This former Egyptian Air Force Yak-11 was acquired by Joe Kasperoff of California and handed to Ascher Ward of Van Nuys to be modified into a Reno Unlimited Racer. Extensively modified and stretched, the aeroplane has a metal-skinned fuselage in which the cockpit was moved back at least 0.91 m (3 ft). In place of the Soviet powerplant, a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 was installed.
On the aeroplane’s first outing at Reno in 1988 test pilot Skip Holm, after several flights, declared the aeroplane unsafe. In the lead-up to Reno 1989 the aeroplane was further modified, including the fitting of the fin from a Lockheed T-33 jet.
Darryl Greenamyer purchased the aeroplane before the Reno Unlimiteds but 1989 ended in disaster for MrAwesome when it crashed and was severely damaged during the heats at Reno. It was planned to rebuild the aeroplane.
Mr Awesome
Span: 8.5 m (30 ft 10 in)
Length: about 8.5 m (27 ft 10.75 in)
Powerplant: 1 x Wright R-3350 Cyclone 18, about 2796 kW (3,750 hp)
Max T/0 weight: about 2540 kg (5,600 lb)
Max speed: about 440 mph
All Aero 