Amazing Sebring aero backdrop for the Porsche Abarth 356B Carrera’s of Bob Holbert/Don Wester and Edgar Barth/Herman Linge, 9th and 10 placed in the race won by the Surtees/Scarfiotti/Bandini Ferrari 250P…
Wonder what the aircraft is?
Credit…Bernard Cahier
primotipo... 
Warwick Banks co-drove my Healey 3000 at Sebring in 1965 with Paul Hawkins and one of the stories he told was of sticking with some of the aircraft as he raced down the straight and the plane was on a parallel runway. Warwick could keep up with them until they ‘rotated’
I was not familiar with the term and had to smile when he explained.
Ha Joe! Rotation is taking off ?! Mark
The airplane is a Lockheed R6O “Constitution”, one of two built for the US Navy. The airplane was originally planned to be powered by turboprop engines but problems in developing those engines meant the airframe got piston engines similar to the ones installed on Lockheed’s Constellation airliners, which were not powerful enough for the R6O’s size and bulk. The US Navy retired them in 1953. Sometime after this pic was taken #164 ended up at Opa Locka Florida, where it sustained damage from an internal fire. It was moved off-airport with plans to convert it into a restaurant or tourist attraction but eventually was scrapped in 1978.
Many thanks Chris,
I’m not familiar with any of these aircraft so very interesting to get your expert perspective. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Mark