced as #91, named AMSOIL PACIFIC FLYER.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Danny Mortensen. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 188.073 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 188.873 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 192.278 mph.

    To EAA Aviation Museum, Whittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, WI.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: 3

    1 August 1994

    Civil registration, N301LS, cancelled.

    31 July 2008


    Photographer: David Lednicer
    Notes: This is Burt Rutans design of an aircraft for the Biplane Class of the Reno Air Races. First flown in 1981, it was destroyed in a crash at the 1983, but the pilot, Dan Mortenson was uninjured. The remains were glued back together and displayed in a casino in Reno for many years. Now on display at the EAA Airventure.

    26 July 2017


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: At EAA Museum at Oshkosh


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Air Racing Group
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher
    Mike Henniger

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