Red Bull Air Race Magazine – Putrajaya

The Official Magazine PUTRAJAYA, May 17-18, 2014

Race stops

Abu Dhabi (UAE) Feb 28-Mar 01 Rovinj (CRO) Apr 12-13 Putrajaya (MAS) May 17-18 Gdynia (POL) July 26-27 Ascot (GBR) Aug 16-17 Dallas-Fort Worth (USA) Sep 06-07 Las Vegas (USA) Oct 11-12 China (CHN) Nov 01-02

No margin for error

The world’s fastest motorsport series

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Checklist

The top three in Rovinj: (l-r) Paul Bonhomme second, Hannes Arch first and Yoshihide Muroya third

Th e

Insider

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Cover Photography: Balazs Gardi/Red Bull Content Pool; Photography: Andreas Langreiter/Red Bull Content Pool

He is one of the Master Class pilots, our man within.

His identity remains secret, but not his thoughts By our very nature, pilots tend to be calm under pressure and remove themselves from the emotion of a situation. Cool, composed, collected. As race pilots, most of us have this skill in spades, but as athletes and competitors, we are nevertheless at the mercy of the passion and emotion of sport. These twin forces have fuelled athletes to great feats of victory and even pushed the boundaries of the human body: in many sports, championships are built on it. In the high-speed, low-level, ultra-precise world of the Red Bull Air Race, the emotional games it plays in your head can be a potential world champion’s worst enemy.

The previous race in Rovinj, Croatia, proved to be a clinic of sorts on the head-game of air racing. Almost half the field hit pylons in the first round and failed to post times. In some cases, logical strategy to put points on the board was simply thrown aside in favour of a bet-it-all style. We saw usually consistent pilots fall to pieces and wild-card drivers fly with robotic repetition – flashes of brilliance were followed by routs of chaos. Some blamed it on the wind. Some on the track.

I blamed it on the brain.

There is no shortage of talk about what type of conditioning and physical training we, as pilots, do to prepare for the track. I would never argue against the physical element required to fly strong and fast, but I’ll be the first to say that when compared to the mental side, it almost doesn’t matter. Simply put, if your brain can’t win, your body never will. Some guys have it, some don’t.

I take my mental game seriously. I believe I can prepare my mind to fly fast, just as I can prepare my aircraft. Without naming names, I enjoy watching the process of others. There is something to be learned from watching a competitor execute a strong mental approach to the track. There is even more to be learned from watching a pilot’s race crumble before their eyes and being able to see it coming before they have even entered the track. Perhaps the most amusing, though, are the mind games pilots will play with each other. There are a lot of them, looking for any slight advantage they can muster before the smoke gets switched on.

standings 1. Hannes Arch (AUT)

21 Points

2. Paul Bonhomme (GBR)

21 Points

3. Pete McLeod (CAN)

12 Points

4. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN)

7 Points

5. Matt Hall (AUS)

7 Points

6. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRa)

5 Points

7. Martin Šonka (CZE)

5 Points

8. Nigel Lamb (GBR)

5 Points

9. Matthias dolderer (ger)

3 Points

10. Kirby Chambliss (USA)

0 Points

11. PÉter Besenyei (HUN)

0 Points

12. Michael Goulian (USA)

0 Points

Content 06 Bird’s Eye View Stunning pictures of the world’s fastest motorsport series 12 AIRBORNE Portraits of the 12 Master Class pilots and their team members, a look at the race planes used, plus the brand-new Challenger Cup and its pilots 30 INSIGHT Details on G-force, its effects and a plane’s dashboard 32 TRACK TIME A look at the Putrajaya racetrack and its challenges 34 LOGBOOK As precise as a Swiss watch: there’s no margin for error in the timekeeping 36 COMPETITION The sport’s rules, regulations and race format 38 PARTY Where to meet, eat, drink and dance from dusk until dawn 40 TOuCH DOWN Explore this season’s unique, exciting race venues 42 AXIS Facts of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in numbers

PUBLICATION Red Bull Air Race Magazine #3 / 2014 PUBLISHER Red Bull Air Race GmbH, Am Brunnen 1, A-5330 Fuschl am See PRODUCED BY Red Bull Media House Corporate Publishing, Heinrich-Collin-Str 1, A-1140 Vienna, redbullmediahouse.com PRINTED BY OFFSET 5020, Bayernstraße 27, A-5072 Siezenheim RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 3

Welcome to putrajaya

Photography: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

The third stop of the 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship will see the pilots racing over the picturesque Putrajaya Lake. The race teams are extremely excited at being able to compete over such a beautiful setting. Putrajaya’s impressive landmarks, such as the Putra Mosque, the stunning gardens and the imposing bridges spanning the lake provide a unique backdrop. Red Bull Air Race, the world’s fastest motorsport, is looking forward to its debut race in Malaysia.

Photography: Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool

bird’s eyE VIEW

review

A best of this season’s powerful race performances in pictures. Relive the action of the first and second stops in Abu Dhabi and Rovinj

Photography: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Abu dhabi (UAE), RACE DAY, March 1 The Red Bull Air Race World Championship returned from a three-year break in spectacular style with a thrilling battle for victory in the bright blue skies over Abu Dhabi.

Despite being a location renowned for its unpredictable winds and searing heat, the weather conditions were perfect, making the United Arab Emirates capital an ideal place to host the 2014 season opener.

Photography: Andreas Langreiter/Red Bull Content Pool

Rovinj (CRO), Challenger cup, April 12 The Rovinj Race weekend provided plenty of drama when unpredictable conditions and a challenging track saw the pilots fight to stay in contention for World Championship points. For many pilots it was a weekend of frustration, but it certainly gave the fans and spectators a rollercoaster ride on both days.

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master Class

Photography: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Experience, precision and skill are a few of the attributes required by every race pilot. They are embodied by these men.

Get to know the 12 Red Bull Air Race Master Class pilots

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Nigel Lamb is one of the most accomplished and respected pilots in the history of the Red Bull Air Race. He has been an inspiration for many other pilots and fans with his determination and meticulous approach to the sport. It has paid off handsomely as he has ascended towards the top of the standings during his five years of competition.

Lamb has pushed the sport forward with his pioneering work with the MXS-R aircraft and finally reaped the rewards of those efforts with second place finishes in three of the six 2010 races in Dubai, Rio de Janeiro and New York.

Lamb was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was inspired to take up flying

DATE OF BIRTH: March 26, 1978 BIRTHPLACE: Dv˚ur Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic HOME: Sezimovo Ústi, Czech Republic TEAM: Lance Winter (technician), Josef Šonka (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: martin-sonka.cz RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 14th

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aerobatics in a glider and later in a powered aircraft. Šonka was a fighter pilot in the 211th Tactical Squadron for 17 years, and was also a member of the Czech Air Force display team. He became a member of the Czech aerobatic team in 2005 and has flown in the Unlimited category since 2006. He holds four Unlimited championship titles and became World Freestyle Vice Champion in 2011. Šonka joined the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2010 at the age of 31 and was the second youngest pilot in the sport’s history behind only Pete McLeod of Canada.

In February 2014, he decided to give up his other commitments to focus on

THE TEAM

Team Breitling’s co-ordinator for 2014 is Victoria Griffiths.

She brings her previous experience working with Breitling pilot Mika Brageot, the Breitling wing-walking team and assisting the Breitling Jet Team.

A familiar face on the Red Bull Air Race World Championship circuit since 2007 is technician Nigel ‘Hux’ Huxtable who has over 40 years experience in maintaining aircraft, half of which has been spent building up a solid working partnership with Nigel Lamb.

NIGEL LAMB GREAT BRITAIN MXS-R DATE OF BIRTH: August 17, 1956 BIRTHPLACE: Zimbabwe, Africa HOME: Oxfordshire, Great Britain TEAM: Nigel Huxtable (technician), Victoria Griffiths (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: nigellamb.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 3rd 2009 6th 2008 7th 2007 9th 2006 10th 2005 10th

flying in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship full-time.

