Red Bull Air Race Magazine Windsor Ontario 2009 by Philippe Wyssen

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RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

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the content

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Cover Photomontage: Red Bulletin/ Creative Retouching: Lee Laughton; Cover Photography: Tom Lovelock/AP Images, Russell Chayne/AP Images; Photography: Markus Kucera (2), Tom Lovelock/AP Images (1)

another promising season of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

04 GALLERY

The best pics from this season’s first two races

14 BULLEVARD

review of the last race and preview to the next one, plus what’s going on in Sergey Rakhmanin’s head

20 HERo

Has Matt Hall ever searched for gold? And what would he make as a lazy

Sunday seduction breakfast? Find out

22 PoRtRAit

Pete McLeod is the youngest

Rookie ever in the history of the Red Bull Air Race. Get to know this Canadian, whose ancestors from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, were passionate sailors and pilots

28 HiGH FLYERs

Yoshihide Muroya’s favourite food is sushi – cliché but true. Until he met famous Californian sushi chef Jeffrey Roberto, Yoshi didn’t know how to prepare the Japanese delicacy. Discover what happened during his first training session Nicolas Ivanoff’s secret to podium finishes

30 tECH tALk

34 REPoRt

Man or machine?

The Red Bull Air Race TV crew

have won an Emmy! Find out more about the team and their sophisticated systems

38 PRoFiLEs

Close-ups of all 15 Red Bull Air Race pilots

A detailed look at the mechanics of an Edge 540 race plane and get the pilot’s view this year

48 tHE RULEs

of the format

44 tHE CoCkPit

46 CALENDAR

Take a seat in a

Find out where the races take place

More about the rules of the race as well as an explanation

50 LoCAtioN

for an exciting Race Day

42 tHE PLANE

All you need to know about the location

A great deal has changed since last year. We have a bigger pilot line-up, a new race format and new rules. This means that the minimum weight of the plane is now 540kg, there is a 12G limit, a clear no to asymmetric wings and a must-have to engines with a 10:1 compression ratio. Many of the planes have been modified to the max during offseason. The first two races in Abu Dhabi and San Diego were eyeopeners for the race teams. As the official Red Bull Air Race World Championship magazine, we’re here to keep you up-to-date with every development. We bring you behind-the-scenes insights, as well as fresh and exciting interviews and features with the pilots and their teams. You can also download the latest issue of the magazine online at www.redbullairrace.com In this, the third issue of this season, you’ll get to know Pete McLeod and his team better, you’ll find out what Matt Hall’s dream car should look like and you’ll discover why Nicolas Ivanoff is so incredibly fast this year. And, of course, we’ll show you the planes and explain the rules and the format for this breathtaking motorsport. This season definitely is an extraordinarily thrilling one. The first two rounds showed that the World Championship has made another big leap forward since last year. So join us and celebrate a great season of competition, excitement and fun. The editors

imprint THE RED BULLETIN GMBH, Heinrich-Collin-Straße 1, 1140 Vienna, Austria e-mail: redbullairracemagazine@at.redbulletin.com Managing Directors Karl Abentheuer, Bernd Fisa Project Director Jürgen Eckstein Editors in Chief Robert Sperl, Nadja Žele Editor Matt Youson Chief Sub-editor ˇ Illustrators Almut Nancy James Art Directors Erik Turek, Markus Kietreiber Designers Claudia Drechsler, Dominik Uhl Photo Editor/Photographer Markus Kucera Becvar, James Greenhow, Dietmar Kainrath, Seso Media Group Producers Michael Bergmeister, Wolfgang Stecher Lithography Josef Mühlbacher, Clemens Ragotzky Printed by Offset 5020, Bayernstraße 27, A-5072 Siezenheim www.redbulletin.com red bull air race magazine

Gallery

Speed

The top speed allowed in the Red Bull Air Race is 370kph. The key is to find the fine line between going too slow and going too fast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but he who brakes loses.

Photography: Tom Lovelock/AP Images

Nigel lamb, saN diego, may 2009

red bull air race magazine

Precision Steering a wild horse through a tough track demands endless quantities of skill, knowledge and experience. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a task that only the very best of the best are able to complete.

Photography: Russell Cheyne/AP Images

Peter Besenyei, san Diego, May 2009

red bull air race magazine

UniqUeness Pure visual pleasure is when this incredibly fast motorsport combines with an exciting and unusual backdrop to become a one-of-a-kind experience.

Photography: Tom Lovelock/AP Images

Matthias DolDerer, san Diego, May 2009

red bull air race magazine

G-Force rookies

Top physical form is crucial. In some sections of the track the G-force can get almost as high as 12G. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly 12 times oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own body weight.

Photography: Russell Cheyne/AP Images

Glen Dell, Abu DhAbi, April 2009

red bull air race magazine

Passion rookies

Flying is an incomparable sensation. Last season 300 million fans worldwide shared this feeling with the pilots by cheering them on in front of their TVs.

Boxy.

Mike Mangold, San diego, May 2009

Foxy.

Photography: Markus Kucera

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red bull air race magazine

BULLEVARD

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Pos

REVIEW

SAN DIEGO

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

13:35

Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya is feeling on top of the world! The Rookie just returned from a great run in the Wild Card session. With a 1:24.23 he’s in the next round, the Top 12, along with Spain’s Alejandro Maclean.

It’s the Top 12. Kirby Chambliss gets into the track and immediately pulls over 12G. He’s violated the maximum G rule and gets disqualiﬁed. No points for the American.

This race is Pete McLeod’s. The local hero clearly has an ambitious goal: to grab his ﬁrst championship point. Is it doable? It depends on the plane. The Rookie is perfectly capable of doing well, but a top position or even a race win isn’t within his reach right now. Mixing it with guys like Hannes Arch or Paul Bonhomme will only be realistic in 2010. However another Rookie, Matt Hall from Australia, already seems to have everything it

Edge 540

Points

Nicolas Ivanoﬀ

FRA

Edge 540

Paul Bonhomme

GBR

Edge 540

Nigel Lamb

GBR

MXS�R

Matt Hall

AUS

MXS�R

Peter Besenyei

HUN

MXS�R

Sergey Rakhmanin

RUS

MXS�R

Mike Mangold

USA

Edge 540

Alejandro Maclean

ESP

MXS�R

Kirby Chambliss

USA

Edge 540

Glen Dell

RSA

Edge 540

Matthias Dolderer

GER

Edge 540

Yoshihide Muroya

JPN

Edge 540

Michael Goulian

USA

Edge 540

Pete McLeod

CAN

Edge 540

15:30

Peter Besenyei is back! After a 10th place in Abu Dhabi he makes it into the Final 4 here. But on his last lap he grabs a two-second penalty and ends up 3.53s off the pace.

takes to win. After a ﬁfth-place ﬁnish in Abu Dhabi, he just missed the Final 4 in his second-ever race, in San Diego. Windsor, you could see a Rookie on your podium. This is the third race and with three more to go we’re mid-season. So who will take the title? Arch, Ivanoff, Bonhomme? “It’s still open. You have to be on the podium in every race if you want the title. Consistency is the key,” says Ivanoff.

Photography: Balazs Gardi, Markus Kucera

14:47

This Rookie is a superstar. Matt Hall just misses the Final 4 with a time of 1:20.38 and grabs his second ﬁfth-place ﬁnish after Abu Dhabi.

15:38

Plane

AUT

WINDSOR, ONTARIO

14:18

Hannes Arch is the last starter of the Final 4. He’s 0.30s ahead of Nicolas Ivanoff at the ﬁrst interval. But then the pelican intervenes. Over and out.

Nationality

Hannes Arch

PREVIEW

Photography: Markus Kucera (1), Tom Lovelock/AP Images (1), Russell Cheyne/AP Images (3)

“This is really nice,” says Nicolas Ivanoff, after his sensational run in the Final 4. His time of 1:17:21 is the fastest clocked over the Big Bay. “I’m happy. The new plane is great!” Ivanoff celebrated his second victory, after his triumph in the final race of the 2007 season in Perth, Australia. Strangely, both his wins have been slightly overshadowed by other ‘highlights’. In Perth it was Mike Mangold unexpectedly winning the championship title, in San Diego, it was a pelican that drew the attention to another man: Hannes Arch. Some say that the Austrian always has an easy ride to first place, because he just happens to fly the best plane in the pitlane, but maybe those skeptics have changed their minds now as Arch managed to manoeuvre his injured machine to a third-place finish! The encounter with the bird, a so-called bird strike, could have led to a very different outcome, rather than the loss of only one or two seconds. “I didn’t see the bird! I just heard a bang, but didn’t know what it was. I checked to see if everything was still working and kept on flying. I didn’t manage to fly clean through the Quadro and got penalized, but looking at what has happened, I’m quite happy with the result,” says Arch, whose plane’s wing, elevator, landing gear and horizontal stabilizer were damaged as a result of the collision. Title-chaser Paul Bonhomme had to put up with another second-place finish, after Abu Dhabi. “I’m fed up with being second! The plane is OK, but I just have to fly a more aggressive line.” Let’s see if he alters his style.

The podium: Nicolas Ivanoff in ﬁrst, Paul Bonhomme in second and Hannes Arch in third place.

Pilot

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

bullevard

Sergey rakhmanin Where’s your head at?

