Rare
BearŪ Pilot Profile
LYLE
SHELTON
Original Pilot
CHIEF
PILOT, NAVY PILOT,
AIRLINE PILOT, AIR RACE PILOT, WINNER
 Lyle Shelton's air racing career
began in 1964 when he missed a Hawaii-bound
flight at the beginning of his 30-day leave from
his current Navy duties. Sitting in a canteen
wondering what to do next, he read an article
about an air race to be held that same week in
Reno. Shelton was curious about the idea, so
that's where he headed. Once at the primitive,
dust choked Sky Ranch airport, Shelton offered
his services as a crew member to Clay Lacy, who
was entering his P-51 race plane.
The experience
immediately hooked him on the sport. He decided
that he wanted to fly the fastest race planes in
the world - the mighty "Unlimited
Class". To help accomplish this goal, he
requested duty on the West Coast and was assigned
as Catapult and Arresting Officer aboard the
U.S.S. Kearsarge out of Long Beach. In
California, Shelton spent his spare time
searching for planes to fly. He frequented the
airports where warbirds were hangared, and peeked
into the cockpit to find the owner's name. He'd
then contact them and offer to race their planes.
Using this method, he flew the "Tonopah
Miss", a stock P-51 in his first race (the
1965 Los Angeles Air Races). Shelton finished
6th.
In 1966, Shelton
signed on with Trans World Airlines where he
piloted 707's, 727's and Lockheed L-101 I's until
his retirement in March of 1991. Still, his love
for air racing has never diminished. After
placing 2nd in the 1966 Reno Consolation race
using a borrowed Sea Fury, Shelton was unable to
borrow another aircraft for the 1967 and 1968
seasons. This encouraged him to find a race plane
of his own. The pursuit brought him to Valpariso,
Indiana where he found and salvaged the WWII
Grumman Bearcat. The rest of the story is air
racing history.
 Besides being the leading, all-time
Unlimited Air Race winner and a commercial pilot
with over 20,000 hours of flying experience,
Shelton has successfully managed air races on his
own. To further support the sport of air racing,
Shelton has shared his labor of love and
dedication to be the best through hundreds of
motivational speeches throughout the aviation
world. His personable style, professional
enthusiasm and prodigious story of success make
him a valuable addition to any marketing effort -
whether it be a promotional appearance, sales
meeting or keynote speaking engagement.
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