Dates

Event

Constructed as a Special IIIM.

May 1985

Michael Lombardo comments (26 July 2023): In May of 1985, my father Michael Lombardo of Gardnerville, Nevada was the original builder and flyer of this Cassutt Formula 1. The plane was called Freebird and was painted in its present color green as scene here. My father was a retired LAPD officer and had a passion for aircraft and owned an older Aroncia Champ, 2 seater which I flew with him many times and he had also constructed a bi-plane called the Lil Toot. My father sold his Cassutt prior to his death in December of 1999 to an young man that loved the plane and then later on sold he had sold it to Will Dennis of California. In Sept 2000, I was invited to the Reno Air Races to meet and watch Mr. Dennis the day he debuted the Cassutt re-named Fools Gold. I had the pleasure of watching my father plane race and qualify as this was his dream but cancer shortened his life and was unable to fulfill that dream. He did however, enjoyed flying his Cassutt all around Gardnerville, Carson City, Reno, Lake Tahoe and as far as Truckee California. I will at some point, ad pictures of the early construction of Freebird and my father actually flying his plane. Thank you, Michael Lombardo III.

6 May 1985

Certificate of airworthiness for NX3154H (CASSUTT IIIM, 583) issued.

By 11 September 2000

To unknown owner with c/r N3154H.

From 11 September 2000 to 17 September 2000

Raced as #15, named Fools Gold.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Formula One class. The primary pilot was Will Dennis from Willits, CA. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 161.053 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 148.312 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 147.944 mph. Did not start in Heat 3D. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 150.960 mph.

From 10 September 2001 to 15 September 2001

Raced as #15, named Fools Gold.
Appeared at the National Championship Air Races to compete in the F1 class, but did not qualify. The primary pilot was Will Dennis from Willits, CA.

From 15 September 2004 to 19 September 2004

Raced as #82, named Plane Mantis.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Formula One class. The primary pilot was Cris Ferguson from Evansville, AR. Qualified in 20th place with an average speed of 186.689 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 188.656 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 191.860 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 188.941 mph.

17 September 2004

Photographer: Jim Weiherer

From 10 September 2007 to 16 September 2007

Raced as #82, named Plane Mantis.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Formula One class. The primary pilot was Robert Marshall from San Diego, CA. Qualified in 22nd place with an average speed of 193.042 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 188.338 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 201.652 mph.

11 September 2007

Photographer: David Lednicer
Notes: The Formula One Class racer Plane Mantis with its cowl off, in the hangar at the Reno Air Races.

22 February 2012

To Curtis L. Weinman, Tooele, UT keeping c/r N3154H.

4 May 2015

Civil registration, N3154H, cancelled.