Steve Hinton
Steve Hinton | |
|---|---|
 Hinton in 2013 | |
| Born | 1 April 1952 |
| Known for | Air Racing |
| Spouse |
Karen Hinton (née Maloney)
(m. 1980) |
Steve Hinton is an American aviator who held a world speed record from 1979 to 1989 and won six Unlimited-class air races, including two national championships.[2] He won four consecutive Unlimited races in one year.[3]
Biography
[edit]On August 14, 1979, Hinton set the piston-driven aircraft 3-kilometer world speed record at 499.018 mph[4][5] in the highly-modified RB51 Red Baron at Tonopah, Nevada, making Hinton, age 27, the youngest person ever to capture the speed record.[6]
On September 16, 1979, Hinton was racing the RB-51 in Reno when the plane suffered catastrophic engine failure. Hinton finished the race in second place, but crashed short of the runway. Although the plane's fuel erupted in a fireball, the cockpit was thrown away from the fire and Hinton survived with a broken back, leg, and ankle.[7][8]
Hinton became the chief test pilot for the Tsunami Racer in 1987.[9]
Some of Hinton's notable wins in air racing include:
- 1978, Mojave, Red Baron
- 1978, Reno (Unlimited National Champion), Red Baron
- 1979, Miami, Red Baron
- 1979, Mojave, Red Baron
- 1985, Reno (Unlimited National Champion), Super Corsair
- 1990, Sherman, Texas, Tsunami
Hinton retired from racing in 1990 to become a stunt aviator, demonstration pilot and aircraft restorer. Steve has restored and rebuilt more than 40 vintage aircraft, and is the President of Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA.[10][11]
Film and demonstration aviation
[edit]Hinton is a member of the Screen Actors Guild[12] and charter member of the Motion Picture Pilots Association.[13] He has worked on more than 60 films.[14]
In 2002, he received a nomination from the World Stunt Awards for the Taurus Award, Best Aerial Work in Pearl Harbor. In 2018, he was part of the team which won the Taurus Stunt Award for Best Specialty Stunt for work on Dunkirk. The award was shared with Dan Friedkin, Craig Hosking, John Romain and Ed Shipley.[15][16]
As a demonstration and heritage flight pilot, Hinton participated in a five plane formation flyover at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force. Hinton piloted “Wee Willy II”, his rebuilt P-51 Mustang formerly known as Red Baron.[17]
Personal life
[edit]In 1980, Hinton married Karen Maloney. Karen is the daughter of Steve's friend, American aviation legendary historian Ed Maloney.[1] Steven's son, Steven Hinton Jr., is also an aviator and air racer.[18] Steven Hinton Jr. became the youngest pilot to win Unlimited Gold at Reno at age 22 in 2009.[19][20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Lumsden, Marshall (March 2008). "Ed Maloney's Mission". Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. p. 3. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ [1] acc.af.mil. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ [2] Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine mustangsmustangs.us. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ [3] Chicago Tribune, 19 Dec 1999.
- ^ [4] aviationandspacearts.com. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ [5] enginehistory.org Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ [6] Sports Illustrated, 29 Oct 1979.
- ^ [7] avweb.com Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Gene Smith (September 1987). "Racer! the ultimate homebuit and its unique pilot". Air Progress.
- ^ "Meet the Pilot: Steve Hinton". www.airforceheritageflight.org. February 10, 2022. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "A Message from the President, Steve Hinton". planesoffame.org. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ [8] aerialcinematography.com Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ [9] moviepilots.com Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Steve Hinton | Additional Crew, Stunts". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "Steve Hinton - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "Dunkirk - Taurus World Stunt Awards". Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Lloyd • •, Jonathan (2022-02-11). "What to Know About the Rare Five-Plane Super Bowl Flyover". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "EAA's The Green Dot — Legendary Aviators Steve and Steven Hinton - Hangar Flying". 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ "Reno Air Races Pilot Steven Hinton with fans". airandspace.si.edu. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Morrison, Maria. "Five Time Air Race Champion Shares About His Life". www.aero-news.net. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