THE TEAM

Šonka’s older brother, Josef, returned to the Red Bull Air Race for 2014 as the team co-ordinator. Also back is Lance Winter, an experienced airframe mechanic and seasoned Red Bull Air Race World Championship tech, who has previously supported Adilson Kindlemann, as well as World Champions Mike Mangold and Kirby Chambliss.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

MARTIN ŠONKA CZECH REPUBLIC ZIVKO EDGE 540 V3

Martin Šonka is a decorated former Czech Air Force pilot with a decade of aerobatic experience to call upon. In his debut season in 2010, Šonka was admired for his steady improvement. He opted to be patient and focused on improving his flying through the Air Gates rather than paying too much attention on getting good results quickly. Šonka began flying gliders at the age of 17 at the Tabor Aeroclub near his home town of Dv˚ur Králové nad Labem.

He joined the Czech Air Force in 1997 and studied at the military academy Brno, completing his studies with a masters degree in 2005.

While he was completing his education, he began flying

by his father, who was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot in World War II. He first applied to join the Rhodesian Air Force at 11 and was finally accepted at the age of 18. He gained his wings to fly jets and helicopters in 1976, but left the Air Force as an instructor in 1980 and moved to England to join an aerobatics team.

He has been a display pilot for more than 30 years and has taken part in over 1,770 displays in more than 30 countries. Lamb is the only pilot to have won the British National Unlimited Aerobatic Championship eight times consecutively.

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in any race. He is renowned for going all-out for the wins and famously disparages second place as first loser.

Chambliss began flying when he was of 13 years old and by the age of 24 had become the youngest commercial pilot at Southwest Airlines. By the time he made it to captain at 28, he was already polishing his aerobatic skills.

His aerobatics career began in 1985. He then went on to win five US national championships in the elite Unlimited category and was crowned Freestyle World Champion in 2000.

THE TEAM

Team Chambliss’ new addition for 2014 is team co-ordinator

Stan Gray. Gray will be working closely with Chambliss’ wife, Kellie, who also supports the team.

Jason Resop has returned to offer his technical expertise.

Resop, a champion aerobatic pilot himself, understands the world of air racing inside and out and will work around the clock to ensure the Edge 540 is race-ready.

KIRBY CHAMBLISS USA ZIVKO EDGE 540 V3 DATE OF BIRTH: October 18, 1959 BIRTHPLACE: Corpus Christi, TX, USA HOME: Flying Crown Ranch, AZ, USA TEAM: Jason Resop, Danny Onofryton (technicians), Stan Gray, Kellie Chambliss (team co-ordinators) WEBSITE: teamchambliss.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 4th 2009 4th 2008 3rd 2007 4th 2006 World Champion 2005 3rd 2004 World Champion 2003 3rd

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

In a Red Bull Air Race career spanning back to 2003, Kirby Chambliss has two world titles and eight race victories under his belt. He has also landed on the podium at least once in each of the seven years he has been flying in the World Championship.

A Texas native, who has his own hangar and runway in the backyard of his house in Arizona, he is also a renowned world champion in aerobatics.

Chambliss was the dominant force in the Red Bull Air Race in its early years, winning two world championships in 2004 and 2006. Yet he has stayed competitive as the sport has evolved and is always considered to be a challenger for the podium

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Matthias Dolderer has been one of the most promising newcomers to the Red Bull Air Race since his debut in 2009. He made the podium in his first season, taking third place in the finale in Barcelona, Spain.

Dolderer has become a wellknown athlete in the Germanspeaking world thanks to his unbridled enthusiasm for the sport, his network of media and business contacts, and his ability to convey what is so special about the Red Bull Air Race to a wider audience of the uninitiated.

Highly competitive, Dolderer was one of the first pilots to invest heavily in the newest high-speed version of the Zivko Edge 540, the V3.

Dolderer, who compared the precision flying of the Red Bull Air Race to trying to park a car in a garage while travelling at nearly 400kph, took his first flight with his father at the age of three. He grew up at his parents’ flight school and at the age of five was hooked. He took his first solo flight at 14 and his life has revolved around aviation ever since. Dolderer earned his glider licence on his 17th birthday, and the same year took third place as the youngest competitor ever at the German Championships in a competition that he won three years later.

He has been a team member of the German National Team and has competed in four

German, two European and one World Championship.

THE TEAM

Dolderer’s Team includes team managers Claudia Maur and Elisabeth Hake and technician Tobias Odewald. Having previously worked as team co-ordinator for Hannes Arch, Maur returned to Team MD21 for 2014. Odewald began his aviation career at Extra Flugzeugbau in 1995, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. He now holds the A&P licence and is responsible for all technical aspects of Team MD21’s plane.

MATTHIAS DOLDERER GERMANY ZIVKO EDGE 540 V3 DATE OF BIRTH: September 15, 1970 BIRTHPLACE: Ochsenhausen, Germany HOME: Hörbranz, Austria TEAM: Tobias Odewald (technician), Claudia Maur, Elisabeth Hake (team managers) WEBSITE: matthiasdolderer.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 8th 2009 9th RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 17

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PÉTER BESENYEI HUNGARY CORVUS RACER 540 DATE OF BIRTH: June 8, 1956 BIRTHPLACE: Körmend, Hungary HOME: Herceghalom, Hungary TEAM: Vilibald Tomasic (technician), Sándor Kordás, Anna Hajnalka Buttás (team co-ordinators) WEBSITE: besenyeipeter.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 10th 2009 8th 2008 5th 2007 3rd 2006 2nd 2005 2nd 2004 2nd 2003 World Champion

DATE OF BIRTH: September 22, 1967 BIRTHPLACE: Leoben, Styria, Austria HOME: Salzburg, Austria TEAM: Nigel Dickinson (technician), Charlotte Sandgaard (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: hannesarch.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 2nd 2009 2nd 2008 World Champion 2007 10th

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Austria. He later became a paragliding test pilot and is credited with being one of the world’s first aerobatic paragliders. He went on to make an indelible mark on the paragliding scene by organising an international competition that has since become the popular Red Bull X-Alps event.

Arch began his aerobatic flying career in 1998 after he made the crossover from free flying to motorised flying and joined the Swiss National Aerobatic Team.

In 2003, he began performing in airshows across Europe in an Edge 540. He became the European Aerobatic Champion in 2006 and joined the Red Bull Air Race a year later.

to 2006 and third in 2007.

Besenyei has worked as a test pilot for the Hungarian Aviation office and as an aerobatics flying instructor.

He has progressed to becoming one of the most popular sportsman in his native Hungary, thanks to his unrivalled flying successes.

His intense interest in aviation began when he was very young. He flew a glider for the first time at the age of 15, took his first solo flight at 16 and was flying engine-powered planes by 23. In 1981, Besenyei became an aerobatics pilot, winning assorted national and international championships.

By 2010, he had flown all the aircraft used in the Red Bull Air Race, including the Edge

540, the Extra 300S and the MXS-R. He was also closely involved in the development of the Corvus Racer, which made its debut in the middle of the 2010 season.

THE TEAM

The Hungarian team members are Sandor Kordás and Anna Buttás as team co-ordinators, and technician Vilibald Tomasic. Kordás returns to Team Besenyei, having first stepped into his role as team co-ordinator in 2009.

THE TEAM

Hannes Arch is supported by team co-ordinator Charlotte Sandgaard, who ensures everything goes to plan behind the scenes.

The man who is responsible for keeping Arch’s Zivko Edge 540 V3 in top condition is his team technician, Nigel Dickinson, who has many years of experience with Red Bull Air Race.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

HANNES ARCH AUSTRIA ZIVKO EDGE 540 V3

Hannes Arch, a successful and driven pilot, became the first European to win the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2008. An accomplished all-round adventurer who has climbed many of the world’s most dizzying mountains and leapt off cliffs as a BASEjumper, Arch has pushed the development of the Red Bull Air Race forward with his hard-charging spirit.

With a determined and fearless style of flying that shook up the pilot fraternity and changed the dynamic of the entire sport, he has earned himself a dedicated following of fans and admirers.

