Santa Fe Rocket Racing Includes NAA Award-Winning Pilot
The newest Rocket Racing Team
-- Santa Fe Rocket Racing of Albuquerque, NM -- announced the
addition of two new team members this week.
Dave Morss of Redwood City, CA has signed on as the team's Chief
Pilot, and Albuquerque's own Paul Novacek of Albuquerque has signed
on as Vice-President and Crew Chief.
Morss is a well known entity in the racing community, and for
his accomplishments as an experimental test pilot. He has competed
in more races (170) than anyone in the history of Reno Air Racing,
has set course records in Reno and been awarded two Pulitzer
Aviation Trophies from the National Aeronautics Association.
In total, Dave set 13 world speed records, eight of which still
stand today. He has also provided services as a test pilot for over
35 different prototype aircraft.
Dave will be responsible for the testing and racing of the
Mark-I racer expected to be delivered soon to the Santa Fe racing
team. Dave said, "I'm always looking to be on the cutting edge of
aviation technology, and I see the Rocket Racing League and Team
Santa Fe as the next step in the evolution of air racing."
Paul Novacek has signed on as team Vice-President and Crew
Chief. He holds a B.S. in Avionics and M.S. in Aviation Human
Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in addition to
holding multiple Flight Instruction ratings.
An active maintenance and avionics technician, he has over 25
years experience in corporate aircraft and air racing. Paul's
extensive aviation career includes Principle Investigator positions
at NASA and as a Human Factors Engineer with Raytheon.
Novacek, as Crew Chief, will manage the maintenance, operations
and pit crew of the Mark-I and future Mark-II Rocket Racers, now
under development.
"I foresee Rocket Racing and Team Santa Fe as the bleeding edge
of technology and one of the most exciting spectator sports to
arrive on the scene in quite a long time."
Team owner, Marc R. Cumbow states, "Dave's extensive flying
background and his unmatched experience as an air racing pilot are
going to prove to be one of our team's greatest assets ... The
other teams will now have a run for their money! This, together
with Paul's engineering background and management experience has
put Santa Fe Rocket Racing on track to be a leading force in the
Rocket Racing League."
The Rocket Racing League (RRL) is an aerospace entertainment
organization, which combines the competition of racing with the
excitement of rocketry. RRL is dedicated to providing safe and
thrilling experiences for families through live events, television
broadcasts and interactive technologies. The league's mission is to
serve as a technology accelerator in the areas of airframe,
propulsion and spacecraft design, and reach for the future to
inspire the next generation of spaceflight enthusiasts.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.13.24)
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