"Restore the Roar”- a public 5K foot race and one-mile run during the 55th annual NBAA meeting and convention will be held to benefit the restoration of F2G Corsair

Flight Options, a leading provider of fractional shares in jet aircraft, hosts “Restore the Roar”- 5K foot race and one-mile run that will take place September 10, at Turkey Lake Park in Orlando, Florida.  Entry fees collected from the race will benefit the refurbishment of a vintage F2G Corsair.  The race coincides with the annual National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention (NBAA), taking place in Orlando, September 10 – 12.

The refurbishment of the Corsair, which is owned by the Cleveland, Ohio-based Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS), is expected to cost approximately $200,000.  This historical aircraft, one of only three remaining in the world, will be on exhibit at the WRHS Crawford Museum of Transportation and Industry in Cleveland when it opens in 2004.

“Flight Options recognizes the historic value of this Corsair to both the aviation industry and the Cleveland area and would like to lend our efforts to its restoration,” said Richard Heckman, Flight Options vice president, sales & marketing.  “The 5k “Restore the Roar” during the NBAA convention is a positive step toward the restoration project.”

Throughout the years, Cleveland has played a significant role in the Corsair’s history.  Each September from 1929 through 1949, crowds flocked to the National Air Races, held in Cleveland at Cleveland Municipal Airport (current site of Hopkins International Airport).  The races featured daredevil pilots who vied for the prestigious Thompson Trophy while circling on knife-edges at speeds in excess of 300 mph, skimming the ground and hugging course pylons.
Cook Cleland, piloting F2G Corsair number 74, won the 1947 race in record time.  Number 74 -- one of fourteen produced at Goodyear’s Akron plant-- was also flown in the 1948 and 1949 National Air Races.  In 1949, the aircraft suffered engine damage and remained in a Northeast Ohio field. 

In 1997, the WRHS bought the blue and white F2G to complement its other air racers to be exhibited at the new Crawford Museum of Transportation & Industry.  Robert Odegaard, owner of Odegaard Aviation in Fargo, North Dakota, will restore the Corsair.
The race, scheduled for Tuesday September 10, will begin at 8:00 a.m. (Turkey Lake Park is located at 3401 South Hiawassee Road).  To register, contact Pat Lambrix until September 6th at 216.261.3500 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Race day registration will be from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.  Entry fee is $25 for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile run.  Corporate donations are also welcome and may be made to the WRHS.

Founded in 1998, Flight Options pioneered the concept of offering shares in previously owned jets.  This allowed the company to present a cost savings of 35% on comparable programs offered by their competitors, opening private jet travel to a broader audience.  With the addition of new jets to its fleet, the company continues to be an innovator in the industry with its highly competitive Factory-Supported Pricing™ plan.  Flight Options offers fractional shares in its fleet of over 200 aircraft, which includes the world’s largest fleets of Beechjet 400A’s and Hawker 800’s.  The fleet also includes the King Air B200, CitationJet, Citation V, Citation 650, Hawker 800XP, Falcon 50, Challenger 601 and Gulfstream IV."