Arch began flying aged 16 after obtaining his Special Pilots Licence in his native

Péter Besenyei has been a driving force behind the creation and development of the Red Bull Air Race. Thanks to his pioneering work in perfecting the sport’s highspeed, low-level format, Besenyei is often referred to as The Godfather of the Red Bull Air Race. His experience and expertise were put to good use when he was called in to help develop the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2001.

Two years later he took first place in the inaugural race in Zeltweg, Austria.

The Hungarian was a top title contender in the first five years of the sport, taking first overall in the inaugural 2003 season, second three years running from 2004

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problems sidelined him for part of the 2010 season.

He earned his pilot’s licence in Los Angeles at the age of 20 and started aerobatic flying in 1996 under the guide of instructor Randy Gagne. He took part in the Advanced World Aerobatic Championships a year later and began flying airshows in 1998.

In 2002, Muroya started flying in Unlimited Aerobatics and took part in the Unlimited World Aerobatic Championship in 2003. To date, he has flown in over 200 airshows.

THE TEAM

Once again, seasoned airshow and aerobatic pilot Robert Fry is assisting Muroya with operational duties, while

Takashi Nishimura is responsible for the aircraft maintenance and performance.

Despite being a New Zealander, Fry is fluent in Japanese and is a former international yacht race skipper. Nishimura, currently based in the US, runs a maintenance company that services and tests light aircraft. His extensive engineering expertise will no doubt be an indispensable asset to Yoshi’s team at the Red Bull Air Race 2014.

YOSHIHIDE MUROYA JAPAN ZIVKO EDGE 540 V2

PAUL BONHOMME Great Britain ZIVKO EDGE 540 V2

DATE OF BIRTH: January 27, 1973 BIRTHPLACE: Nara, Japan HOME: Fukushima, Japan TEAM: Takashi Nishimura (technician), Robert Fry (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: yoshi-muroya.jp RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 12th 2009 13th

DATE OF BIRTH: September 22, 1964 BIRTHPLACE: Buckinghamshire, Great Britain HOME: Cambridgeshire, Great Britain TEAM: Wade Hammond (technician), Ed Cyster, Nigel Warren (team co-ordinators) WEBSITE: teambonhomme.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 World Champion 2009 World Champion 2008 2nd 2007 2nd 2006 4th 2005 5th 2004 5th

Paul Bonhomme is the most successful pilot in the history of the Red Bull Air Race. The celebrated British ace has won a record 14 races and been on the podium 37 times in the 51 races since the sport was created in 2003. The double Red Bull Air Race World Champion (2009 and 2010) also took second place in the previous two seasons.

Bonhomme has become the most formidable pilot in the sport’s history. His drive to succeed has helped push the entire sport forward.

After his win in 2009, he was awarded the Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club and in 2010 the Guild Sword of Honour by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigation.

His father was a pilot, his mother was a flight attendant and his brother is a commercial pilot. He started flying young. As a 16-year-old he cleaned hangars, polishing planes and refuelling aircraft at White Waltham Airfield in England before getting his private pilot’s licence at 18.

He was soon working as a flight instructor and later became an air taxi pilot before flying charter flights. His aerobatics career began in 1986 and he has been flying in air shows ever since.

Bonhomme says his success has been largely due to a combined team effort.

THE TEAM

Ed Cyster joined as media team co-ordinator in 2014, while Nigel Warren focuses on the logistics.

Bonhomme’s technician.

Wade Hammond, also a pilot, came on board in 2005.

His visionary approach to modifications transformed the team’s Edge 540 during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

With the new standardisation format in place, Hammond’s skills will be put to the test again in 2014.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

Yoshihide Muroya, better known by his nickname Yoshi, is the first Asian pilot to compete in the Red Bull Air Race World, and is one of its most focused and hardest working pilots.

Muroya debuted his talents in 2009, as one of four newcomers under the tutelage of Steve Jones. Despite finishing in 13th place overall, he managed to swoop in and claim an impressive sixth spot during the final stage of the competition in Spain in less than two seconds behind race leader and two-time world champion Paul Bonhomme.

The following year, Muroya demonstrated a strong ability to remain optimistic in the face of defeat as mechanical

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Nicolas Ivanoff established himself as a bona fide title contender with his victory in San Diego and podium-filled first half of the 2009 season.

A Corsican with Russian and Greek heritage, Ivanoff is considered something of an enigma. He can win races, as perfectly demonstrated in Perth in 2008 and San Diego in 2009, and is regularly in contention for a spot on the podium. But at other times he might struggle with penalties and not even make it into the Top 8.

Ivanoff’s plane is often seen with new modifications as the team tries out improvements to assist with aerodynamics.

Fascinated by technology and minute detail, the

DATE OF BIRTH: February 23, 1984 BIRTHPLACE: Kapuskasing, ON, Canada HOME: Red Lake, ON, Canada TEAM: Patrick Phillips (technician), Dan Gysbers (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: petemcleodracing.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 5th 2009 15th

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licence at 16 and started doing aerobatics at age 18. He quickly earned his aerobatic instructor rating and began flying competitive aerobatics.

After early successes and several titles, including the North American Collegiate Championship, which he won aged 20, McLeod moved on to the professional world stage at the age of 23. He joined the airshow circuit in 2006 and took second place in the Advanced category of the United States Aerobatic Championship in 2007.

McLeod is determined and highly focused and has a goal of becoming the youngest Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

THE TEAM

Ivanoff’s team for 2014 consists of team manager Jean-Paul Kieffer, team

co-ordinator Virginie Wiacek, and engineer Martin Barth.

Kieffer, a fellow pilot, is considered the perfect balance between Ivanoff’s impulsive nature and Barth’s measured approach. Barth joined the team in 2010 and, despite already having an array of relevant maintenance licences behind him, described his inaugural World Championship season as a steep learning curve.

NICOLAS IVANOFF FRANCE ZIVKO EDGE 540 V2 DATE OF BIRTH: July 4, 1967 BIRTHPLACE: Ajaccio, Corsica HOME: Brussels, Belgium TEAM: Martin Barth (technician), Jean-Paul Kieffer (team manager), Virginie Wiacek (media co-ordinator) WEBSITE: nicolasivanoff.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 6th 2009 5th 2008 9th 2007 7th 2006 8th 2005 7th 2004 9th

THE TEAM

Fellow Ontario native Dan Gysbers is supporting the Pete McLeod Racing team as co-ordinator for the 2014 season. Gysbers is also an experienced pilot and is a trained assistant chief flight instructor, too. Team technician Patrick Phillips will be on hand to ensure McLeod’s Edge 540 V3 performs to specification.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

PETE MCLEOD CANADA ZIVKO EDGE 540 V3

Pete McLeod made great improvements in his first two seasons in the World Championship, jumping from 15th place in his debut season in 2009 to fifth in 2010.

At the age of 25, McLeod made history when he became the youngest pilot ever to fly in the Red Bull Air Race. He had learned valuable lessons watching and listening to the established pilots. He put these tips to good use during his second year as his rise through the ranks meant he was a serious contender for the title.

McLeod was first handed the controls when he was on his father’s knee at the age of three and has been flying ever since. He got his private pilot’s

Frenchman creates an enviable mix of style and substance during his flights.

After an extensive career as a flight instructor at Corsica’s Corse Voltige flying school, Ivanoff decided to change direction slightly and, in 1990, he became an aerobatic pilot.

Seven years later, he joined the French Aerobatics Team and was a member of the French team that won the World Championship in Toulouse in 2000. He also took second place at the French Unlimited Aerobatics Championship in 2004.

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MATT HALL AUSTRALIA MXS-R

masterfully pulled his plane back up into the sky after his wheels hit the water.

Hall, who won Australia’s Fighter Pilot of the Year award in 1997, is a third generation aviator, with his grandfather flying during World War II. He logged more than 1,500 hours flying the F/A-18 Hornet in the RAAF and later became a Fighter Combat instructor.

He spent three years in America on a United States Air Force (USAF) exchange programme, flying more than 500 hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle.

