F-16 Pilots Purchase First Mark-1 X Racer

The Rocket Racing League, the aerospace sports and entertainment organization that combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry, today announced the selection of Leading Edge Rocket Racing, LLC as its first independent race team.

Co-founded by F-16 pilots Robert "Bobaloo" Rickard and Don A. "Dagger" Grantham, Jr., "Leading Edge" will take possession of their first Mark-1 X-Racer later this year.

"We are honored and delighted to have been selected by the Rocket Racing League as its first team. The prospect of competing against our peers under rocket power through a virtual track in the sky is thrilling," said Robert "Bobaloo" Rickard, Chief Executive Officer of Leading Edge. "The roar of rocket power and a 20-foot trailing flame will redefine the concept of air racing."

Rickard, along with longtime friend and fellow pilot Grantham, formed Leading Edge Rocket Racing, LLC in October 2005. The men have a shared history of flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and diverse backgrounds in business, consulting, and engineering.

Rickard holds a degree in electrical engineering and served in the active duty Air Force for more than 13 years piloting the F-16. He has amassed 2,450 total flight hours and was awarded "Instructor Pilot of the Year" for two separate Fighter Wings while on active duty. Rickard is also a graduate of the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School, the most challenging and prestigious doctorate-level flying course in the world. Currently, he leads the Rickard Consulting Group, Inc., which provides technical expertise on a wide range of tactical flying programs in the public and private sectors.

Grantham is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as an Air Force F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot as well as an Advance Agent for Air Force One. With more than 16 years of flying, Grantham has accumulated 2,000 total flying hours and has received a variety of awards at every phase of his career from wingman to flight instructor/evaluator pilot. In 2002, Grantham became one of only three officers in the history of the Air Force One Advance Agent program to be decorated for service above and beyond the call of duty. Currently, Grantham is co-owner and founder of five companies involved in a variety of enterprises including development of multi-use helmet technology.

Grantham is also the General Manager of a large Phoenix-based manufacturing company.

"Welcome to the Rocket Racing League guys," said Sean Tucker, RRL Pilot. "Let’s see if any of that F-16 experience will help you beat me."

FMI: www.rocketracingleague.com