Ray Debs
Carbon Slipper Pilot, Co-Owner
Occupation: Computer Engineer
Ratings: Commercial Glider, Instrument Airplane Single Engine Land
Ray Debs is currently the webmaster for this website and IF1AirRacing.com, and is a race pilot.
In 2006 and 2005, he raced "Carbon Slipper" (Race #81), and "Plane Mantis" (Race #82) in 2003 and 2002.
Ray and his wife Connie, dog Walter, and cockatiel Jamie moved to Boise in March of 2005.

My father was a pilot, and he instilled the love of flying in me from a very early age (my first ride was at 6 months old). I have been involved in aviating of some sort ever since. As you can see on this website, I fly models as well as full-scale aircraft. Flying is such a thrill and a gift. The freedom, the independence, and the responsibility all make flying a unique way to improve myself and have a blast while doing it. I thank God that I have parents and friends who provided the opportunity and support to follow my dreams.
Ray

Curtis Weinman
Plane Mantis Pilot, Co-Owner.
Occupation: Union Electrician (IBEW Local 332, San Jose)

Curtis Weinman was born and raised in San Jose, California and continues there with his wife Erin and dog Tango. Curtis and Erin got married in October of 2005. He has always loved aviation and bought his first powered plane at age 10 (control line) and in the mid '80s he learned to fly Hang Gliders. Curtis has attended Reno's Pylon Racing Seminar in 2003, 2004, and 2007. He loves to fly many different types of planes and the Cassutt is on the top of the list!

Curtis together with Ray started building Carbon Slipper in 2001 and realized that it would not be completed in time for the races in 2002. They purchased a Cassutt IIIM that had raced before and they named it Plane Mantis. This year Plane Mantis has undergone some weight reduction and has a new carbon fiber vertical stabilizer/rudder and new fabric covering on the fuselage.

In 2002, their first year racing Plane Mantis they qualified at 175 MPH and their best so far is 198 MPH. They expect to make a significant improvement over previous times this year. Curtis is stepping down from Crew Chief (for the past 5 years) and will be racing Plane Mantis as primary pilot with Robert Marshall as alternate. Steve Tumlin will be Crew Chief for Plane Mantis and John Raquet will be Crew Chief for Carbon Slipper. Carbon Slipper first raced in 2005 and qualified at 222 MPH, in 2006 qualified at 233 MPH what's next? 244? We can only hope, with the incredible crew we will have this year and two planes... 2007 looks to be like it will be the best year ever!

Robert Marshall
Plane Mantis Pilot, Plane Mantis Crew
Robert Marshall is no stranger to adrenalin rushes. His involvement with aviation began in 1978, when he entered the sport of skydiving. In 1997, he earned his private pilot's license and flies an RV-3 recreationally. Marshall is currently an aviation professional employed by Perris Valley Skydiving as a skydiving Instructor and a freefall videographer. He holds an FAA Senior Parachute Rigger license and is working toward his A&P certification at Miramar College.

Robert's previous Formula One experience was with Charlie Greer and the Miss B Haven race team, where he had served as a crew member from 2000 to 2005. His first year on the racecourse was 2004 as pilot of #57 Aggressor, owned by fellow pilot Charlie Greer. In his rookie year he qualified fourth out of a field of 21 and went on to finish sixth in the Gold race.

Robert is looking forward to being a part of the Aerophile Racing team for the 2007 race season. He is very excited to be part of this exciting race team and the potential it represents.

Brian Farrell
Aerophile Team Safety Manager
Brian joined Aerophile Racing for the 2006 season, and has become the single person responsible for making sure both aircraft are safe for racing. He heads both crews and works directly with Ray and Curtis. He currently works for Valley Air Service in Caldwell, ID for Gary Hubler as an A&P mechanic on the dusters, keeping 7 aircraft flying during the spray season. He previously worked for Boeing on 737's, and was in the Marines.

Connie Debs
Ray's wife.
Connie has helped building Carbon Slipper by sanding and filling all the imperfections in the fuselage skins. She also helps out during the races, and is an invaluable supporter of Aerophile Racing Team.

John Raquet
Carbon Slipper Crew Chief
Jacob's father, and a great help in working on Carbon Slipper. He spent more than a month sanding and filling the wing, and taking care of the other things no one else wanted to do (like cleaning out our race trailer before one of the races).