He won the 2006 Australia Aerobatic Championship at the Advanced level, his first nationals and advanced competition. In 2007, he moved to the Unlimited

category and took second place overall, but first in freestyle. He left the RAAF in 2009 to join the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

THE TEAM

For 2014, sports marketing specialist David Lyall reprises his role as team co-ordinator.

While Eric Cieslar takes up the mantle of race technician.

Cieslar began working on and flying aircraft in high school and hasn’t stopped since.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool

DATE OF BIRTH: September 16, 1971 BIRTHPLACE: Scone, NSW, Australia HOME: Merewether, NSW, Australia TEAM: Eric Cieslar (technician), David Lyall (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: matthallracing.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 7th 2009 3rd

Matt Hall set new standards for the Red Bull Air Race in his first season by taking a record-breaking third place overall in Porto. It made him the first newcomer to win a spot on the podium.

The former top gun pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) followed up his remarkable debut season with two podiums in 2010, including a strong second place finish on his home turf in front of huge crowds in Perth.

He tackles the Red Bull Air Race with the same military precision he used to become a highly respected Wing Commander in the RAAF. His military training was called into action during the 2010 Windsor race when he

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American pilot Michael Goulian has a crisp, aggressive and athletic style of flying.

He was born into an aviation business family, operating one of the biggest flying schools in the north-eastern United States. His father was an FAA examiner and Goulian grew up washing aircraft and sweeping out hangars.

He learned to fly before he could drive a car and took his first solo flight on his 16th birthday, turning to aerobatics a year later, before establishing an aerobatic school.

He worked as a corporate airline pilot while making a name as one of the world’s top aerobatic pilots and became the US national

champion in the Advanced category at 22. He was the US National Champion in the Unlimited category in 1995.

Goulian first joined the Red Bull Air Race in 2004. After a short hiatus for the 2005 season, he returned the following year to make his mark on the sport.

He has co-authored a series of books titled Basic and Advanced Aerobatics, which is considered to be the industry standard for aerobatic flight training manuals.

In recognition of his years of dedication to aerobatics, Goulian has been awarded the prestigious Art Scholl Memorial Award for airshow showmanship (2006), the Bill Barber Award for

Showmanship (2009) and the ICAS Sword of Excellence (2012).

THE TEAM

It’s a family affair for American pilot Goulian this year, with wife Karin on board as team co-ordinator/marketing and sponsorship director. She will be supported by Greg Gibson as team co-ordinator.

Meanwhile, Dennis Sawyer rejoins Team Goulian as chief technician. Sawyer has a huge amount of technical experience, and has worked with Goulian since the 1980s.

MICHAEL GOULIAN USA ZIVKO EDGE 540 V2 DATE OF BIRTH: September 4, 1968 BIRTHPLACE: Winthrop, MA, USA HOME: Plymouth, MA, USA TEAM: Dennis Sawyer (technician), Greg Gibson (team co-ordinator) WEBSITE: mikegoulian.com RED BULL AIR RACE RESULTS: 2010 9th 2009 10th 2008 10th 2007 8th 2006 5th 2004 7th RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 25

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Edge 540 V2

The Edge 540 V2 is as precise and controllable as it is aggressive. It is a Shoulder Wing plane with extremely stiff wings. The use of a steel-tube frame with composite fairings results in a light, durable and stable fuselage.

And, says company boss Eric Zivko: “If it’s damaged, you can see it and it’s fixable.”

Edge 540 V3 The differences in the Edge 540 V3 compared to its predecessor, the V2, include a higher thrust to weight ratio and lower drag design.

MANUFACTURER: Zivko Aeronautics, USA LENGTH: 6.3m WINGSPAN: 7.44m ROLL RATE: 420°/sec CLIMB RATE: 3,700ft/min TOP SPEED: 425.97kph (230kts) MAX G: +/-10G WING DESIGN: Symmetric, carbon-fibre PILOTS: Bonhomme, Goulian, Ivanoff, Muroya

Corvus Racer 540 MANUFACTURER: Corvus Aerospace Suzhou Ltd LENGTH: 6.57m WINGSPAN: 7.4m ROLL RATE: 440°/sec CLIMB RATE: 4,300ft/min TOP SPEED: 444kph (240kts) MAX G: +12G/-10G WING DESIGN: Symmetric, carbon-fibre PILOT: Besenyei

PILOTS: Arch, Chambliss, Dolderer, McLeod, Šonka

Developed by the Hungarian University of Aviation and Corvus, with input from Péter Besenyei, the Corvus Racer made its first appearance at the 2010 Canada (Windsor, Ontario) race stop. The airframe is built using chrome-molybdenum tubes in a TIG-welded construction.

The wing, tail assembly and fuselage covers are high-strength composite parts primarily composed of pultruded and preimpregnated carbon-fibre.

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool, Peter Clausen Film & TV

MXS-R

Unlike its steel-frame fuselage rivals, the MXS-R, developed specifically for racing in the Red Bull Air Race

by MX Aircraft from its MXS plane, features a carbon-fibre monocoque fuselage. It’s extremely light and strong, but cannot be substantially modified. The lightness does contribute speed however, which is the plane’s great strength. It was designed using advanced computer solid modelling with emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency.

The MXS-R is constructed entirely of ‘Aerospace’-grade carbon-fibre which provides superior strength and durability never seen before in an aircraft of this type.

MANUFACTURER: MX Aircraft, USA LENGTH: 6.51m WINGSPAN: 7.32m ROLL RATE: 420°/sec CLIMB RATE: 3,500ft/min TOP SPEED: 425.97kph (230kts) MAX G: +/-12G WING DESIGN: Symmetric, carbon-fibre PILOTS: Hall, Lamb RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 27

WAYPOINT

the next generation

standings

They’re determined, they love racing, and they’ve got the skill to break new ground – introducing the 2014 Challenger Cup pilots, the men who are breathing down the necks of the elite Master Class pilots Daniel Ryfa Sweden

THOMAS BENNETT Great britain

CLAUDIUS SPIEGEL Germany

Luke Czepiela Poland

DATE OF BIRTH: December 17, 1979 BIRTHPLACE: Stockholm, Sweden HOME: Sundsvall, Sweden WEBSITE: danielryfa.com CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Winner of the 2009 European Aerobatic Championships (Advanced)

DATE OF BIRTH: July 6, 1985 BIRTHPLACE: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Great Britain HOME: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Great Britain WEBSITE: bennettaerobatics.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 5th in the 2012 World Aerobatic Championships (Advanced)

DATE OF BIRTH: February 14, 1989 BIRTHPLACE: Eichstätt, Germany HOME: Zurich, Switzerland CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Winner of the 2013 German Aerobatic Championships (Freestyle), Winner of the 2012 German Aerobatic Championships (Advanced)

Date of Birth: June 8, 1983 Birthplace: Poznan, Poland Career Highlights: Accomplished aerobatics and commercial pilot (Airbus A320 series); Honda Dream Team aerobatics display group crew chief

MIKAEL BRAGEOT France

Cristian Bolton Chile

Halim Othman Malaysia

JUAN VELARDE SPAIN

1. FranÇois Le Vot (FRA)

20 Points

2. tom bennet (gbr)

10 Points

3. daniel ryfa (Swe)

8 Points

4. juan velarde (Esp)

6 Points

5. Peter PodlunŠek (SLO)

6 Points

6. Petr kopfstein (cze)

4 Points

7. Mikael Brageot (FRA)

4 POINTS

8. Luke Czepiela (POL)

2 POINTS

9. Claudius Spiegel (GER)

0 POINTS

One Plane for everyone All pilots of the challenger cup fly the same type of aircraft, an EXTRA 330 LX MANUFACTURER: Extra Aircraft GmbH LENGTH: 7.2m WINGSPAN: 8m ENGINE: Lycoming AEIO 580 B1A, 315hp, six-cylinder engine PROPELLER: Mühlbauer, three-blade TOP SPEED: 420kph (220kts) MAX G: +/-10G WING DESIGN: Symmetric, carbon-fibre

