Jimmy Leeward
Encyclopedia
James Kent "Jimmy" Leeward (October 21, 1936 – September 16, 2011) was an American air racer
, owner of the Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, Florida
, and the pilot of the heavily modified North American P-51 Mustang racing aircraft, The Galloping Ghost.
trainer aircraft. By age 18, he was flying charters in a Beechcraft Model 18
. While still in college, he flew a Formula One
racer in the Fort Wayne air races. in 1964, he crewed on an airplane at the very first Reno Air Races
and in 1976, he first flew his P-51D Mustang "Cloud Dancer" in the Unlimited Class at Reno. In 1983, he purchased the P-51D racer "Jeannie" from Wiley Sanders. This airplane had a racing history going back to the Thompson Trophy
races of the 1940s. Leeward raced this airplane at the Reno Air Races
from 1983 to 1990. After a number of years of storage and then modifications, he returned to Reno with this aircraft, now returned to its original name The Galloping Ghost in 2010. In the interim years, he raced at Reno in his other Mustang, "Cloud Dancer".
Besides the Mustangs, Leeward also owned a 1937 Ryan SCW
, a Piper J-3 Cub and a 1932 Aeronca C-3 his father had owned and flown in the 1930s. Active in aviation, in the 1970s he became a board member of the Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA).
In 1982, Leeward began creating plans to build what would be the community of Leeward Air Ranch. He finished developing the community in 1983 and then worked as the developer for the Ocala Business Center, using a runway in the Leeway Air Ranch for air services.
Apart from being an experienced air racer, Leeward also had several film credits mainly as a stunt pilot.
Leeward began to drive in car races in the mid-1980s, driving at the Sunbank 24 Hour
in 1986 at Daytona International Speedway
and injuring himself during qualifying in the Grand Prix of Miami
of the same year.
at Reno Stead Airport
, northwest of Reno, Nevada
, killing 11 and injuring 69 spectators. Early eyewitness news accounts, as reported on CNN, said that it appeared Leeward knew he was going to crash and tried to avoid the grandstands.
He was survived by his wife and four children.
Air racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
, owner of the Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
, and the pilot of the heavily modified North American P-51 Mustang racing aircraft, The Galloping Ghost.
Career
Leeward grew up around airplanes and at age 11 or 12 often flew a Piper Cub with his father. At age 14, his father allowed him to fly solo in a North American T-6 TexanNorth American T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
trainer aircraft. By age 18, he was flying charters in a Beechcraft Model 18
Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
. While still in college, he flew a Formula One
Formula One Air Racing
Formula One Air Racing is an American motorsport that involves small aircraft using engines up to 200 cubic inches in displacement. Racers can reach speeds over 200 mph.- History :...
racer in the Fort Wayne air races. in 1964, he crewed on an airplane at the very first Reno Air Races
Reno Air Races
The Reno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, take place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada, USA...
and in 1976, he first flew his P-51D Mustang "Cloud Dancer" in the Unlimited Class at Reno. In 1983, he purchased the P-51D racer "Jeannie" from Wiley Sanders. This airplane had a racing history going back to the Thompson Trophy
Thompson trophy
The Thompson Trophy race was one of the National Air Races of the heyday of early airplane racing in the 1930s. Established in 1929, the last race was held in 1961. The race was long with pylons marking the turns, and emphasized low altitude flying and maneuverability at high speeds...
races of the 1940s. Leeward raced this airplane at the Reno Air Races
Reno Air Races
The Reno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, take place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada, USA...
from 1983 to 1990. After a number of years of storage and then modifications, he returned to Reno with this aircraft, now returned to its original name The Galloping Ghost in 2010. In the interim years, he raced at Reno in his other Mustang, "Cloud Dancer".
Besides the Mustangs, Leeward also owned a 1937 Ryan SCW
Ryan S-C
|-See also:-References:*...
, a Piper J-3 Cub and a 1932 Aeronca C-3 his father had owned and flown in the 1930s. Active in aviation, in the 1970s he became a board member of the Experimental Aircraft Association
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
(EAA).
In 1982, Leeward began creating plans to build what would be the community of Leeward Air Ranch. He finished developing the community in 1983 and then worked as the developer for the Ocala Business Center, using a runway in the Leeway Air Ranch for air services.
Apart from being an experienced air racer, Leeward also had several film credits mainly as a stunt pilot.
Leeward began to drive in car races in the mid-1980s, driving at the Sunbank 24 Hour
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
in 1986 at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
and injuring himself during qualifying in the Grand Prix of Miami
Grand Prix of Miami (IMSA)
The Grand Prix of Miami was an IMSA GT Championship race held in Downtown Miami, Florida, from 1983 until 1993. The race utilized a circuit in Bayfront Park from 1983 until 1985, and then moved to Bicentennial Park from 1986 until 1993.-Results:...
of the same year.
Death
Leeward died on September 16, 2011, when his aircraft went off course and crashed into the crowd at the National Championship Air RacesReno Air Races
The Reno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, take place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno, Nevada, USA...
at Reno Stead Airport
Reno Stead Airport
Reno/Stead Airport is a large general aviation airport located in the North Valleys area, northwest of the central business district of Reno, a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States...
, northwest of Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, killing 11 and injuring 69 spectators. Early eyewitness news accounts, as reported on CNN, said that it appeared Leeward knew he was going to crash and tried to avoid the grandstands.
He was survived by his wife and four children.
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Cloud Dancer Cloud Dancer Cloud Dancer is a 1980 adventure drama film directed by Barry Brown. It stars David Carradine, Jennifer O'Neill and Joseph Bottoms. The film follows a competition aerobatic pilot. It had its premiere in Milwaukee on 29 May, 1980.-Plot:... |
Mustang pilot | |
| 1983 | Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 is the sequel to Smokey and the Bandit and Smokey and the Bandit II starring Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Paul Williams, Pat McCormick, Mike Henry and Colleen Camp... |
Stunt pilot | Uncredited |
| 1995 | The Tuskegee Airmen The Tuskegee Airmen The Tuskegee Airmen is a 1995 HBO television movie based on the exploits of an actual groundbreaking unit, the first African American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Force, that fought in World War II.-Plot:... |
Stunt pilot | Credited as James K. Leeward |
| 2002 | Dragonfly | Stunt pilot | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Loney Hearts | Pilot | |
| 2008 | Thunder Over Reno | Himself | |
| 2009 | Amelia Amelia (film) Amelia is a 2009 English-language biographical film of the life of Amelia Earhart, starring Hilary Swank as Earhart along with a cast that includes Richard Gere, Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor. It is directed by Mira Nair based on a script initially written by Ronald Bass... |
Stunt pilot | Uncredited |