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."