Challenger Cup Date of Birth: October 10, 1973 Birthplace: Puerto Montt, Chile Home: Santiago, Chile Career Highlights: more than seven years experience in aerobatics, major in the Chilean Air Force, squadron commander and leader of Chile’s Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones or Halcones Aerobatic Demo Team; 1995: tactical fighter pilot

PETR KOPFSTEIN CZECH REPUBLIC

DATE OF BIRTH: March 18, 1978 BIRTHPLACE: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic HOME: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic WEBSITE: kopfstein.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2nd in the 2013 Czech National Aerobatic Championships; 14th in the 2013 World Aerobatic Championships; Three-time Czech National Aerobatic Champion (Sportsman 2005, Intermediate 2006, Advanced 2009); Member of the Czech National Aerobatic Team (since 2007)

28 RED BULL AIR RACE Magazine

Date of Birth: January 22, 1966 Birthplace: Johor, Malaysia Home: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Website: krisakti.com aerotree.com.my Career Highlights: Leader of the 4 x Extra 300L Malaysian Air Display team Krisakti or Magic Dagger; 1991: Top Gun Pilot Award for the Best Fighter Pilot in the Malaysian Air Force; Airdisplay pilot and fighter jet flying instructor in the Malaysian Air Force’s Tactical Squadron

PETER PODLUNŠEK Slovenia

DATE OF BIRTH: May 25, 1970 BIRTHPLACE: Trbovlje, Slovenia HOME: Murska Sobota, Slovenia CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Eight-time Slovenian National Aerobatic Champion; Winner of the Grand Aero Challenge 2010, 2nd in the Grand Aero Challenge 2009; 39th in the 2009 World Aerobatic Championships; 21st in the 2002 World Aerobatic Championships; 18th in the 1998 European Aerobatic Championships

A new generation of pilots is set to oust the seasoned crew. Eleven men have one aim: grab the Unrestricted Superlicence and get a cockpit in the Master Class

DATE OF BIRTH: September 19, 1974 BIRTHPLACE: Madrid, Spain HOME: Madrid, Spain CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Team 2nd and 3rd at the European Aerobatic Championships (2006, 2008); Team 2nd with the Spanish National Team at the 2007 World Aerobatic Championships

The Challenger Cup is a new element of the Red Bull Air Race, giving a new generation of pilots the chance to experience the thrills of the sport. The pilots will be racing for Challenger Cup points and valuable Red Bull Air Race experience on the Qualifying Days of the World Championship. The two aims of the Challenger Cup are to give promising pilots the chance to develop their low-altitude flying skills under race conditions and further enhance the safety of the world’s fastest motorsport series.

FRANÇOIS LE VOT France

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2, 1970 BIRTHPLACE: Tunis, Tunisia HOME: Aureille, France CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Winner of the 2013 World Aerobatic Championships; Winner of the French Aerobatic Championships; 2nd at the 2012 European Aerobatic Championships; Winner of the 2011 French Aerobatic Championships; 3rd at the 2009 World Aerobatic Championships and Team Winner; Team 2nd at the 2008 European Aerobatic Championships; Individual 9th and Team 2nd at the 2005 World Aerobatic Championships

Photography: Red Bull Content Pool, Markus Kucera

DATE OF BIRTH: July 31, 1987 BIRTHPLACE: Villeneuve sur Lot, France HOME: Villeneuve sur Lot, France WEBSITE: mikaelbrageot.com CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 24th in the 2013 World Aerobatic Championships, 14th in 2011; 14th in the 2012 European Aerobatic Championships, 9th in 2010; 2nd at the 2010 European Team Aerobatic Championships; Member of the French Aerobatic Team (since 2009)

Luke Czepiela of Poland, Tom Bennett of Great Britain, Cristian Bolton of Chile, Mikael Brageot of France, Petr Kopfstein of the Czech Republic, François Le Vot of France, Halim Othman of Malaysia, Peter Podlunšek of Slovenia, Daniel Ryfa of Sweden, Claudius Spiegel of Germany and Juan Velarde of Spain are the 2014 Challenger Cup pilots. They are all holders of the Restricted Superlicence, obtained in Qualification Camps.

In the Challenger Cup they will be working towards acquiring the Unrestricted Superlicence required to fly in the Master Class of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

“I’m very excited to be part of the next generation of Red Bull Air Race,” said Brageot, who has been getting tips from his Breitling teammate Nigel Lamb. “I’ve been following the guys and the races for years, and to

now be a part of it is a dream for me. My goal is to gain as much experience as possible during the Challenger Cup races to hopefully step up and compete in the Master Class before too long.”

Lamb said he was pleased to have the chance to tutor Brageot and admitted it was a learning experience for him as well. “For a newcomer, to enter the World Championship now is a huge step, so it is important to have a lot of support. Newcomers do need a lot of support, not just with the flying, but also with what happens around the flying, such as the pressures from the media. You need to manage your time very well to be mentally prepared at the right moments.”

The pilots will be racing in a single-plane-class cup with Red Bull Air Race providing the aircraft – an Extra 330 LX. As for the racetracks, they will generally be the same for the Challenger Cup as in the race itself, but it is possible that on especially difficult tracks the course could be made less challenging by deflating a few of the pylons, according to Sergio Pla, Head of Aviation at Red Bull Air Race.

Each pilot must fly a minimum of three races, but can take part in all of them. The best six pilots of the season will be invited to the final Challenger Cup race, where they will compete for a cockpit in the Master Class.

RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 29

INSIGHT

Mighty force

Imagine bench pressing a small car half a dozen times per minute and you’ll get an idea of what kind of physical punishment Red Bull Air Race pilots endure during a race lap

In the grey area Greyout occurs due to blood being forced to the body’s lower extremities when under high G-forces. The subsequent lowering of blood pressure in the brain causes vision to dim, a precursor to blacking out. “You can combat it by squeezing your stomach muscles,” says pilot Nigel Lamb.

“And if you contract your stomach and your thigh muscles just for a second you’ll restrict the blood going downwards and your head will clear.” pressure drop The mandatory G-Race Suit works when G-forces cause water-filled tubes that run the length of the suit to squeeze the pilot, thus preventing the downward flow of blood when under high G. Normal blood flow

FABRIC Twaron/Nomex®, a non-stretch fabric

low G

high G

Cutaway view of suit with engorged tubes

Increased blood flow G-Force

G-Force

4

2

10 13

6

7

7

15 9

12

11 14

8

5

Pilot’s Office Hustling a plane of more than 300hp through tough racetracks demands knowledge, lots of knowledge.

Learn the basics of the controls FLUID MUSCLES Two at the front and two at the back. The tubes are each filled with 1 litre of water

1 Airspeed Indicator This shows the plane’s speed in knots relative to the air.

Altimeter Indicates the aircraft’s altitude (in feet) above a reference level by measuring the static air pressure.

2

3 EFIS (Electronic Flight Information System) Gives the pilot entry speed, G, bank, pitch and heading indications. The touchscreen facility can switch between display modes. It also sends speed or G info to the Race Tower.

4 Engine MONITOR A device that records engine data.

After a flight, info is downloaded for analysis. The switch on top is a voice alarm that warns the pilot in case of any system failure.

Fuel selector Used to switch between the three fuel tanks: right, left wing and main tank. Planes carry a minimum of 50 litres of Avgas during a race and burn around 1.7 litres of fuel per minute.

5

7 Pedals The pedals direct the plane to the left or the right on the ground. In flight, they are used to activate the rudder.

8 Propeller Control Adjusts the pitch of the propeller blades.

9 Radio For talking to the Race Tower and the Race Airport.

10 Smoke On/Off G-Meter Toggled at the start of a run Shows how many G is being to emit mute smoke from pulled. Pilots must not exceed 10G. engine exhaust.