Kainrath

He fought his way through the tracks with a weak Edge 540 for two long seasons, now he finally owns his own plane, the MXS-R, and is regularly collecting points. But what else is on the mind of the former aerobatics world champion from St Petersburg? aerobaTics vs air racing

sT peTersburg

etown, though It’s where I live. It’s my hom dt, Germany, Sta rx Ma l I was born in Kar father was my e aus bec itz, mn Che now re. I moved the ed tion sta a military officer three years was I en wh g bur ers Pet to St en or eight old. After that I spent sev rning to retu ore bef ia uan Lith in years to off was it n The St Petersburg. n the e, ain Ukr in ool sch pilot’s g. back again to St Petersbur

Which one do I enjoy more? It’s not an easy question to answer! I enjoy aerobatics and I enjoy races. There are some common points but there are many differences between the two competitions – which I think makes them both all the more interesting. I think my experience in aerobatics and the approaches to it I’ve developed are useful when preparing to race.

relaxing

It depends on the situation. Sometimes I like to get out of the city with my family, sometimes I’ll listen to music. I like Russian rock music! Very often it helps… I’m pretty conservative when it comes to food. I do like to cook – just not too often.

gliders

Flying glider aerobatics is very nice. I was third overall in the 1995 world glider championships in France. But glider aerobatics could never replace power aerobatics as my primary interest.

Time off

The race plan

way all I’m thinking When I’m on the run The preparation n. pla about is the pared the plan and beforehand has pre mind. It’s all about my in that’s all there is power; I try to cut memory and brain cause it’s best to be s on off all emoti e racing, and only be cold when you’r on the plan. te tra concen

red bull air race magazine

locaTion, locaTion, locaTion

It isn’t easy to sa y where my favourite Red Bu ll Air Race is – there’s a co mbination of factors to co nsider. Sometimes it’s just the place – if we’re flying in a beautiful location – som etimes it’s the hospitality. I like it when people enjoy ou r races, and it really is possib le to feel that when you’re flying – you can see what th e spec are doing and ho tators w much they’re getting into it.

Illustrations: Almut Becvar, Dietmar Kainrath

Actually, competition keeps me very busy. In between the races I’m generally preparing for the races. It’s simply what I have to do. But of course I like to be at home with my family.

red bull air race magazine

BULLEVARD

SUMMIT OF GIANTS Reggie Bush, the running back of the New Orleans Saints, is a God of American Football. Peter Besenyei is the Godfather of the Red Bull Air Race. Two Gods met at the race in San Diego and explained to each other what their sports are all about. The signed football is on auction for a good cause, check wingsforlife.com

TEAMWORK

PRECISION

TRUST TOUCH DOWNS 2

EXCITEMENT

FUN INTERCEPTION

GOOD AND BAD TIM

TIME ES

SPEED

TEAMWORK

6 RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

ENJOYMENT

SHOWING OFF

Photography: Markus Kucera

AMAZEMENT

EXCITEMENT

LIFESTYLE 1 The task is quite 1 simple. Take a picture of this JAGTAG with your AT&T or Verizon phone and send it to 524824 (iPhones send to iPhone@JAGTAG. net). What you’ll get back to your phone is exclusive Hannes Arch content. However the real challenge is getting the autograph card beforehand. So, keep your eyes wide open 2 It’s the high life, for those who follow the race action in the High Flyer’s Lounge – it’s also a recommended spot for those who want to meet the pilots in a relaxed mood after the race 3 Meet the new race bunny. Matthias Dolderer sports some saucy headgear 4 What you see here is sophisticated mental preparation. It’s the Paul Bonhomme method, a technique whose details will never be revealed 5 Who needs a gym when you have all this apparatus to hand? Sergey Rakhmanin’s ﬁtness regime gives him a body of steel 6 Those guys are actually from Hawaii and not from Austria, as it says on the shirt. Can you guess who they’re cheering on? It’s number 28, Hannes Arch.

TACTICS

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

HERO

WHEEL Spin 1: Flying Where would you never fly to? Oh, I’d fly anywhere! If I ever say that I would never fly to a certain place, then I have to challenge myself to fly there. I’d like to fly to the moon if I could. I’d never want to fly to the sun because I’d burn up there, but I would be happy to go everywhere else. Spin 2: Leisure What’s your seduction breakfast menu on a lazy Sunday? Tricky! I used to make eggs benedict for my wife Pedita, but then I got lazy. Now, if she’s really lucky, I make her a cup of tea and some pancakes. The secret of my pancakes is a little shake-up kit I buy from the store. I put some water in it, shake it and they’re ready. OK, sometimes I also make scrambled eggs, but it’s been a very long time since I got the eggs benedict and hollandaise sauce recipe out. You’ve made me feel guilty now. Spin 3: Flying What essential items should a pilot own? A pilot should own a leather flying helmet, goggles and a scarf, because you never know when you’re likely to fly an open-cockpit biplane and take a trip back to the romantic days of flying. Spin 4: Private What food do you completely dislike? Funnily enough, as an Australian, I don’t particularly like seafood. I’m not into things like oysters, octopus or squid. I did eat a clam one day, when I was in the military on a survival course. That was when I hadn’t eaten anything for about two or three days. I was actually

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

The rules of the game: simple, spin the wheel and when it stops the player must answer a question truthfully from the category indicated by a coloured segment. Six colours, six different topics: Orange = Australia; Green = Nature; Black = Private; Red = Flying; Blue = Leisure; White = Music.

floating around on a raft for some time, before I was picked up by a helicopter. I thought they would bring me home, but they dropped me on an island and I stayed there for another couple of days. So I was pretty hungry and luckily I found this huge clam. I built a fire, threw the clam on the fire, opened it up, tipped it out. It was like a rubber tire. I put it in my mouth and chewed for about 10 minutes, but the piece wasn’t getting any smaller. So I swallowed it and... vomited. Luckily I hadn’t eaten for about four days, so the only thing that came out was this piece of rubber. I really don’t like seafood. Spin 5: Nature Have you had any encounters with poisonous creatures? Yes, a couple. And I’ve had two distinct ones. From the age of 10 to the age of 17 I lived in the Australian outback. We lived on a farm, and when we were building our house, we lived in a shed. I was probably 10 years old at that time and I had a waterbed in this shed. We went on a holiday for a week or so and came

“a weird situation that i’ve been in during the last two months? Flying a race in abu dhabi.”

ˇ WORDS: NADJA ZELE

back and I climbed into the bed that night and my foot kicked something that was quite heavy and cold and kind of slimy. We pulled the sheets back and there she was, a red-bellied black snake: quite a poisonous snake. She had decided to take a nap there and luckily she didn’t bite me. That would have killed me as a kid. But that’s Australia. As Dennis, my technician, says: “Not everything in Australia is poisonous... Sharks aren’t poisonous.” I’ve also met things like redback spiders, which are also very poisonous creatures. These spiders were often on my toothbrush when I was living in the shed. You just get used to dealing with poisonous creatures. Spin 6: Flying A general knowledge question about the Red Bull Air Race World Championship: what’s the most important thing one needs to know about a pylon or so-called Air Gate? What you’ve got to do is go past it. Be it knife edge or straight-on level. If you hit it, you have to ignore it and keep going. The big thing when you hit a pylon is that you have to make a rapid decision. You have to check if it has affected the flying qualities of the aircraft. Has it damaged the plane or is the material wrapped around it somewhere? If it is, you need to get away from the surface of the earth as fast as possible. But if you make that split-second decision that everything is OK and you felt that it was a clean cut, then you have to stay focused and not let it worry you at all. Spin 7: Music What was the first CD you ever bought? It may have been something like Brothers

Photography: Markus Kucera

SPIN THE

Matt Hall is the quickest of this year’s four Rookies. The Aussie reckons he’s pretty good at spinning too, but our question and answer game wasn’t quite the kind of spinning he had in mind…

in Arms by Dire Straits. Or Seal’s first album. I still listen to old music. I may not listen to whole albums, but I definitely listen to songs from my entire life of music so far. I still like the same music I used to like. I don’t outgrow styles or particular songs, I just collect more things that I like, which is a huge range from classical music to heavy rock. Spin 8: Australia Did you ever search for gold or opals around your home? I’ve been to places where you can, but the answer is ‘no’. I guess I’m a fairly calculating person. I don’t really get any enjoyment from gambling, because

I can’t control the outcome and that’s the same with searching for gold or opals – there’s too great a chance of massive disappointment. That’s why I choose to do things that I can control and where I know that if I work hard, I can get results. If I went and shifted 20 tonnes of dirt and found nothing that would be extremely hard to take for me. Spin 9: Leisure What features does your dream car have to have? I must admit that I like powerful and noisy sportscars, so my dream car would be a low-slung two-seater with very wide tires and a really throaty exhaust, not

so much a high-revving four-seater. Currently, I own a Mazda RX8 with a rotary engine, but when I was living in America I owned a Trans Am that had glass packs and a straight-through exhaust, which sounded pretty cool. I’d have to say it would definitely be a twoseater sportscar, with either a V8 or V12 engine, a Maserati or something like that. Spin 10: Private Name a weird situation that you’ve been in during the last two months... I’d say, flying a race in Abu Dhabi. It’s the first time I’ve ever done this and I was flying around in the middle of a city, 10m above the water flat out. Weird. red bull air race magazine

PORTRAIT ˇ Words: Nadja Zele

Keeping KEEPING the THE SPEED up UP speed red bull air race magazine

Photography: Markus Kucera

Canadian Pete McLeod is the youngest race pilot in the Red Bull Air Race. He’s also the boss of a an equally young team aiming for the top. Their claim: ‘Max Power!’ Their winning potential is high. All they need is time – and a fast plane.

