Steven Hinton, Jr.

Steven Hinton, Jr.
After winning at 2014 Reno Air Races
Full name	Steven Jacob Hinton, Jr.
Born	August 1987 Orange, California
Nationality	United States
Relatives	Father: Steve Hinton Mother: Karen Maloney Hinton Sister: Amanda Hinton Grandfather Ed Maloney
Racing career
First race	2009 Strega Gold Champion Reno Air Races
Best position	2014 Strega Gold Champion Reno Air Races 6th Unlimited Championship
Aircraft	North American P-51 Mustang "Voodoo"
Website
http://www.voodooairacing.com/

Steven Hinton, Jr. is a six-time champion of the National Championship Air Races from Newport Beach, California.

North American P-51 Mustang "Voodoo", the 2014 Gold Unlimited Reno Air Race Champion

Steve Hinton, Jr. 2014 Reno Air Race video interview

P-51 Mustang "Voodoo" in maintenance pit area at the 2014 Reno Air Races

The son of two-time Unlimited Gold champion air racer Steve Hinton, Sr., Hinton Jr. grew up volunteering at his family’s Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. The younger Hinton earned his pilot’s certificate at age 17 and that same year was offered a position on the crew of the Strega Air Racing Team, assisting with aircraft maintenance, among other tasks. Hinton also obtained his mechanical experience working at airplane restoration and engine shops.^[1]

Hinton won his sixth consecutive Unlimited Gold championship in 2014, taking the P-51 Mustang "Voodoo" from the pole position win the 2014 National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nevada. Hinton, also called "Stevo" to distinguish him from his father, Steve Hinton, Sr., became the youngest pilot to ever win the Unlimited Gold in 2009 at 22 years, flying the modified P-51 "Strega" to victory. Tiger Destefani, who owns "Strega", had retired, after winning Unlimited Gold in 2008 and gave the pilot's seat to Hinton. In 2014 Destefani returned, piloting "Strega", because he thought he was the best pilot to challenge Hinton's winning streak.

History

Having first soloed in a World War II-era P-51 Mustang at just 19 years of age, he made his racing debut at the Reno National Championship Air Races in 2008 where he was named "Rookie of the Year".

Steven Hinton, Jr., is a 2005 graduate of Corona del Mar High School and the six-time defending Reno National Air Races Unlimited Class champion. Hinton virtually grew up in the cockpit. Hinton Jr.'s grandfather started an airplane museum in Chino in 1957 and it became a family affair. "My dad runs the museum and he also has a business that restores airplanes."^[2]

Hinton Jr.'s first trip to the Air Races was when he was two weeks old and he watched his father race for years. His father would hold him on his lap, but he couldn't see over the instrument panel, so he would just help his father steer. He legally started flying at was 15 and started working toward his pilot's certificate. At the age of 18, Steve started flying "Strega".^[3]

Originally, Steve intended to fly in the Air Force. Although his father fully supported his decision to become an air racer. Steve's first Reno Air Race was in 2008 — he flew the P-51D Mustang "Lady Jo" and the P-51D Mustang "Sparky" that year.^[4]

Hinton Jr. made history in 2009 at 22 years of age when he flew his P-51 Mustang, "Strega", to victory becoming the youngest-ever champion at the National Championship Air Races at 22 years of age, breaking the prior record set by his father at age 26., That year, in the Gold Unlimited Race, "Strega" flew at an average speed of 491.822 miles per hour. Hinton Jr. went on to win his second Unlimited Gold championship title the following year.^[5]

2013 Hinton Jr. switched from the highly modified "Strega" to the P-51 Mustang "Voodoo", Voodoo's crew chief did much of the work done to modify the latter into a racing machine. Steve says that "Voodoo" is "more efficient and labor-intensive" than "Strega".^[1]

References