As the age of piston aircraft came to a close, and jets began to roar through the sky; a group of ex air-racers, and fighter pilots collaberated to regain the publics interest with aviation. They simply wanted to see the excitement and enthusiasm that the 1930's had done with air-racing. After many long nights, and tirelessly working, and calling executive after executive, they drew up plans for the "KEROSENE CUP" It was to be held in an abandoned air strip in the middle of the desert in Arizona. The United States Airforce would be rewarding the winning company who built the aircraft to a military contract, and 1 million dollars. The first race was held on March 16th 1959, and of the five competiors drew crowds of hundreds of thousands from all over the country, and the world. The next year, they opened submissions too overseas companies and teams. This interested the Soviet Union and commission an elite team of aeronautical engineers and fighter pilots to race in the next years race. this was the Russain entry to the race and it sure did deliver, placing 2nd by 40 feet, this was no plane to trifflewith.