This is Ted Reynolds’ tail view. Ted’s connection to aviation goes back three generations and portrait his very first word was apparently “airplane”. Members of Ted’s family have been plane designers, builders, mechanics, pilots, fighter pilots, aircraft dealers, airport and museum founders. Ted started working in 1999, doing restoration work on planes. In 2001 he went to the Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where he took an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer program. After completing his studies he went back to his old job, before switching to airliners and working on Boeing 737s during the summer of 2006, which is where he was employed when he met his current boss. “I met Pete at an airshow last summer. I helped him put the wings on his plane,” says Ted. “We exchanged emails and six months later I was a part of his team, and moved from Wetaskiwin to London.”

Photography: Markus Kucera

red bull air race magazine

ete McLeod’s Edge 540 is a workhorse. No other race plane in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship is quite so slow. However its jockey knew that before he purchased it from the reigning World Champion Hannes Arch. Pete isn’t bothered, though, he’s simply following a conservative plan by gaining track experience in a reliable plane, before aiming for podium finishes in 2010 and the title before the age of 30. Back in 2004, just around the same time the news of a brand-new form of aerial motorsport was beginning to spread around the globe, Pete decided to turn his passion into his profession. His career strategy was to become really good at aerobatics and fly in as many airshows as possible. He wanted high scores at aerobatic championships then he could move straight over to the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. “I was 20 and in university at that time,” he says. “I spent hours and hours on the internet, trying to find every bit of information about the Red Bull Air Race. Right from the start, when I saw the first race, I dreamed of being part of this racing world. I always believed that if you are passionate enough and if you work hard, then you can make anything your job, so why not take your favourite thing? Achieving, competing and sport are very exciting for me. Maybe it’s because of my age and once I get older there will be probably a greater enjoyment in family and children and watching them succeed.” Maybe one day, when he’s 45 or so. Yes,

Pete is young. He’s 25. His parents aren’t much older than most of the other race pilots. Pete’s father Dave was the one who took him for his first ride in a plane, at the tender age of six weeks. Pete grew up with flying. Steering around small float and ski planes in the bush was just as normal to him as cycling is to other kids. “I started with aerobatics at 16 and for the last five years I’ve been eating, breathing and sleeping competition aerobatics, airshow freestyle and the Red Bull Air Race,” he says. In 2008 Pete prepared himself to go racing. He had top scores in aerobatic championships, got into the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, showed the race committee his physical, mental and – most importantly – aerial potential and went back home with a Super Licence. Not long after, he entered the world of racing and became a Rookie. But Pete has other interests apart from flying. In fact, like most Canadians, he grew up playing ice hockey and almost ended up playing professionally. However he chose education over ice and went on to secure an economics degree from the University of Western Ontario where he acquired an interest in stock market developments, rather than devoting himself to puck and stick. “It was a choice of priorities,” says Pete. “I had to make the decision whether to stay and play the leagues or move away from home to join the higher leagues and become professional. I still enjoy ice hockey, the game, but it’s kind of tough, because I was so serious before. It’s hard for me just to play for fun. I’m a very competitive guy. “That’s why, for me, the Red Bull Air Race isn’t just a one-shot, one-go, oneyear thing. This sport is growing really fast and has huge potential. It’s not just a pilot and his technician running a plane against guys who are sometimes friends and sometimes not kind of game any more. I’m trying to come up with new ideas and build something for the future, something that allows me to be successful, to win races. For that you have to have a business in line, sponsors, finances to make the plane go fast, to train, to focus and not have to worry about the little stresses in life. In my organization it’s not just me and my team: Nathan (Herbert) and Ted (Reynolds). I’ve got a small board of advisors. My dad, for example, plays a big role. He gives me guidance in terms of management. And

then there are others who come from business backgrounds that stretch from legal advice to accounting. Everybody has a certain expertise in one area. That’s the invisible force that nobody sees at the races, in the magazines or on TV. Maybe it’s not 100 per cent necessary to have such a set-up right now, but where I want to be after two or three years in this sport it definitely is.” Pete is trying to learn from other motorsport teams. He’s researching by observing Formula One teams and is well aware that if there’s turmoil within the team, it shows on the track. “I’m fairly open to mentorship,” he says. “My advisors are not only experts in their professions, they also have an interest in seeing me succeed and making me better at what I do, helping me grow as a person, as a businessman and as an athlete. If you’re not open to that as a Rookie, especially as a Rookie of my age, then you won’t make it, because you’re competing against guys who not only have 15 years more flying experience, but 15 years more life experience. Not everybody has 15 years of business experience, because some of them didn’t do that in their past careers, but they have a bigger network. For me and my team, this year is a steep learning curve in all matters: in the race track, outside of it. My role is

“I’m competing against guys who not only have 15 years more flying experience, but also more life experience.” red bull air race magazine

portrait

Nathan (top, right) met Pete at their home in Red Lake. He was at school and raced Pro Canadian SnowCross before he joined the team.

not only that of a race pilot, but I’m also something like a coach. I spend a lot of time away from the race trying to set things up that allow me to be as much of a pilot at the race as possible. Nathan’s role is as a team co-ordinator in that respect, allowing me to focus on the flying, and Ted’s as chief technician is to focus on the plane and handling all the other details that come in for the actual race. Of course I end up handling everything one way or the other, but it’s through a filter, it’s not all pilot alone.” Building up a good, strong team is important if you want to be more than just average. “You always have to come up with plans. Some of the plans work out really well and some don’t. So, you need to modify them or change and grow. Just like any organization.” Pete McLeod’s organization seems to have an interesting advantage in comparison with the other teams. The age factor. The fact that they’re part of the Facebook and Twitter generation seems to mean that they learn new systems faster and adjust quicker. “In a way, this is what makes you better,”

is no pressure. It’s just important to build things in this race environment and get a firm grip on how to handle myself, so when I’m racing for a podium spot, this is already in place. Besides that, the biggest thing that all the Rookies are lacking is track experience. I just have my fingers crossed on the training days that we get good weather and we don’t lose any flying, because especially with this short season in which we only have six races, it’s very challenging to catch up to the guys who have 35 or 40 races under their belts. All of a sudden we’ll be in our second season and not considered Rookies any more. So, all we can do right now is learn as much as we can, as fast as we can.” In this first-ever race in Canada the local heroes with the racing number 84 want to kick off their “Let’s go out there and get better results” plan. “We got the plane into our shop after the race in San Diego to make some mods for Windsor. We haven’t been able to work on the plane before, because it was in Europe during pre-season,” explains Ted Reynolds. The ability to work on the Edge 540 after the race in Windsor will

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says Pete. “Either it’s in the track, when working with the media or how the team runs itself. It’s easy for us and we’re constantly striving for excellence. “However, I have to keep in mind, especially as a 25-year-old competitive Rookie, that this is really serious sport and that it can be dangerous at times. With my plane, if I want to make it into the Top 12 session, I have to go at max power, fly the tightest lines and come into the track screaming, and this is not the right approach.” Pete manages to keep a cool head and celebrates every little success he and his team have with every race stop. “I am happy with my performances in the track so far,” he says. “In San Diego I was able to perform a smooth, penalty-free run with a good lap time, so I have achieved what I wanted to.” For Pete, Qualifying and Race Day are generally like any other day during race week. “You feel something different than before a Training session, that’s for sure,” he says. “But I just keep telling myself to take it the same as every flight. Because I am just going out to learn, fly

smooth and be in a good environment to progress. I need to keep that mind-set during the whole week. Actually, I don’t even think about the fact that there’s a championship point on the board for first place in Qualifying. Because that’s not within my reach right now. To think about that would be just wasted energy.” And what about being nervous or getting really excited? Are those familiar feelings? “If those people who know me see me getting nervous, then they get really nervous, because I normally just don’t get nervous,” says Pete. “I’ve always thought that getting nervous or scared about things doesn’t help. It just wastes mental energy and focus, and this makes everything even more difficult. I mean, don’t be careless, of course stuff matters, it’s important, but just be in a good, happy kind of chilled state and then body and mind perform the best. That’s what I’m trying to bring into Qualifying and Race Day. I can tell that a lot of the guys, when they’re under pressure, turn into a totally different person. That’s just because something got into their head. For me, at this stage there

Photography: Markus Kucera (3), Bob Martin/AP Images (1)

Not your average team: Nathan Herbert (24), Pete McLeod (25) and Ted Reynolds (27) are constantly striving for excellence.

