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- The Unlimiteds by John Shaw (autographed) ~ 35% Off ~ Free Shipping
Product Description
Frame Size: 23" x 32" ~ Two cut-signatures autographed in pencil by: Bill "Tiger" Destefani and Lyle Shelton. Comes with a COA.
The Unlimiteds, one of John Shaw's earliest aviation paintings (1993), has become one of the most popular pieces of Reno Air Racing art ever created. Originally commissioned to commemorate the opening of Reno's National Museum of Air Racing in the early '90s, this painting depicts a vintage neck & neck scene between two of Reno's greatest all-time competitors, Rare Bear and Strega, made famous by pilots Lyle Shelton and Bill "Tiger" Destefani, respectively.
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Lyle Shelton
Lyle Thomas Shelton (1934–2010) was an American aviator who set the world's absolute propeller-driven 3-kilometer speed record of 528.329 mph. He was born in Brownfield, Texas on June 15, 1933. A former US Naval Aviator, he was an airline pilot for his professional career, flying for Trans World Airlines (TWA). During his career at TWA, he flew Boeing 707s, 727s, Douglas DC-9s and the Lockheed L-1011. He retired from TWA in 1991.
As an Air Race Pilot, he won Ten Unlimited Air Races, more than any other pilot, and six U.S. National Championships at the Reno National Championship Air Races second only to Darryl Greenamyer. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1999.
As an air race pilot, Lyle is best known for flying the highly modified Grumman F8F "Rare Bear" which he restored in 1969 and raced until his retirement from racing after the 1997 Reno National Championship Air Races.
Lyle Thomas Shelton, 76, of Bakersfield, Calif., passed away Thursday, April 8, 2010, in a Mission Hills Hospital.
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Bill "Tiger" Destefani
Nicknamed “Tiger”, Destefani became fascinated by airplanes as a young boy when he hid in the fields of his family’s farm outside of Bakersfield just for the thrill of being buzzed by crop dusters. He took flying lessons at age 21 and bought his first plane at age 30. After spending time rebuilding and restoring planes, Destefani began racing. He and several other aircraft owners formed Air Racing Unlimited, and he served as president of that group for three years. As a competitor, Destefani was a six-time winner in the Gold unlimited race at the Reno National Championships, in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997. He also won the Gold in 1991 and 1992 in Denver and in 1993 in Kansas. His P-51 Mustang, Mangia Pane, won the Silver unlimited race in Reno in his first race there in 1980.