11 Start button Fires it up!

12 Stick Left or right causes the plane to roll, forward pitches the nose down and backwards pitches it up.

13 Throttle control The power control.

14 Transponder Relays information to the radar concerning the plane’s position, altitude and speed.

6

15 Vertical Card Compass Indicates the plane’s heading.

RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 31

Photography: Markus Kucera

Suiting Up While the series’ pilots are used to muscle contractions in order to beat the effects of high-G turns, the mandatory G-Race Suit helps them to perform the task more effectively. Manufactured by German company Autoflug, the suit reduces the need for strong muscle contraction on the part of the pilot by using water-filled ‘fluid muscles’ and non-stretch fabrics.

The suit gets activated by an impulse contraction from the pilot.

It builds up a counter pressure that combats the effect of high-G loads, reducing the movement of blood to the lower extremities.

“The G-Race Suit compresses your legs and abdomen,” says Bonhomme. “Instead of tensing yourself, the suit does it for you and that gives you about a 1.5G benefit. It might not seem much, but where it really works is in reducing fatigue.”

weighing in Red Bull Air Race pilots are subject to extreme forces in flight.

For 2014, pilots will be limited to 10G, meaning that during the tightest turns the pilot’s body weight is 10 times its normal figure.

For an 80kg pilot it’s like having a small car dumped onto his chest. “It’s like being hit with a sledgehammer,” says defending champion Paul Bonhomme. “The moment of G onset is the hardest.

In less than half a second you go to 10-12 times your body weight.

You’ve got to concentrate at not losing consciousness. If you keep pulling G you’ll grey out.”

3

1

TRACK TIME

Fly the course

Turning Manoeuvre Highest G - Max 10G

Steve Jones, former race pilot and now Race Director and Head of Training for the Master Class and Challenger Cup competition, guides us through the Putrajaya racetrack. Buckle up and take off!

Air Gate

Highest G - Max 10G

Illustration: signgroup.at; Photography: Markus Kucera

Chicane

Start/Finish Air Gate

The track looks straightforward, but you will have to fly your plane super accurately and smoothly if you are to be even 100th of a second ahead of the other pilots. You must be as near as possible to the 200 knot (370kph) start speed limit as you enter Gate 1. Make sure you are not faster though. A slight angle through Gate 1 will allow a small turn before Gate 2 which will get you lined up for entry into the Chicane. There aren’t any big turns before the Chicane, so your speed will be very high when you arrive. Three single pylons will pass quickly, it’s critical to get the rhythm correct. Right-left-right on the stick as fast as you can think it. Stay close to the pylons and level. Economical flying is the trick here. If the wing has to do any unnecessary work, it will cause additional aerodynamic drag and slow you down. Exit the Chicane in a hard right turn towards Gate 4 just leaving enough space to get your plane’s wings level before Gate 4.

Remember, all two-pylon Gates require a wings-level pass to avoid receiving a two-second time penalty and there isn’t much time to do it. Immediately Gate 4 is cleared, a rapid right correction is required to align with Gate 5. A short breather allows preparation for the approaching ultra-high G Vertical Turn. As you enter Gate 6, hard back on the stick and strain against the massive 10G load on your body. A slight tilt left or right might be possible in the climb. Over the top of the Vertical Turn, tilt your head back to sight the exit Gate 7 as early as possible. There isn’t much space to half-roll and get back down to race height before Gate 7, so the descent has to be perfectly judged. Gate 7 needs thought too, a small angle through here will also allow a slight angle through Gate 8 and an efficient pass back through the Chicane. Think ahead and you will benefit. Your speed will be slightly lower for the second transit of the Chicane, so timing and rhythm will be slower. Concentrate on smooth flying to retain maximum speed. Keep the exit left turn going for an additional second to align with Gate 10.

Make sure your wings are level before squeezing through Gate 10 and start getting ready for another Vertical Turn!

Back on the stick and close to 10G as you race the nose up and around while straining to see the exit Gate 12. A swift half-roll upright and efficient descent towards Gate 12 puts you nicely placed for Lap 2. Keep focused and don’t repeat mistakes you might have made in the first lap.

■ Lap 1 ■ Lap 2 RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 33

Logbook

Time Lords

Photography: Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool, Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Breitling rises to timekeeping challenges of Red Bull Air Race

Breitling, The famous manufacturer of precision-made chronometers from Switzerland, is the official global timekeeping partner for the Red Bull Air Race again in 2014, continuing a tradition that started in 2007.

Renowned for its precision aviation watches, Breitling’s challenge is to separate the best from the rest in the world’s fastest motorsport series, where time gaps between competitors are sometimes as little as 1/100th of a second.

“Time will be measured in thousandths of a second,” explains Sergio Pla, head of aviation at Red Bull Air Race. “We also have a photo-finish system, which has a resolution of 1/10,000th of a second. That system will be used if two pilots have the exact same time at 1/1,000th of a second.”

As there are other three-dimensional challenges to timing in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the timing system also measures the centrifugal force, the speed of the plane and the pulse of the pilots. The clock starts and stops when the nose of the plane triggers the system as it flies through the start and 34 RED BULL AIR RACE Magazine

then the finish Gate. In addition, there is a backup system – a line scan camera and transponder, and a total of five people who are assigned to track the timings.

With margins so tight, timekeeping for the Red Bull Air Race is one of the most essential parts of the sport. Breitling, with its valuable experience in just this field and in timing the Red Bull Air Races, is a fitting global partner for the World Championship.

Taking a quick look back at one of the 2010 races proves how close the competition was: in the final round of the race in New York, Nigel Lamb from Great Britain beat American Kirby Chambliss in a thrilling battle. The crowd gasped in excitement when they realised the margin separating the two pilots – just 3/100ths of a second. Lamb managed to get the better of Chambliss and secured second place.

Breathtaking speeds in the toughest motorsport race against the clock are the reality in 2014. Many pilots will most likely have to give in and accept defeat by as little as 1/100th of a second or even less. It’s man versus clock, more than ever.

RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 35

Competition

do’s & don’ts Pilots must follow strict competition rules if they don’t want to be kicked out. They now also have to deal with a fierce race format that promises very close results

the Rules The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an international series of races with the objective being to navigate an aerial racetrack featuring air-filled pylons, known as Air Gates, in the fastest possible time and incurring as few penalties as possible. The total length of a lap is approximately 3km.

Correct flying In all Gates – the Start/Finish, Chicane, Level Gate and the Single Pylon Gate – pilots must not sink in the Gate.

Pilots must fly in the upper 40 per cent of the Air Gate, and the area is defined by the bottom and the top of the coloured markings of a pylon.

This also applies for the Chicane pylons that are considered to be one Gate.

DISQualification The following flying moves result in disqualification: uncontrolled steering movements and flights; close to the ground pull-up from descent; crossing the safety line; using a negative ‘G’ turn around a pylon; flying below a height of 10m between

the Air Gates; flying into clouds; entering the track at an angle steeper than 45° or from above the holding altitude for the location dictated during briefing; ignoring the commands of the Race Director.

DID NOT FINISH (DNF) Pylon Hit Whenever a plane touches a pylon the run is stopped.

Exceeding Maximum Load Factor A DNF is the given if telemetry or post-flight analysis show that the pilot exceeded the maximum permitted load factor of 10G.

PENALTIES for INCORRECT FLYING

Flying Too High (2 second penalty) Flying above the top of an Air Gate – but still following the approved racetrack.

Deviation from the Course When a flight path deviates from the racetrack the flying session is stopped.

Exceeding Start Speed Limit If the plane exceeds the speed limit of 200 knots (370kph) through the Start Gate (GPS ground speed as indicated on the EFIS device in the cockpit), its flight is stopped.

Weight Penalty After the race, the pilot and plane are weighed.

If they do not reach a minimum weight of 698kg (with a tolerance of -5kg post flight), then the flying session results in DNF.

Incorrect Level Flying (2 second penalty) Flying with the wings at an angle when in the Level Gate.