“Go out, fly smooth and learn as much as you can! This is what I keep telling myself. I have to keep this mind-set on Qualifying and Race Day. More is not within my reach right now.”

be again very limited. “It will be tied up in logistics on its way to Europe and our next race-stop in Budapest, so no wild changes or modifications are planned for the second half of the season,” says Pete, who’s intending to fill his short summer break with workouts, healthy food and lots of flying. “I’ll be putting some time on my airshow plane and going to the gym. Also, much of the planning for 2010 will take place, and of course it’s important to recharge the entire team’s batteries for the last three races.” But that’s the future, the present is what really matters. Windsor, Ontario, is a location to which the race pilot ferried his plane on his own. “Both Ted and Nathan have pilot’s licences, but they aren’t qualified in the race plane yet. It’s ideal for the technician to be qualified in the race plane so that he can do a lot of these ferry flights and also some test flying. But we’re a new team, we only have one race plane right now and we have to take good care of it.” Pete’s ferry flight from California to Ontario went over Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana,

and Ohio. “That was the first time I’ve flown the Edge cross-country in North America,” says Pete. “It’s like going on a road trip in a race car. In this race plane we don’t have heating or insulation, because that would all be just extra weight, garbage you don’t need for racing. During the ferry flight you’re trying to go up high, maybe 3660m high in order to get better fuel economy and winds. It can get quite cold up there. You lose roughly two degrees Celsius per 300m above ground. So if you are 2000 or 2500m above ground, it’s 14 or 16 degrees below what it is on the ground. The thing is, you can’t wear too many warm clothes, because there’s not enough space in the cockpit and you’re there for around three hours, you can’t move, so after a while you’re freezing.” Luckily this cool guy didn’t transform into a block of ice during his two days and 11 hours (in total) ferry flight and is extremely motivated to do well in this race, especially as it’s in front of his home crowd, his friends, family and fans. So watch number 84 getting ‘Max Power’ out of his newly modified workhorse. red bull air race magazine

high flyers

SuShi ● with YoshI Take one fearless pilot and one peerless sushi chef. Blend them together, add in cameras and microphones and leave to simmer… Words: Matt Youson

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of San Diego Bay, he’s in his element; juggling rice, seaweed sheets and raw fish in front of a growing crowd – many of whom are shouting encouragement – he’s not. To everyone’s surprise – including Yoshi’s – the end result of his efforts looks pretty good. The next 10 minutes are filled with instructions: ‘roll’, ‘chop’, ‘water’, ‘wrap’. Yoshi begins to display a definite affinity. “It’s easy eh?” offers a cheerful Jeff. “I’d rather be eating it,” mutters Yoshi.

Yoshi on a roll: the Red Bull Air Race Rookie learns the finer points of preparing a rainbow roll from expert sushi chef Jeffrey Roberto.

Sushi On A Roll has been in business for 16 years, and was a repeat booking for Red Bull’s High Flyer’s Lounge. It’s an established name on the Southern California events scene. “We’ve catered functions where we’ve had to prepare 40,000 pieces of sushi – fortunately many of my friends in town are also sushi chefs, because I have to call in help for things like that,” says Jeff. For

Photography: Markus Kucera

When sated with the action out in the harbour, High Flyer’s Lounge guests of the Red Bull Air Race in San Diego last month had the opportunity to sample the delicacies prepared by leading sushi chef Jeffrey Roberto, the proprietor of Sushi on a Roll, San Diego’s famous sushi catering company. Jeff and his crack team of eminent sushi chefs prepared a non-stop banquet, offering a mix of Californian, fusion and traditional Japanese sushi styles. With 24 years’ experience as a sushi chef, Jeff is a master of his trade; he’s forgotten more about making sushi than most people will ever know. Of more interest to us, however, are his skills as a teacher. When it comes to sushi, Red Bull Air Race pilot Yoshihide Muroya is more of a consumer than a creator – and frankly, looked rather worried when offered the opportunity to learn the chef’s art. But fresh from his first appearance in the Red Bull Air Race Top 12, Yoshi agreed

to give it a go. It was tough deciding who was more apprehensive, Jeff or Yoshi. “Becoming a sushi chef takes years of training,” says Jeff. “It’s like learning a martial art, it takes discipline and practice. Showing someone how to roll sushi is easy, but preparing the rice… that’s a different story. It’s hard to get the rice on there without destroying it. The key to perfect sushi is being able to still see each individual whole grain, without smashing. It’s an art.” The first item on the syllabus is a rainbow roll, containing cucumber, crabmeat and avocado, with a sashimi topping. With a blur of fingers, Jeff constructs a perfectly sculpted creation, then, in the very best traditions of the Japanese game show, Yoshi takes his turn. “Sushi is an edible art form,” explains Jeff, “if it looks good, it’s going to taste good.” That probably doesn’t help Yoshi: flying the Edge 540 at 370kph, just metres above the waters

the moment, Yoshi, struggling to keep his rice intact, is concentrating on just the one piece of sushi. You have to crawl before you can walk. “Today’s menu is pretty basic, but the menu never ends up in a sushi bar,” says Jeff. “You can go to a restaurant and order a crab cake and they serve it in one way. In a sushi bar we can do it 10 different ways – the menu is endless. Sushi is all about creativity. It’s about making what your palette wants; it’s what fits your mood. And it should be fun.” The last comment is timed to perfection; Yoshi slices his offering and presents it to uproarious applause, though it’s probably more in recognition of the effort rather than the beauty. Then someone suggests that now Jeff has taught Yoshi how to make sushi, Yoshi should teach Jeff how to fly a plane. “Oh that’s OK, says Jeff. “I have about 140 flying hours already. It was pretty much my major in college…”

“sushi is like learning a martial art, it takes discipline and practice. showing someone how to roll sushi is easy, but preparing the rice…” red bull air race magazine

Tech Talk

Ivanoff on the edge Two races into the 2009 Red Bull Air Race season and Nicolas Ivanoff has been the fastest man flying. As a proven race winner his talents have never been in doubt, but the switch to an Edge 540 seems to have made the Quick Frenchman ultra-competitive. Is the plane the thing? Team Ivanoff answer the question. Words: matt youson

ometimes the real story isn’t the one that gets reported. In Abu Dhabi, for the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2009 season, Hannes Arch narrowly beat Paul Bonhomme. It was a continuation of the title battle from the previous year; the Austrian and the Englishman fighting tooth and claw for air superiority. On the ground, the battle between technicians Vito Wyprächtiger and Wade Hammond provided the subplot. In a winter of frenzied development and testing, the Edge 540 race planes of both pilots had undergone serious modification: one concentrating on weight reduction, the other on improved aerodynamics. Abu Dhabi didn’t settle the argument, the times all weekend too close to suggest any particular dominance for either direction. Instead, they served to prolong the discussion. They also hid the fact that Nicolas Ivanoff, though

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finishing third, had on raw pace been the fastest man in the air. Penalties in each round served to conceal that in reality no one could get close to the orange blur of the mercurial Frenchman’s plane. The next race, in San Diego, produced more of the same – only Ivanoff was avoiding the penalties. In the Final 4 he flew clean and flew well to record his second race victory and his first since Perth 2007. “We always knew Nicolas would be fast when he got into a decent plane,” said one of his neighbouring pilots on the Red Bull Air Race Airport, alluding to the fact that after struggling with an Extra 300SR in 2008, Ivanoff is now competing with an Edge 540 of his own. With hindsight, it looks like an intelligent tactical move, though Ivanoff is quick to point out that the new rules precluded him from continuing with the asymmetrical-winged Extra. “The

The right lines: Nicolas Ivanoff in his orange Edge 540 speeds through the track on the way to winning in San Diego.

Photography: Bob Martin/AP Images

red bull air race magazine

Tech Talk

red bull air race magazine

difference between the new Edges and the older ones,” he says. “The set-up of the [now removable] wingtips has changed, and we asked the factory to give us a plane with the minimum weight they could do; so we probably have one of the lightest – unmodified – planes, but beyond that… well, the colour is different. “We didn’t have time to think about factory modifications. Also, I didn’t have the knowledge to suggest any because I didn’t know the plane. I was not in a position to decide what would be good and what would be bad. Now, knowing the plane a little bit better, we can do things to it ourselves. I imagine we will work on areas such as the wheel fairings, the landing gear, maybe the coaming also.” Team Ivanoff tried to fit a more aerodynamic canopy between the Middle East and Californian races, but that project didn’t work out and the team chose not to devote excessive time to remedying the situation. The one notable change from the plane that left the factory is a new, lighter exhaust system, developed by a French supplier usually linked with developing components for Formula One cars. The team have no major revisions due for this weekend, preferring to wait until after this race. “We will have more time when we are back in Europe, when we can work from our home base,” says Nicolas. “Unlike the [North] American pilots, it’s really hard for us to do modifications out here. “Another factor to consider is that this is a new plane. We have to run it for a while to work out what we need to do. There are modifications that we could have done quickly, but that comes with a risk. It’s better to run it for two or three races, take our time and figure out what we really need, and then do those things well. We have to fly the plane to understand it; we have to learn about the aircraft, find out what it likes, what it doesn’t like and make changes that really work. I don’t want to make minor changes; I prefer to take more time and do something real.” Given the apparent superiority of Ivanoff and his Edge at the moment, the Frenchman might be forgiven for choosing to change nothing at all. He seems to have a balance of speed and handling that works, and Bruno in particular is wary of upsetting that equilibrium. “You must

“When I’m flying the Edge, I hear other pilots saying, ‘It’s really bumpy today,’ I think: ‘Where?’ I can’t feel the wind: the plane is very stable.” always think about the global level of performance. You need to be fast, you need to be light, you need to be manoeuvrable. It’s like a spider [Venn] diagram; you need to stay in the middle. Imagine if we have a good idea for the engine. If that improvement adds three kilograms, we must find three kilograms from somewhere else on the plane. It’s easy to say, difficult to do, but you have to stay in the middle.” “Basically we need everything,” adds Nicolas. “In this kind of flying we need a strong plane that’s very manoeuvrable, but also fast and lightweight. It isn’t like a race plane set-up for huge turns like maybe you see at Reno. Think of those as being like a car that is fast on the highway. For the Red Bull Air Race we need the equivalent of a car that is fast on tight, twisty mountain roads.” Despite the stranglehold the Edges have on the podium places so far in 2009,

Team manager Jean-Paul Kieffer (top left), Nicolas (top centre and above) and Bruno (top right) have got it right so far with their Edge 540 – but the technical skills of Vito Wyprächtiger (above centre) and Wade Hammond (above right) will give Hannes Arch and Paul Bonhomme the ammunition to push them all the way.

