GENERAL PETTYGREE'S GREAT AIR RACE!

Click on photos to enlarge them.

DIAMOND AERODROME, SICILY

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025

GENERAL PETTYGREE'S GREAT AIR RACE

Part 1 of 2

Dear Readers,

WWII is over. In a spirit of non-lethal competition, may I present my first Great Air Race? It is time to lay our prodigious differences aside. We are at the Diamond Aerodrome near Mount Etna on the lovely Island of Sicily. It is all fictional of course and so this is solely for entertainment. As Brigadier Peter Young's Petrus Monument overlooks our competitors, let me briefly introduce them left to right.

Lt. Imahara in a famous A6GM Zero. (Speed 50cms)

Lt. Meyer in the Emil version of the ME-109. (Speed 45 cms)

Lt. Duggan seated in a Spitfire I/II A. (Speed 45cms)

Captain Ward in a USN early war Wildcat. (Speed 40cms)

A D4 is added to each speed providing variable movement. 

1 = +5cms, 2 = +10cms, 3 = +15cms and 4 = +20cms.

The tower has alerted the pilots to approach the starting gate and....

They're off. In the lead are Meyer (left) and Ward (right). Behind by a length are Imahara (left) and Duggan (right). Each has risen to Altitude 1 subtracting -5cms in speed. The white arrow on the Check Your Six template tracks height.

Meyer crosses the starting line first, throws 1D6 earning 1 point. Seconds later Duggan scores 3, Imahara earns 5 and Ward also scores 5.

All must pass to the right  of the fortress tower. Meyer holds his lead followed closely by Duggan and Imahara. Ward trails in the fourth position. They will bank left. None may use their MGs until the tower has been left behind.

Ward's (blue aircraft) D4 throw was high and so he closes on the others while rounding the tower. Just ahead are Duggan (tilted) and Imahara (far left). Meyer holds the lead heading under cloud cover. He did so because rules disallow aircraft under clouds to be engaged.

As the planes pass the Fortress Tower, Ward's Wildcat demonstrates using Turning Template C. He will fly the length of the template consuming 20cms.

He completes movement using a tape measure for another 30cms. Ward has deviated left away from the other planes apparently heading for the yellow building in the upper right. Before the race I interviewed the American Ace.

"Captain Ward, congratulations qualifying for The Great Air Race. What are your thoughts?"

"Thank you General Pettygree. You've assembled a fine list of veteran pilots all of whom want to win the race. I'll have my work cut out for me because my Wildcat is a little slower."

"How will you compensate Captain?

"Without giving all my tactics away, theoretically I will be in last place a considerable amount of time. Steering the shortest course away from my competitors reducing my potential to take damage seems the best course of action."

"I see. The old fable of the tortoise and the hare, then?"

"Something like that, Sir."

Well the two hares are now leading the pack. Both missed the fuel tank target. Preceding this, Imahara caused two points of damage on the ME 109.

While Duggan in third place scored 3 points of damage on a 5 point target.

Moments later all aircraft are seen approaching the next Gate. Ward scored 8 points of damage on the yellow building holding true to his tactics from my interview. Left to right are Meyer, Duggan, Ward and Imahara.

We are now mid-way in the race. The pilots are rounding the last pylon before passing through the treacherous Volcano Gate. Not only might the volcano spew a cloud of ash (a die throw will decide this), there is a Grand Battery of Anti-Aircraft trouble ahead.

CLOSING REMARKS

1. Fun and different inspired by "Gaslands," the popular car race game.

2. Come back soon for the finish.

3. Your remarks are welcome.

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