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.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|date=November 1971|page=39}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Trails|date=Summer 1971|page=81}}</ref>

==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 }}

Category:1940s United States sport aircraft Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Mid-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1949