Mark Lester
Carbon Slipper Plane Captain
Mark joins us for the 2007 season as the plane captain, responsible for making sure the aircraft is running properly for the race.

Mack Kreizenbeck
Carbon Slipper Crew
Mack joins us for the 2007 season as the part of the Carbon Slipper crew. He has an extensive background in aviation and the military.

Eric Gillespie
Carbon Slipper Crew
Eric and Ray sort of grew up together because their fathers were good friends. Eric has a background in commercial aviation (piloting jets), and an A&P. It was great to have him on the team this year.

Erin Weinman
Curtis' wife.

Steve Tumlin
Plane Mantis Crew Chief
Steve Tumlin joins us for the 2007 season after serving as Charlie Greer's crew chief for Miss B'Havin for many years. He won the "Top Wrench" award in 2006, and has many years experience as an aircraft mechanic and pilot.

Jacob Raquet
Plane Mantis Crew
We met Jacob when we were racing RC models, and he was quite a bit smaller than he is now (just above my waist). Now he is one of the leading competitors in quickie RC air racing, and has helped with much of the building of Carbon Slipper, and has been on the crew at the Reno Air Races with us every year.

Gloria Kahn
Aerophile Team Mom
Ray's mom. Gloria has devoted much of her time to taking care of the team members during the races and during building parties. She also has made the canopy cover for Carbon Slipper.

Beverly Weinman
Curtis' mom (on the left).
Aerophile Team Mom
Beverly is always there with a sandwich or a drink, or helping clean up the pit. She has been a great team supporter.

Herb Weinman
Curtis' dad.
Herb has been a great supporter, and this year (2005) really stepped in to help with Carbon Slipper's care and feeding. He drove one of the IF1 Air Racing tow vehicles, and made a tow dolly for Carbon Slipper. He also has taken the whole team out to dinner a number of times.

Tina Federmann
Ray's sister
Tina has been a willing helper and supporter.

Charlie Federmann
Ray's brother-in-law
Charlie has helped building and sanding the fuselage plugs for Carbon Slipper.

Sam Kahn
Ray's step-father, Aerophile Team Marketing/PR
Sam has written press-releases for Aerophile, worked with Gloria in acquisitions (food), and been a great suppporter.

Barry Sherwood
Aerophile Team Sponsor
Barry and Ray met in College at CSU Chico, and Barry's company Sunset.net is one of Aerophile Racing's Sponsors. Barry helps at different times when he gets a chance. It was great to have him there during some of the test-flying of Carbon Slipper.

I've always been excited by flying, and keep telling myself I'm going to get my own pilot's license just as soon as I have some free time. Yep. All I need is some free time... In the meantime, I'll live vicariously through my friend Ray, whom I've known (and no doubt bothered) since our days at Chico State. Ray is such an aviation nut that he and some friends flew an RC plane over my graduation ceremony with "C O N G R A T S" written on the underside of the wings in masking tape. I have pictures.

I'm proud to have been the first official sponsor of Aerophile. As you can see in the picture to the left, I'm proudly holding a rare piece of Aerophile history - a hunk o' wood from the first Aerophile Racing Team Support Vehicle(tm). But it's not merely a hunk o' wood. It's a recognition of the huge contributions that I and my company, Sunset.Net, have made to get Aerophile to where it is today. Ok, perhaps my contribution is somewhat vague and rather undistinguished, but at least I got my recognition, dammit!

This year, Ray allowed me to help out for a day of prepping the Carbon Slipper before the Reno Air Races. He thinks he was taking advantage of me but in reality I had a blast seeing the product of all their hard work (and, ahem, starting the beast on one pull 'o the prop without killing myself). I also took my family to the last day of the 2005 Reno Air Races, but I didn't get to see the Carbon Slipper in action since the Formula One races finished the day before. Ray hung out with us in the afternoon, watching the final heats of the event and catching up on old times before we had to head home.

I think Ray, Curtis and the rest of the Aerophile team have done a commendable job building and flying their aircraft. Their dedication has paid off by placing very well in racing situations, and also garnering the attention and admiration of their fellow pilots and mechanics. I wish them all the best in the future and hope they let me continue to be part of the team and help out in whatever capacity I can be of service.

-- barry

Past Members:

Scott Ebersole
The Man! Ray knew Scott through Hollister Gliding Club where they used to give glider rides. They were also a Pumpkin bombing Glider Crew one Halloween. Scott brought his experience and A&P and helped with mechanical details.