Photography: Markus Kucera (3), Tom Lovelock/AP Images (1), Denis Poroy/AP Images (1)

Edge really is very different,” reflects Nicolas. “The Extra was a prototype for the Red Bull Air Race. It had some good qualities but also a lot of… mistakes. With the Edge it was nice to get into something that was instantly very good on a racetrack. The Extra made it hard to do a fast roll and the plane was almost unflyable when the weather was windy and bumpy. When you fly somewhere like San Diego and you come into the downtown area, it isn’t likely to be smooth. Last year it was hard for me to have a good time; now, when I’m flying the Edge, I hear other pilots saying, ‘It’s really bumpy today.’ I think: ‘Where?’ I can’t feel the wind any more: the plane is very stable.” Unlike the teams of rivals Bonhomme and Arch, Ivanoff hasn’t had a winter to prepare his plane. In fact, taking delivery shortly before the season began, the Frenchman had barely five hours’ flight time before arriving in Abu Dhabi. “We had one week in the Zivko factory in Oklahoma City,” recounts Nicolas. “We went to the factory on Monday; I was able to fly the plane on Thursday afternoon and on Friday we started to disassemble the plane, to ship it to Abu Dhabi. We didn’t have time to do anything other than run-up the engine.” An enquiry of how his plane happens to be quite so quick elicits only a smile and a shrug. “I know nothing about the plane. If the plane it fast, it’s due to Bruno. For that you really have to ask him.” Team Ivanoff technician Bruno Marlière had very little sleep during the warm-up week before the Abu Dhabi race. “We did a few things that have proved good enough in giving us some speed. The Lycoming engine is really easy to work with – there’s lots of potential to adapt the settings, and I was lucky to find good ones in a short period of time.” Zivko’s Edge 540 makes up the bulk of the race field and has a formidable reputation in competition aerobatics; but constructing aircraft isn’t a massproduction activity; rarely will two planes the same roll out of the factory; consequently the oldest Edge in the Red Bull Air Race, that of Pete McLeod, is somewhat different to the latest edition owned by Ivanoff – though the pilot stresses that the variations are not that great. “I don’t think there is much

there have been flashes of performance from the competitor MXS-R aircraft also, suggesting the Edge 540 isn’t going to enjoy its previous hegemony. The allcarbon-fibre planes from MX Aircraft, as flown by Peter Besenyei, Matt Hall, Nigel Lamb, Alejandro Maclean and Sergey Rakhmanin, are light, nimble and capable of great speed – but as Bruno Marlière points out, outright speed between the air gates isn’t the only factor to take into consideration over a gruelling season. “There are advantages for the MXS for sure. It’s a nice smooth machine with good curves and of course it’s really, really fast. But an Edge can be fast also, and if you have an Edge you can think about configuration more; with an MXS you can’t change the shape too much because the skin is also the structure. “Speaking purely from the technical point of view, I have a better feeling

with the Edge because it is steel tubing and so we can repair it easily. You don’t need to be completely involved in carbon-fibre engineering and design. I think if you have trouble with an MXS, you often have to be an expert in carbon fibre to fix it. On this Edge, if you have a hard landing, for example, and need to carry out an inspection, it’s easy to examine the steel tubing.” The mix of Ivanoff’s effusive élan and the Edge’s sheer competence were always expected to be a potent combination, but quite how quickly the Frenchman has got to grips with new aircraft has raised some eyebrows out in the pitlane, including those of Ivanoff himself. Like any race pilot he has the confidence to back himself, but there is a difference between the self-belief to fly well and an empirical expectation of victory. “I saw the modifications of Paul [Bonhomme] and Hannes [Arch]

and suspected they would be very fast. I didn’t have any expectations for us because I didn’t know the plane, it was still so new,” he says. Both Nicolas and Bruno believe there is greater potential in their plane, waiting to be teased out as they familiarize themselves with it’s quirks and foibles. They’re certain, for example, that the engine has more horsepower waiting to be tapped. The Red Bull Air Race doesn’t tend to engage in the technological PR phoney war so beloved of other motorsports, but it’s a claim that will give the competition pause for thought. Of course, Ivanoff being quick with the plane straight out of the wrapper suggests the real worry should be that the Frenchman in the orange scarf with matching plane is motivated and flying beautifully – but sometimes the real story isn’t the one you hear. red bull air race magazine

xxxxx

And and the emmy goes to... …the team responsible for the Red Bull Air Race TV program for stunning coverage and technical excellence. Here’s who they’d like to thank… Words: matt youson

Photography: Markus Kucera (5)

t the Red Bull Air Race, as with any sport, there are those who stand in the limelight, and those behind the scenes who’s job it is to make sure the limelight is working properly and pointing in the right direction. But recently that position has been subtly reversed; members of the hard-working production crew have been seen walking with a jaunty step, enormous smiles and occasionally posing for photographs. This, apparently, is what you do after winning an Emmy. The Red Bull Air Race World Championship television program on Fox Sports Network received a prestigious Sports Emmy Award at the annual New York gala. Up against stiff competition from the big networks with coverage of signature events such as the Beijing Olympics and NASCAR Sprint Cup, the team who produce the Red Bull Air Race broadcasts went into the awards as underdogs. They won the award for ‘outstanding team technical remote’, which honours the outside broadcast technology used to present the pictures, seen on the Jumbotron screens and transmitted around the world for sports, news and dedicated programming. Generating pictures from the Red Bull Air Race requires massive collaboration: the FSN program was produced by GRACE Productions, together with production

company West4Media and technology suppliers SiVision, Riedel Communications [see page 37] and Sky Media. “I’ve had a lot of adventures during my career in TV, but this one has to be the top,” says Imre Sereg, CEO of SiVision, the company responsible for the TV production hardware. Everything from the ground-based cameras to the editing

suites and mixers comes from them. In total 13 containers, which hold 40 tonnes of equipment, have made the trip from California to Windsor. It is, explains Imre, rather more challenging than producing a run-of-the-mill sportscast. “We’ve done motor racing, golf, even music videos, but from the sheer scale, the workflow, the complexity, working on the Red Bull Air Race is the biggest. This isn’t like working in a football arena. The Red Bull Air Race puts itself downtown right in the middle of the action, and so we have the challenges of making everything work while not interrupting the life of the city – and I love it! “We bring full-HD equipment; we have super-motion cameras, we have

A massive 40 tonnes of broadcast hardware lead the way as the Red Bull Air Race World Championship arrives in town, setting up a production network that changes with every city. red bull air race magazine

report

THE ART OF COMMUNICATION The Red Bull Air Race provides several unique broadcasting challenges. You won’t notice it, but some clever technology is installed at every location.

The TV compound sits at the centre of a network that might stretch 6km in length, bringing pictures from ﬁxed cameras, race planes and the camera helicopter.

wireless cameras, we have fibre-optic cables going up to 3km away from the studio. In fact, they go up to 3km left, 3km right and 800m to the far side of the box. It’s a spectacular sport, but it’s very hard to cover – though winning an Emmy suggests we do it pretty well.” With SiVision supplying the hardware and Riedel looking after the video, audio and data communication links, editorial responsibility lies with West4Media, directing the broadcast from the TV compound. “I’ve produced football, motor racing, skiing and the Olympics, and I have

Jürg takes practice sessions as seriously as the racing pilots, more so in fact. While they only need to memorize their own path, he has to learn the routes of all 15. “Everyone flies the course a different way – which means I take a lot of notes!” Another task for Sky Media are the race plane cameras. Both the HD cockpit camera and the SD tail cams are bespoke, designed by Sky Media specifically for the Red Bull Air Race. “I’m very proud of my team for the work they’ve done in a difficult environment,” adds Jürg. “When we started working with onboards, the conventional wisdom was that covering aerobatics like this was impossible. Nothing on the market could survive the constant high-G and still provide good pictures; that’s why we needed to design our own equipment on a clean sheet of paper. Winning the Emmy is terrific. It gives everyone a boost because it says we’re going in the right direction. It inspires us, and the rest of the broadcasting team, to do even better in the future.”

to say this is much more difficult,” agrees West4Media founder Alexander Strohmer. “Consider a Formula One race: everyone on the production side knows the shape of the racetrack; you have the same camera positions every year and normally the cableways are already there. You show up with the camera, plug in and start up. At the Red Bull Air Race you have to start from scratch at each location. “It’s really interesting to get involved with the aviation department when the track is designed. They talk to us before making their final decisions to ensure we

“We can deliver really good pictures because we’re right inside the track, crossing the flight path, dodging pylons.” 36

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have something that works well for the TV production as well as for the race itself. It’s good to be part of the team – and it really is a close team, despite us all being from different companies.” Perhaps the most specialized input to the Red Bull Air Race’s TV feed comes from Sky Media. It’s certainly the most visible, with company owner Jürg Fleischmann piloting the TV helicopter that brings pictures live from inside the race box. “We’ve been part of the team from the start, and a lot of trust has developed between us and the pilots,” says Jürg. “If you watch the race you’ll see that sometimes I’m flying the helicopter only a few metres away from the race planes. When the Red Bull Air Race first started we were flying way outside of the box, but we’ve crept in closer and closer with each race. Today we can deliver really good pictures because we’re right inside the track, crossing the flight path, dodging around the pylons. That requires quite a lot of trust on both sides.”

