Dates

Event

Constructed as a 1.

To unknown owner with c/r N89TT.

Certificate of airworthiness for N89TT (SORCERESS 1, 01) issued.

From 13 September 1970 to 20 September 1970

Raced as #89.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Lee Mahoney. Qualified in 7th place with an average speed of 154.73 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 142.20 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 152.38 mph.

After 1970

Photographer: Charlene Aro

14 September 1970

Crashed.
The incident occurred at Reno, NV, United States. The time was 1430 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Reno-stead Airport. The flight departed from Merced, CA, with an unknown destination. Suffered a hard landing on touch down. Report remarks include: Lwr right wing spar at attach angle cracked, right landing gear damaged.
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

From 2 June 1971 to 6 June 1971

Raced as #89, named Sorceress.
Grounded by the FAA. Appeared at the Cape May National Air Races to compete in the Sport Biplane class, but did not qualify. The primary pilot was Lee Mahoney.

From 21 September 1971 to 26 September 1971

Raced as #89.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Paul Deschamps. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 177.05 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 173.26 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 175.29 mph.

Circa 1972

Photographer: Charlene Aro

From 12 September 1972 to 17 September 1972

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 190.48 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 175.23 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 189.72 mph.

Circa 12 September 1972

Photographer: Al Chute
Notes: 1972 saw the first Gold Victory in the Sport Biplane class by a true made for racing biplane. Don Beck had purchased Sorceress, the made for racing biplane raced at Reno in 1970 by builder Lee Mahoney. This airplane had been flown to a 2nd place finish in 1971 by Paul Deschamps. In 1972 it was flown to the first of many Gold race victories by Don Beck.

12 September 1972

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

12 September 1972

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

From 11 September 1973 to 16 September 1973

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 184.30 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 170.21 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 139.03 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 184.62 mph.

Circa 11 September 1973

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

Circa 11 September 1973

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

From 10 September 1974 to 15 September 1974

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 195.65 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 179.15 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 191.53 mph.

From 9 October 1974 to 13 October 1974

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Air Races Mojave in the Sport Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 200.848 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 199.149 mph.

From 18 June 1975 to 22 June 1975

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the California National Air Races in the Sport Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 212.26 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 207.87 mph.

From 9 September 1975 to 14 September 1975

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 202.25 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 199.94 mph. Started the Reserve race, but did not finish.

From 15 May 1976 to 16 May 1976

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the Lincoln Air Race in the Sport Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck from Tahoe City, CA. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 153.80 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 158.65 mph.

From 19 June 1976 to 20 June 1976

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the California National Air Races in the Sport Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck from Tahoe Vista, CA. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 205.706 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 204.275 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 201.585 mph.

From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck from Tahoe City, CA. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 208.90 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 203.14 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 202.15 mph.

Circa 7 September 1976

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

Circa 15 September 1976

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

From 1 December 1978 to 3 December 1978

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the Mexicali Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 201.27 mph. Raced in Gold Heat. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 199.07 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 185.53 mph.

From 1 September 1979 to 3 September 1979

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the Cleveland Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Don Beck. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 210.526 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 172.295 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 201.024 mph.

From 10 September 1980 to 14 September 1980

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 215.01 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 208.33 mph. Started the Trophy race, but was disqualified.

From 14 September 1982 to 19 September 1982

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Racing Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 208.91 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 206.29 mph.

From 12 September 1983 to 18 September 1983

Raced as #89, named SORCERESS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Racing Biplane class. The primary pilot was Donald Beck. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 217.19 mph. Started Heat, but did not finish. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 202.35 mph.

12 September 1983

Photographer: Jim Weiherer