WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. – The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which establishes rules for the control and certification of world aeronautical and astronautical records, awarded the Louis Blériot Medal to air racing pilot Richard “Smokey” Young at a ceremony November 17, 2011 in Los Angeles.
Young established his world speed record on September 11, 2010 at Thermal, Calif., in a Western Air Racing Formula 1 aircraft. The record, for aircraft weighing between 660 lbs. and 1100 lbs., was set at 242.7 miles per hour. The record was set using gasoline derived entirely from renewable or ‘green’ resources, named 100SF, and designed by Swift Enterprises Ltd. of West Lafayette, Ind. It is intended to replace the leaded aviation gasoline currently in use.