Photography: Markus Kucera (5), Tom Lovelock/AP Images

Producing broadcast images for the Red Bull Air Race is a collaborative process from a team comprising SiVision (broadcast hardware), West4Media (broadcast editorial), Riedel (communications networking) and SkyVision (helicopter and race-plane cameras). It’s a big crew…

Broadcasting a race requires an enormous collaborative effort and a very robust communications network to underpin it. That’s where the Red Bull Air Race relies on Riedel Communications and, this season, a new product called MediorNet. Riedel’s technology sits in the background of major sporting events around the globe, but the Red Bull Air Race provides some special challenges. “It’s a sport where signals of all kinds are needed, not only for the broadcast production, but also for safety and operational needs, such as communications from race control,” explains managing director Thomas Riedel (above, right). There’s a vast area within the broadcast compound and around the whole site that needs to be connected – and this is where we use MediorNet.” While the obvious infrastructure of the grandstands, hangars and control towers goes up for all to see in the days and weeks before the actual race, accompanying that is the often unseen effort to install the technological underpinnings without which the championship cannot function. It’s a massive task that takes meticulous planning, and one that the new MediorNet boxes are making much easier. “The MediorNet system is about simplifying the cable infrastructure for broadcast

production. If you look at the environment for any sports production, be it the Red Bull Air Race or a football match or F1, sorting out the cabling is often the biggest job. Our idea was to create a decentralized network that can handle all the different formats of signal – audio, video, data, etc – while also handling signal processing: for example outputting HD broadcasts in standard definition where required. “Think of it like how things work in the IP world: you have one network and you put all kinds of stuff on it like computers, printers and telephones. That sort of technology wouldn’t work for broadcast applications because it isn’t real time. And until now it hasn’t been possible to have one network with real-time distribution of signals.” Designed in-house, Riedel unveiled MediorNet at this year’s NAB show in Las Vegas. At the same time it was being deployed half a world away at the Abu Dhabi race, where one network of fibre optic connecting MediorNet boxes replaced hundreds of separate cables and control systems. While currently a Red Bull Air Race exclusive, MediorNet will soon be rolled out to thousands of other applications and coverage ranging from presidential elections to the Olympic Games.

Riedel have ofﬁces around the world and will be quietly organizing in the background of events from Major League Baseball to the German presidential elections. The Red Bull Air Race is one of their toughest challenges. RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

PROFILES

PETER BESENYEI HUNGARY, MXS-R

DATE OF BIRTH: September 22, 1967 BIRTHPLACE: Leoben, Styria, Austria HOME: Salzburg, Austria HOBBIES: mountaineering, climbing, music WEBSITE: www.hannesarch.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Champion 2007: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 10th 2006: European Champion in Freestyle Aerobatics 2005: Red Bull Air Race Race Director 2003: BASE-jump, Matterhorn (SUI) 2000: BASE-jump, Eiger North Face (SUI) 1991: Ascent of Mount Balrog and Mount London (Alaska) 1983: First solo flight WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 1ST

PAUL BONHOMME ENGLAND, EDGE 540

DATE OF BIRTH: June 8, 1956 BIRTHPLACE: Körmend, Hungary HOME: Herceghalom, Hungary HOBBIES: fishing, parachuting, photography, car racing WEBSITE: www.besenyeipeter.hu

DATE OF BIRTH: September 22, 1964 BIRTHPLACE: Buckinghamshire, England HOME: Cambridgeshire, England HOBBIES: motorcycling, mountain-biking WEBSITE: www.teambonhomme.com

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 5th 2007: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 3rd 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 2nd 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 2nd FAI World Grand Prix, 1st 2001: FAI World Grand Prix, 1st 2000: Freestyle Aerobatics World Champion, Unlimited 1998: FAI World Grand Prix, 1st 1995: European Champion of the Compulsory Program Freestyle Aerobatics European Champion, Unlimited 1994: Compulsory Program World Champion 1972: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 2nd 2007 : Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 2nd 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 4th 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 5th All FAI World Grand Prix results in the formation team category as the Sukhoi Duo/Matadors: FAI World Grand Prix SUI, 1st FAI World Grand Prix UAE, 3rd 2004: FAI World Grand Prix UAE, 1st 2002: FAI World Grand Prix CZE, 2nd FAI World Grand Prix JPN, 1st 2001: FAI World Grand Prix JPN, 2nd 2000: FAI World Grand Prix JPN, 1st 1981: First solo flight

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 6TH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 3RD

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

DATE OF BIRTH: October 18, 1959 BIRTHPLACE: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA HOME: Flying Crown Ranch, Arizona, USA HOBBIES: skydiving, running, motocross WEBSITE: www.kirbychambliss.com

GLEN DELL SOUTH AFRICA, EDGE 540 DATE OF BIRTH: April 9, 1962 BIRTHPLACE: Johannesburg, South Africa HOME: Kyalami, South Africa HOBBIES: vintage aircraft, helicopters WEBSITE: www.glendellaerobatics.com

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 3rd 2007: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 4th 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Champion 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 3rd FAI World Aerobatic Championships, 3rd (solo and team) 2003: FAI World Aerobatic Championships, 2nd and 3rd 2000: Free Program World Champion 1998: FAI World Aerobatic Championships, 2nd and 3rd 1997: International Aerobatic Champion 1979: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Eight times South African National Aerobatic Champion (Advanced) 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 12th 2004 : FAI Advanced World Aerobatic Champion 2002: FAI Advanced World Aerobatic Championships, 10th 2000: FAI Advanced World Aerobatic Championships, 20th 1999: FAI Advanced World Aerobatic Championships, 5th 1995: FAI Advanced World Aerobatic Championships, 13th 1978: First solo flight

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 10TH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 11TH

MATTHIAS DOLDERER GERMANY, EDGE 540 DATE OF BIRTH: September 15, 1970 BIRTHPLACE: Ochsenhausen, Germany HOME: Tannheim, Germany HOBBIES: tennis, skiing, cycling WEBSITE: www.matthiasdolderer.com

Photography: Daniel Grund

Speed, precision and skill are the attributes needed by every Red Bull Air Race pilot if they’re going to be successful in this highly demanding royal league of aviation. Here they are, the 15 heroes of the World Championship.

KIRBY CHAMBLISS USA, EDGE 540

Photography: Daniel Grund (2), AP Images for Red Bull Air Race (1)

THE PILOTS

HANNES ARCH AUSTRIA, EDGE 540

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 : Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, Super Licence, Rookie German Aerobatic Championships, Freestyle, 2nd German Aerobatic Champion, Unlimited World Aerobatics Cup, Unlimited, 2nd European Aerobatic Championships, Unlimited, 19th 2007: World Aerobatic Championships, Unlimited 2006: German Aerobatic Championships, Advanced 1991: Microlight European Championships, German Champion 1990: Microlight World Championships 1988: Microlight European Championships 1988-1991: Microlight German Championships 1984: First solo flight WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 12TH

MICHAEL GOULIAN USA, EDGE 540 DATE OF BIRTH: September 4, 1968 BIRTHPLACE: Winthrop, Massachusetts, USA HOME: Maynard, Massachusetts, USA HOBBIES: ice hockey, skiing, golf WEBSITE: www.mikegoulian.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 10th 2007 : Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 8th Art Scholl Award for Airshow Showmanship, International Council of Airshows 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 5th 1998: Member of the US Aerobatics Team 1997: Member of the US Aerobatics Team 1996: Member of the US Aerobatics Team 1995: US Unlimited Champion Member of the US Aerobatics Team 1994: Member of the US Aerobatics Team 1991: Fond du Lac Cup, Winner 1990: US Advanced Champion 1984: First solo flight WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 14TH

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

PROFILES MATT HALL AUSTRALIA, MXS-R

NICOLAS IVANOFF FRANCE, EDGE 540

MIKE MANGOLD USA, EDGE 540

DATE OF BIRTH: September 16, 1971 BIRTHPLACE: Scone, NSW, Australia HOME: Merewether, NSW, Australia HOBBIES: flying, exercise WEBSITE: www.matthallracing.com

DATE OF BIRTH: July 4, 1967 BIRTHPLACE: Paris, France HOME: London, England HOBBIES: flying, travelling, music WEBSITE: www.nicolasivanoff.com

DATE OF BIRTH: October 10, 1955 BIRTHPLACE: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA HOME: Victorville, California, USA HOBBIES: skydiving, racing jets, family WEBSITE: www.mikemangold.us

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 : Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, Super Licence, Rookie 2006: Australian Aerobatic Champion, Advanced 2004: USAF F15E Exchange 2003: East Coast Aerobatic Championship, Sportsman, 1st USAF F15E Exchange 2002: USAF F15E Exchange 1999: Dux Fighter Combat Instructor (Top Gun) 1997: Fighter Pilot of the Year 1992: Military Wings 1986: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 9th 2007 : Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 7th French Aerobatic Championships, 2nd 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 8th 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 7th 2004: French Aerobatic Championships, 2nd 2000: World Aerobatic Championships, 1st (team) 1988: Microlight European Championships 1983: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 : Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 4th Reno Air Races, Jet Class, 2nd 2007 : Red Bull Air Race World Champion 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 3rd 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Champion 2004: World Air Games, 3rd (team) 2002: US Unlimited Aerobatics Point Series Champion World Air Games, 3rd (team) 2001: World Air Games, 3rd (team) 1977: First solo flight

