AIR RACES - Herefordshire Aero Club at Shobdon Airfield near Leominster is host to the Royal Aero Club for a weekend of fantastic Air Racing. On August 18, the pilots compete in the Steward’s Cup and race to qualify for a place to fight it out to win the King’s Cup Air Race on August 19. The King’s Cup is the only air race that received direct support from the royal family, by King George V, starting back in 1922. The King was keen to develop light aircraft and their engines, and the chance to win an air race was a real incentive to the pioneer pilots of the day. The races will feature about 15 aircraft, all of different types and all with highly varying power and speeds, competing in four laps of a specially designed air-racing track in the skies above the Herefordshire countryside.

To make things fair, a handicapping system is used so that the slower planes set off from the start line early. If their sums are right, this leads to a true battle in the final lap, with all aircraft racing to the finishing line together.

The pilots men and women come from all walks of life and all backgrounds and are united by a love of flying and competition.

The handicapping works so well that the aircraft’s power and the size of a pilot’s wallet are evened out and where the skill of the pilot wins the day. Their aircraft are old and new, modest and powerful, with speeds from 90mph to nearly 250mph. Former military trainers battle for position with classicplanes, high tech homebuilt designs, midget single-seat racers and executive twin engine aircraft. Air race start times: practice race, noon next Saturday, August 18; Steward’s Cup; 3.30pm Saturday: The King’s Cup, 12.30pm Sunday; Airfield open from 10am to 6pm.