Seven-Year Exxon Elite Sponsorship Comes To An End; Who's Next?

Bruce Bohannon and the Exxon Flyin' Tiger were a team for seven hugely successful years, which saw Bruce and his RV-4-based homebuilt take on, and conquer, innumerable FAI and NAA records. But the partnership, like all transitory things, has come to an end.

Bruce hasn't parted from the Flyin' Tiger; the black plane with its distinct tiger-stripe motif stays with its pilot, His crew -- and most of his other sponsors -- are hanging together. They're looking for a new title sponsor who wants his name written in the record books.

Exxon's sponsorship didn't end because of any dissatisfaction with Bohannon or the plane. Instead, what was meant to be a short-term deal to promote the introduction of a then-new  aviation lubricating oil ran on for years beyond original plans.

Bohannon kept the aviation press focused on the positive as he ran down the list of accomplishments that he and the Exxon team racked up. (Here's one  -- we'll still be here when you're done reading it). And he made sure to focus on the future and on three records that still don't say "Bohannon" on 'em:

1. The US Army Air Forces' 1946 NAA absolute piston altitude record, that Bohannon fell just short of breaking in 2004, of 47,910 feet (set by a pressurized, four-engine B-29).
2. The first US piston record of 50,000 feet or greater, Bohannon's objective on that 2004 flight, which he was robbed of by a broken bracket, as reported in Aero-News.
3. The world piston time-to-climb record from brakes released to 10,000 meters.
4. The 3,000 meter time-to-climb piston record, set by Bearcat pilot Lyle Shelton in 1972 at 91.9 seconds. That's about a minute and a half to about 10,000 feet!

But Bohannon is confident that he can beat all those records. And those are just the altitude and climb records -- he's always had his eyes on some speed records as well. But he's going to need a sponsor to make it happen.

Bear in mind, that the amicable end of the Exxon promotion does not mean that Bohannon and the Flyin' Tiger are left without sponsorship. The other sponsors, especially Mattituck, which makes the specially prepared engines for Bohannon's record-setting flights, remain securely on board.

One thing that won't change is the name: Flyin' Tiger -- and another is the paint scheme. "That's our paint scheme, we designed and copyrighted that, not Exxon," Bohannon told Aero-News. But Exxon's logo has already been removed, and there's room for a new one -- maybe yours.

Bohannon also made a point of saying something that he's said in private before: "Thank you," to RV-4 designer Dick VanGrunsven. "Van," who maintains an official posture of opposition to modifications of the RV series kitplanes (let alone modifications as radical as the ones the Flyin' Tiger has had) was present to hear the fulsome praise that Bohannan heaped on his design.

"The first time I flew an RV, I think it was an RV-3, I landed and said, 'We're gonna make a hot rod out of one of these.'" It was years before the "hot rod" was finally made, starting with an ordinary RV-4 kit. "The Flyin' Tiger is about 80% RV-4; there are some Harmon Rocket parts, and some parts that Gary [Hunter, Bohannon's long-time crew chief] built."

Later, Bohannon told Aero-News, "I went and I asked Van for his permission to build the Flyin' Tiger on the RV-4. I knew he couldn't say 'yes,' but I had to do it out of respect for him. And he did say that, he knew the plane I was flying at the time, Pushy Galore, was dangerous. And that this would be a better, safer plane. He was right; Pushy Galore was fast, but it was really a terrible plane to fly. And he said, if I could fly that, I could certainly fly this... but he couldn't give me an OK."

"And I understood that, but it was important to ask him."

In keeping with his usual practice, Dick VanGrunsven said nothing about the modified RV-4 that holds so many records. Van would prefer that you and I build his planes according to his plans.

Bruce Bohannon ended his comments with a special "thank you" to the aviation press: He signed and personalized dozens of Exxon Elite bottles featuring a photo of him and the then-Exxon Flyin' Tiger.

Those bottles have already been discontinued by Exxon, and the company's web page on the Flyin' Tiger has been taken down. 

FMI: www.trioavionics.com/bruce_bohannon.htm, www.drbohannon.com/Tiger/TigerRecords.htm