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 5TH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 8TH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 2ND

PETE MCLEOD CANADA, EDGE 540 DATE OF BIRTH: February 23, 1984 BIRTHPLACE: Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada HOME: London, Ontario, Canada HOBBIES: ice hockey, outdoor sports WEBSITE: petemcleodaerosports.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 : Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, Super Licence, Rookie European Aerobatic Championships, 12th 2007: Youngest unrestricted surface-level display pilot 2006: US National Aerobatic Championships, 2nd BF Goodrich Award, Youngest Canadian Airshow performer 2004: North American Collegiate Aerobatic Champion Mid-America Series Champion Undefeated in 2004 with five 1st place finishes Four times winner of the Highest Scoring Pitts Award 2000: First solo flight WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 15TH

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Eight times British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion Four times British Freestyle Champion Member of the British team: Three World Aerobatic Championships Two European Championships 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 7th 2007: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 9th 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 10th 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 10th 2000-2003: Breitling Fighters Display Team, manager and pilot 1994-1999: Golden Dreams Aerobatic Team Leader 1989-1993: Toyota Aerobatic Team Leader 1989: Masters of Aerobatics SA, 2nd 1985-1988: Marlboro Aerobatic Team Leader 1976: First solo flight WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 4TH

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

YOSHIHIDE MUROYA JAPAN, EDGE 540

SERGEY RAKHMANIN RUSSIA, MXS-R

DATE OF BIRTH: August 6, 1969 BIRTHPLACE: Madrid, Spain HOME: Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain HOBBIES: skydiving, films, helicopters WEBSITE: www.teammaclean.com

DATE OF BIRTH: January 27, 1973 BIRTHPLACE: Nara, Japan HOME: Fukushima, Japan HOBBIES: flying, snowboarding, zazen WEBSITE: www.yoshi-muroya.jp

DATE OF BIRTH: October 18, 1961 BIRTHPLACE: Chemnitz, Germany HOME: St Petersburg, Russia HOBBIES: flying, travelling, skiing WEBSITE: www.sergeyrakhmanin.com

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Twice Spanish Aerobatics Champion, 2nd 11 times 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 8th 2007: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 6th 2006: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 9th 2005: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 9th Captain of the Spanish Aerobatic Team 2001: World Aerobatic Championships, 10th 1998: Lithuania Aerobatic Championships, 1st 1987: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 : Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, Super Licence, Rookie FAI World Grand Prix Haute Voltige Montegi, 6th 2007: FAI World Grand Prix Haute Voltige Montegi, 5th 2006: FAI Al Ain Aerobatics Championships, 5th 1995: Japan Glider Competition, 3rd 1991: First solo flight

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2008: Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 11th 2007 : Red Bull Air Race World Championship, 12th 2005: World Aerobatic Champion World Grand Prix of Aerobatics, 3rd 2004: European Aerobatic Championships, 2nd 2003: World Aerobatic Champion Russian Aerobatic Champion 2002: Russian Aerobatic Champion European Aerobatic Championships, 2nd 2000: Tchakolov Cup, 1st 1999: European Aerobatic Champion Russian Aerobatic Champion 1995: Russian Aerobatic Champion World Glider Aerobatics Championships, 3rd 1991: USSR Aerobatic Champion 1980: First solo flight

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 13TH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 9TH

Photography: AP Images for Red Bull Air Race

DATE OF BIRTH: August 17, 1956 BIRTHPLACE: Zimbabwe, Africa HOME: Oxfordshire, England HOBBIES: skiing, scuba-diving, racquetball WEBSITE: www.nigellamb.com

ALEJANDRO MACLEAN SPAIN, MXS-R

Photography: Daniel Grund

NIGEL LAMB ENGLAND, MXS-R

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009: 7TH

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

THE PLANE

RACE PLANE CLOSE-UP Two types of plane are used in the Red Bull Air Race, the Edge 540 and the MXS-R. Check out Kirby Chambliss’ Edge 540, a power package with more than 300hp.

SPECIFICATIONS LENGTH WINGSPAN WEIGHT POWER TOP SPEED ROLL RATE MAX G ENGINE WING DESIGN PROPELLER PILOTS FLYING IT

EDGE 540 (ZIVKO AERONAUTICS, USA) 6.30m (20.7ft) 7.43m (24.4ft) 540kg (1190lb) 340hp 426kph (265mph) 420°/sec +/-12G AEIO 540 EXP Symmetric, carbon fibre Hartzell Claw MT-PROB Arch, Bonhomme, Chambliss, Dell, Dolderer, Goulian, Ivanoff, Mangold, McLeod, Muroya

MXS -R (MX AIRCRAFT, USA) 6.28m (20.6ft) 7.31m (23.9ft) 540kg (1190lb) 350hp 426kph (265mph) 450°/sec +/-12G AEIO 540 EXP Symmetric, carbon fibre Hartzell Claw MT-PROB Besenyei, Hall, Lamb, Maclean, Rakhmanin

THE AIRCRAFT AILERONS. The ailerons are used to let the aircraft roll around its longitudinal axis. They are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing and move in opposite directions. When the pilot moves the stick left, the left aileron goes up and the right aileron goes down simultaneously. ELEVATOR. The elevator is used to move the nose up or down. It is mounted on the back edge of the horizontal stabilizer on each side of the fin in the tail. When the pilot pulls the stick backwards, the elevator goes up. Pushing the stick forwards causes the elevator to go down. ENGINE. Race engines are six-cylinder boxer engines. These 540 cubic inch engines are fuel-injected. Race plane engines have between 320 and 350hp. FUSELAGE. The fuselage can be manufactured from different materials. Some are carbon fibre, others steel tube. The main target is to achieve a lightweight, strong structure. PROPELLER. The most widely used propellers in the Red Bull Air Race are three-blade variable-pitch propellers. The hub is aluminium and the blades are made of natural composite with a fibre-reinforced epoxy cover or carbon fibre. The maximum diameter is 203cm, with a weight of 25kg. The maximum propeller rotation is 2700rpm. RUDDER. The pilot uses his feet to control the rudder, which is mounted on the back edge of the fin in the tail assembly. The rudder allows the pilot to turn the plane around its vertical axis. SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Pilots are strapped into their seats with five-point safety harnesses, similar to the ones used in car racing. Every competitor has a parachute onboard. Due to the low-level flying and to avoid extra weight, race planes have no ejection seat. SPADES. It is almost impossible to overcome the amount of drag without spades. They grab air that pushes them down or up and this reduces stick forces when rolling the plane. UNDERCARRIAGE. The undercarriage consists of two bigger wheels at the front and one fairly small wheel at the back of the plane. They cannot be pulled in while in the air. On the ground, the rear wheel is steered by the rudder pedals. The main carriage is covered by carbon-fibre bodywork and equipped with small disc brakes. WINGS. The wings are 100 per cent carbon fibre for minimum inertia, high performance and agility. They also contain fuel tanks for long-distance flights, which are always empty in race trim to reduce overall weight.

Animation: Peter Clausen Film & TV

AXIS AND ROTATIONS

PITCH

ROLL YAW

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

THE COCKPIT

PILOT’S VIEW Find out about the features of Peter Besenyei’s MXS-R race plane.

AIRSPEED INDICATOR. This shows the plane’s speed (in knots) relative to the air. It works by measuring the ram-air pressure in the plane’s pitot tube. ALTIMETER. Indicates the aircraft’s altitude (in feet) above a reference level by measuring the static air pressure. It is adjustable for local barometric pressure. Pilots must observe their assigned altitudes in holdings and routes to and from the Red Bull Air Race Airport. AVI. The switch that turns on all the electronics. BREAKERS. These are there to protect various electrical components. EFIS. This race device gives the pilot information about his run. He can use the touch-screen facility to switch between different display modes. It also sends speed or G info to the Race Tower. ENGINE ANALYZER. A high-tech device that records engine data. After a flight, the engineers download the info for analysis. The little switch on top of it is the voice alarm for engine parameters. It warns the pilot in case of any system’s failure or fluctuations in engine performance. FUEL-PUMP SWITCH. Used by the pilot to switch between all three fuel tanks: right wing, left wing and main tank. During the race only the main tank contains fuel. Race planes run on Aviation Gasoline (AvGas), a 100 octane low-lead fuel. In race trim, 50 litres are aboard. Around 2 litres are burned per minute. FUEL SWITCH. This is the electric boost pump that’s used when starting the plane and when switching fuel tanks. G-METER. Shows the pilot how many G he is pulling or pushing. Competitors must not exceed 12G in sharp and quick corners, where gravitational forces are the highest. MIXTURE. Controls the air/fuel mixture that is delivered to the engine. The pilot adjusts the fuel flow with this control. OIL PRESSURE. This is a back-up device for measuring the oil pressure. If the engine analyzer has an electrical failure the pilot is still able to find out the oil pressure. PEDALS. The rudder pedals are mechanically wired to the plane’s rudder. Before take-off and after landing, the pilot uses his feet to turn the plane left or right on the ground. During flight, pushing the pedals causes the plane to turn around the vertical axis (yaw). PROP CONTROL. This is there to adjust the pitch of the propeller blades. RADIO COMMUNICATION. Connects the pilot with the Race Director and the control tower. SMK. The switch that arms the smoke system. SMOKE ON/OFF. Just before the pilot enters the track he has to turn the smoke on. White smoke emerges when paraffin oil is added to the exhaust pipes. It makes the plane’s flight path more visible. START BUTTON. Used to actuate the race plane. STICK. This is the steering wheel of the plane. Pushing it left or right causes the plane to roll. Pushing it forwards or backwards causes the nose to pitch up or down. The red button on top of the stick is the radio push-to-talk button.

