TS‐11 Iskra #1 "Hot Section"
At the Pylons
Despite the incredible diversity of aircraft
types, speeds, course layouts and number of
laps, one thing remains constant: you have to
fly a clean race. The official rules are clearly
spelled out and first‐timer racers must attend
a training camp known as the “Rookie School.”
Enforcing these rules out in the “sticks” are
the pylon judges, a close‐knit group of roughly
150 members who come from around the
globe each year to volunteer their time and
expertise. Standing out in the high desert, en‐
during the extremes of heat and cold and
searching for shade as aircraft fly directly to‐
wards you at speeds between 200 and 500
mph fifty feet off the deck is not for every‐
body. But for this small group it becomes ad‐
dictive; many have been doing this for dec‐
ades. After all, it’s the best seat in the house
at the “Fastest Motorsport in the World.” (Yes,
that’s right, even the slowest winning speeds
at Stead are faster than the track record at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.) Each member
of the team is responsible for ensuring that
the pilots conform to the course rules. Among
other things, pilots must keep their aircraft
within altitude limits, pass outside the pylon
and not pass other aircraft on the inside. We
were fortunate to spend time at Inner Pylon 5
during the races where we watched Team
Captain Dean Patmon and his crew in action.
Each member knew exactly what to do and
they did it with a professionalism that was a
joy to see. We’re looking forward to seeing
them again next year in Stead.