Wasabi Air Racing

Wasabi Air Racing Design build and test of experimental aircraft. We are a small motivated group of experimenters, dedicated to learning more about experimental aircraft.
(3)

We are based at the Mojave airport and specialize in high performance racing and record setting aircraft.

05/28/2026

Van's Aircraft has assembled a team of pipe hitters up in Aurora. It was refreshing to be around dedicated talented folks focused on a cool problem with the right tools to get the job done.

airplanes are cool

05/11/2026

N218RJ the first production CAP 21 is for sale. Act quick this historic aircraft won’t be available long.

Prototype mesh networks for the fire environmentA busy Tuesday with Chase Schulze and the Systems Technology, Inc. (STI)...
04/17/2026

Prototype mesh networks for the fire environment

A busy Tuesday with Chase Schulze and the Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) team flying firebombers in Arizona.

The goal of the project was to demonstrate data sharing between ground and air resources in the fire environment using an FM mesh network. Then present that updated targeting information to the pilot on an actual water drop.

As the maturity of the sensors and weather prediction tools for fire continues to skyrocket two questions remain:

1. How much latency is acceptable transmitting tactical data in the FTA?

2. What is the most efficient way to present this information in the cockpit?

It’s not a question of if these problems will be solved but when and by who.

Thank you to STI and to Rutledge Airborne for all the coordination.

Rutledge Airborne

3 million acres in 20 minutesA tour of the Aruaco wildland fire Mission Control.Here in Concepción Chile the efforts to ...
04/02/2026

3 million acres in 20 minutes

A tour of the Aruaco wildland fire Mission Control.

Here in Concepción Chile the efforts to protect the nations natural resources is treated as the priority it is.

The protection of the trees isn’t critical just to the country (2nd largest export) but the company (Aruaco) produces roughly half of its revenues from wood based products.

As a result these privatized fire suppression efforts get top technology and being private are managed in a fundamentally different way than in the US.

This room controls all the fire recognition and response for the 3 million acres of land. Remote mounted cameras watch for indications of fire, AI determines if it is a wildfire (or road dust) and (if fire) determines if the risk the fire will spread constitutes a response. And within 3 minutes dispatches the aerial resources.

The pilots then have 7 minutes to be airborne for the 20 minutes maximum flight to the fire.

These time metrics are tracked and the individual contributors performance against them is reported daily.

It was a treat to see the control room, thank you to Aruaco and FireVision for the hospitality.

airplanes are cool

Long Range TractorHere at the Concepcion Fire Base on the coast of Chile the fire season is winding down and with that t...
04/01/2026

Long Range Tractor

Here at the Concepcion Fire Base on the coast of Chile the fire season is winding down and with that the aircraft are prepared for their next deployments.

This Air Tractor, Inc. 802 is outfitted with survival gear and long range radios for the 5000 mile ferry to Spain to support their fire season.

The hopper is sealed shut with RTV and turned into a fuel tank, allowing the trip to be split up into three legs, first to the eastern coast of SA, then Dakar Africa and finally Spain.

Pilots are paid a bounty for the higher risk flight on top of their normal flight pay.

Long live the mighty PT6

airplanes are cool

A team effortPilots and crew wipe the bugs off after a long day simulating the fire environment.As the training phase of...
03/23/2026

A team effort

Pilots and crew wipe the bugs off after a long day simulating the fire environment.

As the training phase of the fire season gives way to the tactical phase I am reminded by how much physical labor is required to put mud on fires.

Whether it be prepping the aircraft, prepping the retardant, loading the aircraft, or the real work being done at the fire with a shovel and a Pulaski…Fire is a team effort and it’s good to be standing next to someone you like.

airplanes are cool

Rutledge Airborne

Blue skies and tail winds.
03/22/2026

Blue skies and tail winds.

03/11/2026

A gap in the test card, a capable mount, and a setting sun.

airplanes are cool

02/23/2026

A gentle spinner

The CAP-21 was the follow on to the CAP-20L which ended production in 1979. Both made of wood the CAP-21 brought a more modern wing and landing gear.

Eighteen examples of the CAP-21 were built, compared to ~12 of the CAP-20L.

airplanes are cool

02/14/2026

Flight test should be boring

As I get to know the Skyfly Technologies Ltd Axe prototype I am reminded of this old flight testers yarn.

The preparation work in test is what makes the events boring, knowing exactly what, when, and how the test event will go can be tedious but the resulting “boring” means good progress and ultimately the good data that will drive the program forward.

Stoked to be here

airplanes are cool

Address

17171 Roper
Mojave, CA
93501

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wasabi Air Racing posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Wasabi Air Racing:

Shortcuts

Share