SMOKE VIOLATION (1 second penalty)

The Format Day 1 / Qualifying Day Training Master

Pilot 01

Challenger 01

Pilot 02

Challenger 02

Pilot 02

Challenger 02

Pilot 03

Challenger 03

Pilot 03

Challenger 03

Pilot 04

Challenger 04

Pilot 04

Challenger 04

Pilot 05

Challenger 05

Pilot 05

Challenger 05

Pilot 06

Challenger 06

Pilot 06

Challenger 06

Pilot 07

Pilot 07

1st

10

Pilot 08

Pilot 08

2nd

8

Pilot 09

Pilot 09

3rd

6

Pilot 10

Pilot 10

4th

4

Pilot 11

Pilot 11

5th

2

Pilot 12

Pilot 12

6th

0

The new rules and regulations lead to a closer battle for Red Bull Air Race honours. With the introduction of standardised engines, propellers and exhausts, the playing field has been levelled. The move is welcomed by British pilot Nigel Lamb. “It makes sense on many levels,” he says. “Not being able to tweak engines makes it relevant from a safety perspective, and from a cost point of view. Most importantly, it creates a better, level playing field.”

A number of features have been introduced to make the world’s fastest motorsport series even safer. The lightweight nylon material pylons are made of now rips apart more easily if touched by a plane. But, most importantly, the height of the track markers has been raised from 20 to 25 metres, and with it the

36 RED BULL AIR RACE MAGAZINE

flight window. Another change is how the high-G 270-degree “Quadro” turn through a set of four pylons is set up: previously it took the form of a tight square, but now it has been eliminated.

The 2014 rules and regulations have also been welcomed and approved by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). The World Sports Air Federation will support the world’s fastest motorsport series in supervising safety at all races, and provide specially designed medals for the podium winners.

QUALIFYING DAY sees all 12 Master Class pilots race to determine the starting order on Race Day. The fastest of two runs counts. On that same day, it’s all in for the Challenger Cup pilots with each pilot racing one after each other. The fastest of two runs counts towards the final result.

On RACE DAY the Master Class pilots fly against each other in heats. The six winners of the heats and the two fastest losers proceed to the Super 8 round. In the SUPER 8 round, the pilots fly one after the other for the fastest time. The four fastest proceed to the Final 4. In the FINAL 4 the pilots race to set the fastest time. The three fastest make it to the podium with the quickest in this round winning overall.

Day 2 / Race day

Pilot 07

In order to distribute the standardised engines in a fair way, they were allocated to the race teams via an official draw, held in the presence of legal representative Dr Markus Mayrhofer at Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria. The engine raffle was broadcast live on the Austrian TV channel ServusTV on the November 18, 2013.

Sergio Pla, Head of Aviation, Eckhard Möhle, Technical Director, and Péter Besenyei, Pilots’ Representative, supervised the draw. Though the engines are all 300hp, there could be small technical variations of up to two per cent, as it’s technically impossible to make one engine identical to the next. The race teams are not allowed to make any modifications to engines.

Race 01 & 02 Challenger

Challenger 01

Top 12

Tweaked to improve safety

Qualifying Master

Pilot 01

A one-second penalty is incurred if the race plane is not emitting smoke during the race (from “Smoke On” call until passing the Finish Gate). This penalty is given whether there is a technical problem or not.

Engine raffle

Training Challenger

Pilot 06 Pilot 08 Pilot 05 Pilot 09 Pilot 04 Pilot 10 Pilot 03 Pilot 11 Pilot 02 Pilot 12 Pilot 01

Super 8

Final 4

Winner heat 01

Winner heat 02

Pilot 04

Winner heat 03

Pilot 03

Winner heat 04

Winner heat 05

Winner heat 06

Pilot 02

Pilot 01

Points 1st

12

2nd

9

3rd

7

4th

5

5th

4

6th

3

7th

2

Winner of each heat advances to Super 8, plus two fastest losers.*

8th

1

Super 8

9th

0

The four fastest advance to Final 4.*

10th

0

Final 4

11th

0

12th

0

Top 12

Four pilots compete for victory.* *The starting order is based on the results in Qualifying.

Fastest loser 01 Fastest loser 02 RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 37

Party

All night long Stop daydreaming about memorable nights and start experiencing them. Extend your day at the Red Bull Air Race with Kuala Lumpur’s finest restaurants and exclusive clubs and bars

Michelangelo’s For top-quality pasta and a glance at a few Renaissance masterpieces, try Michelangelo’s.

The house special, Spaghetti Marinara Sizzlelini comes highly recommended.

Venue: Pavilion Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur Phone: +60 3-2141 1123 Web: pavilion-kl.com Hard Rock Café

La Boca Discover the dazzling flavours and vibrant cultures of Central and South America.

Venue: Pavilion Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur Phone: +60 3-2148 9977 Web: pavilion-kl.com Malones This Irish restaurant offers an array of authentic Irish specialities.

Venue: Pavilion Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur Phone: +60 3-21416310 Web: pavilion-kl.com SILVERSPOON Enjoy gourmet pizzas and delicious tapas in this large, friendly restaurant. They also offer an extensive takeaway service.

Venue: Publika, Kuala Lumpur Phone: +60 3-6201 6800 Web: silversp.com.my

All your favourites from hot trends, delicious food and awesome music, in a high-energy environment for a rockin’ good time.

Venue: Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Phone: +60 3-2715 5555 Web: hardrock.com

FRANGIPANI Behind the beautiful Art Deco façade is the best place to sample contemporary French cuisine.

The stunning black pool in the middle of the dining room adds to Frangipani’s reputation of being the epitome of understated elegance.

Venue: Changkat, Bukit Bintang Phone: +603 2144 3001 Web: frangipani.com.my

Fuzio

BARS Skybar

A hearty, authentic Italian restaurant, this has a varied and delicious menu. After dinner, you can indulge in drinks under the stars in Tetto, the stylish open air rooftop lounge above Fuzio.

Venue: Changkat, Bukti Bintang Phone: +60 3-2110 0303 Web: fuziobar.com

38 RED BULL AIR RACE Magazine

Zeta bar

Pushing the limits of

aviation...

Vibrant and stylish with live music, this is popular for the late night crowd.

Venue: KL Hilton Phone: +60 3-2264 2264 Web: life.hiltonkl.com

Clubs

at

Sultan Lounge

Hartzell, it’s in our

When it’s late, sip a cocktail in this opulent club, designed to look like an Arabian tent.

Venue: Kuala Lumpur City Centre Phone: +60 3-2380 8888 Web: mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur Beach Club Get the feel of the beach as you party. With rattan chairs and wooden tables, you could be by the sea. Watch out for the sharks, though.

Venue: Jalan P Ramlee Phone: +60 3-2166 9919 Web: beachclubcafe.com

Experience a favourite of KL’s party people, this has two gleaming new bars and a revamped seating area to make the most of the view.

Venue: Traders Hotel Phone: +60 3-2332 9888 Web: shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/traders

Genting Club At around 1,800 metres above sea level, this stylish club is the newest place to be seen.

Venue: Genting highlands Phone: +60 3-6105 9009 Web: rwgenting.com

Photography: PR

RESTAURANTS

Proud technical partner and propeller provider of Red Bull Air Race.

DNA.

Touch down

Gdynia

POLAND, July 26-27

Explore the world Eight locations host the 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship during a calendar that spans the globe and touches down on three continents. Join the globetrotting race teams and experience one-of-a-kind getaways

Despite being relatively young – established in 1926 – Gdynia is now one of the biggest cities in northern Poland, with a population of almost 250,000. Gdynia has a strong maritime heritage and is home to a bustling marina as well as a variety of old Naval warships that now serve as museums. The vibrant city also has a rich cultural heritage – there’s always something going on. Gdynia is renowned for its contemporary music, theatre and film festivals, and is well suited to hosting the dynamic Red Bull Air Race, with the sea providing a striking backdrop to the action. The city beach is one of the most beautiful on the Polish coast, with the Seaside Boulevard a popular place for taking it easy and watching the world go by. The 1.5km stretch is full of young artists keen to express their creative flair, capturing the imagination of those who spend time there. Gdynia port is no stranger to hosting sports events either, with the biggest sailing ships in the world regularly competing in races here.

natural heritage and beautiful landmarks in abundance – including the Golden Cape Park Forest, several protected islands and a beautiful coastline with golden beaches to explore – Rovinj draws visitors from all over the world, making it one of the top tourist destinations in Croatia.

