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Lycoming Home > News and Events > Press Releases

Jon Sharp Seeks World Speed Record in Lycoming-Powered Nemesis NXT

Reno Air Race Winner Will Attempt Three-kilometer Speed Record at Oshkosh

Williamsport, PA - July 14, 2008 - Jon Sharp, pilot and designer of the record-setting NemesisNXT and longtime EAA member, today announced with Lycoming Engines, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, his plans to seek a world speed record in his NemesisNXT airplane at this year's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh - billed as the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration. Sharp will pursue the record in a special event at Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport during the 56th annual celebration.

Sharp previously set speed records at Oshkosh and more recently set records at the 2007 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. Sharp and his Lycoming Thunderbolt-powered NemesisNXT won the Sport Class National Championships in 2006 and 2007 and set three new race records, including a 2007 qualifying record of 386.9 mph.

This year at Oshkosh, Sharp will be making his three-kilometer speed record attempt in what he calls the "NemesisNXT Speed Blast." The current record for this aircraft classification [Class C-1(b)], as designated by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), is 331 miles per hour. According to FAI rules, a record attempt must show a minimum one percent increase to be valid, so Sharp is aiming for at least 334.31 mph at Oshkosh.

Powered by a Lycoming Thunderbolt TI0-540-NXT engine, Nemesis NXT is a two place, retractable gear, single engine, kit airplane. The sleek, elegant, and aerodynamic molded carbon fiber aircraft is built in Mojave, California at Nemesis Air Racing, Inc., by the NemesisNXT team, which includes Jon Sharp, president, and his wife, Patricia Sharp, vice president.

"It's going to be really exciting having the NemesisNXT screaming back and forth on Runway 18/36 at full song and then some," Sharp said. "What a treat for us to be back on the three-kilometer course at AirVenture."

The exact date for Sharp's attempt at the record has not yet been determined, but will surely draw the attention of the 800,000-plus aviation fans expected at the July 23-August 3 AirVenture.

Ian Walsh, Lycoming senior vice president and general manager, reflecting on Lycoming's support of Jon and Patricia Sharp and the NemesisNXT team over the past several years, stated, "The Sharps and Lycoming have had a strong and productive relationship. This speed record attempt will be another example of the power of choice and innovation at work!"

Jon Sharp and other Lycoming-sponsored pilots will be at the Lycoming exhibit, Booth 177-182, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Fans should check the schedule and stop for free autographed posters.

For more details on the NemesisNXT aircraft and its specifications, equipment and sponsors, visit www.nemesisnxt.com.

About Thunderbolt
Launched in April 2006, Lycoming Thunderbolt Engines includes engines ranging from the rugged O-235 to the legendary IO-720. Customers may choose from a variety of available fuel systems, ignition systems and performance enhancements, including component balancing, cylinder flow matching, increased compression, tuned induction, and turbo-charging. Finishing options include chrome and custom colors. More information is available at www.mytbolt.com.

About Lycoming
Lycoming Engines specializes in Engineering, Manufacture, Service and Support of piston aircraft engines. Headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lycoming piston engines power more than half of the world's general aviation fleet - both rotary-wing and fixed-wing. Lycoming Engines is a division of Avco Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.lycoming.com.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:  TXT) is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees.  The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation.  More information is available at www.textron.com.