Photography: Markus Kucera

THROTTLE CONTROL. By pushing the throttle control forwards or backwards the pilot changes the speed of the engine. It can be compared with the throttle pedal of a car. TRANSPONDER. Transmits information to the tower concerning the plane’s position and altitude. TRIM. Adjusts the stick pressure in pitch. VERTICAL CARD COMPASS. An instrument that indicates the plane’s heading.

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

CALENDAR

RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The Red Bull Air Race touches down on three continents this season: Asia, North America and Europe. Six unique spots provide the backdrop for the premier aviation league.

2009

STANDINGS POS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

PILOT Hannes Arch Nicolas Ivanoff Paul Bonhomme Nigel Lamb Matt Hall Peter Besenyei Sergey Rakhmanin Mike Mangold Alejandro Maclean Kirby Chambliss Glen Dell Matthias Dolderer Yoshihide Muroya Michael Goulian Pete McLeod

NAT. AUT FRA GBR GBR AUS HUN RUS USA ESP USA RSA GER JPN USA CAN

PLANE Edge 540 Edge 540 Edge 540 MXS-R MXS-R MXS-R MXS-R Edge 540 MXS-R Edge 540 Edge 540 Edge 540 Edge 540 Edge 540 Edge 540

POINTS 23 21 20 14 14 10 10 10 6 3 3 1 1 0 0

M M

CM CM

MY MY

APRIL 17 & 18 ABU DHABI, UAE

CY CY

MAY 9 & 10 SAN DIEGO, USA

JUNE 13 & 14 WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CAN

CMY CMY

PILOT

NAT.

PLANE

POINTS

POS

PILOT

NAT.

PLANE

POINTS

Hannes Arch

AUT

Edge 540

12 + 1

Nicolas Ivanoff

FRA

Edge 540

Paul Bonhomme

GBR

Edge 540

Paul Bonhomme

GBR

Edge 540

Nicolas Ivanoff

FRA

Edge 540

Hannes Arch

AUT

Edge 540

9+1

Nigel Lamb

GBR

MXS-R

Peter Besenyei

HUN

MXS-R

Matt Hall

AUS

MXS-R

Matt Hall

AUS

MXS-R

Sergey Rakhmanin

RUS

MXS-R

Nigel Lamb

GBR

MXS-R

Mike Mangold

USA

Edge 540

Mike Mangold

USA

Edge 540

Alejandro Maclean

ESP

MXS-R

Sergey Rakhmanin

RUS

MXS-R

Kirby Chambliss

USA

Edge 540

Glen Dell

RSA

Edge 540

Peter Besenyei

HUN

MXS-R

Alejandro Maclean

ESP

MXS-R

Matthias Dolderer

GER

Edge 540

Yoshihide Muroya

JPN

Edge 540

Glen Dell

RSA

Edge 540

Kirby Chambliss

USA

Edge 540

Yoshihide Muroya

JPN

Edge 540

Matthias Dolderer

GER

Edge 540

Michael Goulian

USA

Edge 540

Michael Goulian

USA

Edge 540

Pete McLeod

CAN

Edge 540

Pete McLeod

CAN

Edge 540

AUGUST 19 & 20 BUDAPEST, HUN

Population: 1.7 million Location: Hungary Time zone: UTC +2 hours Race history: races in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; first races in 2003 and 2004

RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 12 & 13 PORTO, POR

Population: 240,000 Location: Portugal Time zone: UTC +1 Race history: races in 2007 and 2008

Population: 220,000 Location: Ontario, Canada Time zone: UTC -4 hours Race history: new location

OCTOBER 3 & 4 BARCELONA, ESP

Population: 1.6 million Location: Catalonia, Spain Time zone: UTC +2 hours Race history: race in 2006

Photography: Daniel Grund, Markus Kucera, Christian Pondella, Dean Treml

POS

red bull air race magazine

the rules

about the race

RULES

LEVEL FLYING The Air Gates marked in blue must be passed in a horizontal position.

KNIFE FLYING Air Gates marked in red must be passed in a vertical position.

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is supervised by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). The FAI oversees safety at each race.

As part of the natural progression of the sport as it enters its fifth championship season, race organizers have also decided to make some aDjustments to the scoring system. Pilots can gain points at each race and the one with the most points at the end of the World Championship becomes the Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

red bull air race magazine

QualiFying 1

QUALIFYING QualiFying 2

WILD WilD CARD carD

Two flying sessions. BesT Time counTs. winner receives one poinT

FASTEST TWO PILOTS ADVANCE TO TOP 12*

pilot 01

pilot 02

INCORRECT KNIFE FLYING The racer deviates from vertical flight by more than 20° or tilts his plane to the wrong side. Penalty 2 seconds

THE QUADRO The Quadro is made up of four pylons positioned in a square. It must be passed in knife flight.

TURNING MANOEUVRE The turning manoeuvre at the end of the course can either describe a horizontal turn or a climbing (tilted) turn up to a pure vertical flight path including roll. It has to be flown inside the safety area.

FLYING TOO HIGH The competitor passes the Air Gate or chicane too high. Penalty 2 seconds

DANGEROUS FLYING Dangerous flying includes flying too low, crossing the crowd line, exceeding the start speed limit (370kph) or max G (12G). Disqualification!

TOUCHING AN AIR GATE The competitor touches a pylon with the wing or propeller. Penalty 6 seconds

DAY Day 2 / RACE race DAY Day

1 pt

TOP 12 FASTEST EIGHT PILOTS ADVANCE TO SUPER 8*

SUPER 8 FASTEST FOUR PILOTS ADVANCE TO FINAL 4*

FINAL 4

POINTS

FOUR PILOTS COMPETE FOR VICTORY*

PILOT 15

WILD CARD

PILOT 08

PILOT 04

1ST

pilot 02

PILOT 14

WILD CARD

PILOT 07

PILOT 03

2ND

pilot 03

PILOT 13

PILOT 10

PILOT 06

PILOT 02

3RD

pilot 04

PILOT 12

PILOT 09

PILOT 05

PILOT 01

4TH

pilot 05

PILOT 11

PILOT 08

PILOT 04

5TH

pilot 06

PILOT 07

PILOT 03

6TH

pilot 07

PILOT 06

PILOT 02

7TH

pilot 08

PILOT 05

PILOT 01

8TH

pilot 09

PILOT 04

9TH

pilot 10

PILOT 03

10TH

pilot 11

PILOT 02

11TH

pilot 12

PILOT 01

12-15TH

pilot 13

pilot 14

pilot 15

Illustration: Seso Media Group

A WilD carD session will open Race Day with the five slowest from Qualifying getting a second chance by battling it out for the final two spots in the Top 12. The fastest eight from the Top 12 advance to the super 8 and the four fastest go all-out against the clock in the Final 4 – with the fastest pilot being declared the winner.

DAY Day 1 / QUALIFYING QualiFying DAY Day

Directly aDvance to top 12

From 12 to 15. The largest expansion of the starting field in the history of the Red Bull Air Race made it necessary to revamp this season’s race format. It features a QualiFying Day with all pilots racing to be one of the 10 fastest to take them directly through to the Top 12 session on Race Day. For the first time ever, Qualifying will also be a race for one championship point, which will be awarded to the pilot with the best time in Qualifying.

CHICANE The Chicane consists of three single pylons which must be passed in slalom flight.

race For WilD carD

race format

INCORRECT LEVEL FLYING The pilot deviates from level flight by 10° or more. Penalty 2 seconds

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an international series of races with the objective to navigate an aerial race track featuring air-filled pylons, known as Air Gates, in the fastest possible time incurring as few penalties as possible. The total length of the race track is approximately 5km.

* STARTING ORDER FOR ALL SESSIONS ON RACE DAY IS DETERMINED BY THE RESULTS IN QUALIFYING. THE SLOWEST FROM QUALIFYING FLIES FIRST RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

location

AreA MAp

Abu Dhabi

The race in Windsor, Ontario, will take place over the Detroit River. Check out the viewing areas and the challenging race track.

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the rAce Weekend Schedule

Saturday, June 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Qualifying day 11:00 Doors Open 12:30 Pre Show & Entertainment 14:00 Qualifying 1 15:45 Qualifying 2 18:00 Doors Close

* The schedule is subject to change.

red bull air race magazine

Sunday, June 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; race day 10:00 Doors Open 12:00 Pre Show & Entertainment 13:00 Race Starts 13:00 Wild Card Session 14:00 Top 12 14:40 Super 8 15:15 Final 4 15:55 Award Ceremony 17:30 Doors Close

Illustration: Seso Media Group

For more inFormation visit www.redbullairrace.com

red bull air race magazine

Pure performance Absolute precision

W W W. B R E I TLI N G .C O M

Chrono-Matic

red bull air race magazine

A tribute to the first ever selfwinding chronograph (1969), bearing the Breitling signature. Officially chronometer-certified by the COSC.