The town flourished in the medieval period under the Republic of Venice and some of the churches, walls and fortifications from this era still stand today in the Old Town. With plenty to explore in Rovinj, a perfect place to stay can be found with Maistra hotels and resorts (maistra.com). It’s an ideal choice whether you are visiting for leisure, active holidays, wellness and spa or business.

Putrajaya

Malaysia, may 17-18 winning water park, Yas Waterworld, to adventure experiences in the desert, top golf courses and unrivalled shopping malls.

Visitors also enjoyed an 8km beachfront and a wealth of world-class hotels and resorts offering cuisines from around the world.

Rovinj

Croatia, April 12-13

Abu Dhabi kicked off the 2014 season and Paul Bonhomme took the win. “I’m really pleased,” he said afterwards. “For many years I’ve had 13 wins, and now I’ve got that 14th victory under my belt, I feel like it’s a monkey off my back.” Austrian Hannes Arch finished second, and Canadian Pete McLeod came third. Away from the race, Abu Dhabi offered race teams and fans plenty of things to see and do, from the man-made entertainment centre at Yas Island, home to the award40 RED BULL AIR RACE Magazine

Rovinj was the second stop of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship tour. This small town located on the western coast of Istria in Croatia, is the largest peninsula on the Adriatic coastline. With a stunning

Built in the early 1990s, Putrajaya was planned and created on two concepts – the garden city and the intelligent city.

More than a third of the city space is covered with lakes, freshwater wetlands, public parks and rainforest, as well as the country’s largest botanical gardens, while the remaining area is made up of the usual urban infrastructure. At the heart of the city lies the 600-hectare Putrajaya Lake, a beautifully landscaped man-made waterway, which is designed to act as a natural cooling system for the city and also provides a place for fishing and water sports. Putrajaya Lake has held world-class regattas including the Formula One Powerboat Championships, and host the a Red Bull Air Race for the first time this year. Putrajaya is a unique place to live, work and play; it represents the coming-of-age of Malaysia as a dynamic and progressive member of the global community committed to the concept of sustainable development.

Ascot

great britain, August 16-17

Photography: picturedesk.com, shutterstock.com

Abu Dhabi

united arab emirates February 28-March 1

There are few sports venues in the world that can match the history of Ascot Racecourse. Dating back to the 18th century (the first race, Her Majesty’s Plate, was held on August 11, 1711, with a purse of 100 guineas), each year, in June, thousands of people flock to the racecourse for Europe’s premier flat race meeting. This year, Red Bull Air Race pilots will test their mettle above where many great jockeys have gone before.

The unique course features large sweeping turns, creating an exciting challenge for pilots

that’s different from other racetracks on the calendar. This leg of the Red Bull Air Race may be set among idyllic woodland near a quaint village close to Windsor Castle, but the bright lights and numerous tourist attractions of London are less than 60km away. In just over 50 minutes by train, you’ll be in central London, with its vibrant nightlife, and a only a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge. The city also boasts more than 300 museums and galleries and eight Royal Parks, so you won’t be stuck for things to do after attending the Red Bull Air Race.

Dallas-Fort Worth

united states of america september 6-7

Everything about Texas is big, bold and impressive. The Lone Star state is the second largest in the USA, behind Alaska. The enormous area includes Dallas-Fort Worth, two separate cities that have transformed themselves from sleepy cattle-rearing territory in the north-east of the state, to the largest land-locked metropolitan area in the United States and the economic and cultural hub of North Texas. The Metroplex area, as it is now known, is one of just 12 American metropolitan areas that have teams in each of the four major professional sports leagues: American football, baseball, basketball and ice-hockey, while there’s also a team in the emerging Major League Soccer.

It is also home to many corporations, with a variety of nightlife, a burgeoning arts community, two award-winning zoos, a world-class aquarium and several historically significant museums. Dallas-Fort Worth is also an important fixture on the American motorsport scene. The Texas Motor Speedway is one of the largest sports stadiums in America. Opened in 1997, it is known as The Great American Speedway, with its 1.5-mile quad-oval superspeedway and a capacity in excess of 190,000. The Texas Motor Speedway draws in sports fans hungry for high-octane action, hosting the likes of the IndyCar Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, and this year it is playing host to the Red Bull Air Race.

Las Vegas

united states of america October 11-12

If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Las Vegas never stops entertaining.

The City of Lights is globally regarded for its casinos, award-winning shows, super-size hotels, world-renowned cabaret and nightlife. The seventh stop on the tour will see the Red Bull Air Race taking the stage at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Constructed in 1996, it offers its guests many unique and exciting racing experiences.

At the centre of the 1,600-acre multi-track facility is the 1.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway which hosts the annual NASCAR weekend in spring. For those looking to extend their experience beyond the city of lights, there’s the chance to see the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its tours regularly depart from Las Vegas, with a short trip over the Nevada state border into Arizona.

China

November 1-2

China is sure to contribute a thrilling climax to the competition. The country is fast becoming a global powerhouse, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people.

Known for its contrasting cultural identity, the country is an intriguing blend of Eastern mystery and Western dynamism. The capital, Beijing, is in the north, home to China’s political community and known for opulent architecture, art and culture. China’s most populated city is Shanghai, with 23 million people. It is an influential economic hub, a key financial, trade and technology centre and the busiest container port in the world.

The location of the China leg of the Red Bull Air Race will be revealed this summer.

RED BULL AIR RACE MagazinE 41

AXIS

go figure

strength in numbers Sometimes you just have to let the stats speak for themselves.

Feed your brain with key facts and figures about the Red Bull Air Race World Championship

15

370

Four types of aircraft, one entry speed into the racetrack. Red Bull Air Race planes must not exceed 370kph when flying through the Start Gate, although they can fly top speeds of 400kph. As a comparison, a Formula One car reaches its limit at ‘only’ 350kph.

20

Saving weight can have a significantly positive effect on performance – the average weight difference between the heaviest and lightest pilots is around 20kg. At 10G this is 200kg more weight for the engines and wings to pull through the corners.

3

Shipping an entire Red Bull Air Race from one place to another requires three important things: meticulous planning, huge containers and spacious planes.

All in all, a Boeing 747 and a Boeing 737 carrying 27 containers are needed to transport everything the crews require.

Due to the increased height of the pylons (up from 20m to 25m), the flight window now is between 15m and 25m, in the past it was between 10m and 20m.

An improvement for safety in the racetrack.

Three out of the 12 pilots in the 2014 Red Bull Air Race line-up competed in the very first Red Bull Air Race in 2003 – Péter Besenyei, Kirby Chambliss and Paul Bonhomme. All three have continued to compete in each Red Bull Air Race season since.

0.75

The year when the idea of merging flying with the most exciting elements of motor racing was born and developed in the Red Bull sports think-tank. After two years in planning, the first official Red Bull Air Race was ready to take off in Zeltweg, Austria, in 2003. Six pilots competed in front of an overwhelmed crowd.

A new era of motorsport began.

The top diameter (in metres) of a pylon, the racetrack marker, is now just below 1m. This one-sided, asymmetrical cone is made of extremely lightweight and flexible spinnaker material, a fabric used to make boat sails. A pylon must do two fundamental things: rip apart instantly and easily if a plane touches it and remain stationary in all weather conditions. Since its last public outing in 2010, the pylon has become safer and more stable, despite the spinnaker fabric used in the top parts of it being even lighter than before, weighing 40 per cent less than standard printer paper.

In 2003, it took 20 minutes to replace a pylon after a hit. The record time for replacing a pylon is now just 90 seconds (including boat travel times), set during the 2010 season.

400 Forty kilos of extra plane weight adds up to around 400kg at 10G – the equivalent of pulling two race planes through a corner.

42 RED BULL AIR RACE Magazine

2001

27

90

Before 2009, most G-Race Suits were pneumatic. Red Bull Air Race worked with the German specialist firm Autoflug to develop the fluid technology in the G-Race Suits used today.

2009

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

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