Warbirds International, December 2017
“Okay, here’s what we are going to do… ” Before each flight, Steven would carefully explain to crew and spectators his goals and expectations. (MOL)
Flying the highly modified North American P-51D Voodoo, Hinton made four passes over the 3Km course near May, Idaho, and shattered the existing record of 413-mph, raising the bar to an impressive 531.53-mph.
In doing so, Hinton followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1979, Hinton Sr. broke the 3Km record in the RB-51 The Red Baron at 499.018-mph. Lyle Shelton upped the record again in 1989; he and Grumman F8F-2 Rare Bear blazed through the timing gates for an average speed of 528.330-mph. When the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale changed the rules governing aircraft speed records, Shelton’s record was retired.
