As part of our exhibit in the Museum’s Pavilion of Flight titled, Speed: Science in Motion, the Reno Nevada Formula air race aircraft Miss B Haven Model DG-1 flies along with two other racers representing a category of racer capable of speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour. In the display, these aircraft are positioned as they would be racing around the pylons at the Reno Air Races. 

Miss B Haven has had two lives in the air race world. The aircraft was built in 1995 by Dan Gilbert and is made of a combination of a fiberglass shell, steel tube fuselage, and carbon fiber wings. Dan raced the plane, then named Shadow, in 1996, 1997, and 1999. During that time, the maximum qualifying speed achieved in the aircraft at Reno was 258.9 miles per hour.

Dan Gilbert parted with his creation in 1999 and it was purchased by another air racer, Charlie Greer. Charlie with the help of a host of engineers, friends, and air race enthusiasts modified the aircraft and first raced her, now named Miss B Haven, in 2000. Charlie spent much of 2001 replacing components like the vertical fin, rudder, and airframe changes to prepare for Reno that year. Unfortunately, as it turned out the terrorist attacks on 9/11 resulted in the air races being cancelled. In 2002 however Charlie was able to race and put up the second fastest qualifying speed in his category of 243 MPH.

Charlie competed in the Miss B haven every year through 2006. His best qualifying time during his racing years was during the 2003 Reno race when he reached 258.9 MPH and finished second overall in the Gold final. Charlie donated Miss B Haven to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2007 where it hangs on display in race formation with two other air racers in our Pavilion of Flight.