Hall gives Australia taste of new season with Sydney warm-up

SYDNEY, Australia – Matt Hall gave Australians a thrilling taste of what’s in store for the 2010 season with a dazzling display of his Red Bull Air Race aerial skills over Sydney Harbour that was broadcast live on Australian television just two weeks before the 2010 season opener in Abu Dhabi.

Hall, who shattered all records for a rookie in his first season last year with a sensational third place overall, warmed up for the new season by flying at speeds up to 400 km/h over the Parramatta River to Sydney Harbour. Flying under partly cloudy late summertime skies, Hall then buzzed the bridge and Sydney’s inner harbour area – all the while giving live commentary from his cockpit for the TV broadcast. Afterwards Hall gave media interviews and met with fans who had won packages for the aerial display.

“The interest in the race has increased significantly over the last 12 months and it will be exponential this year with the race in Perth,” said Hall, who last year traded in his career as a Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot to fly in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. “It’s definitely healthy for the sport.”

“Flying over Sydney Harbour was a great thrill and a great way to launch my season because it’s one of the most iconic sights in the world,” said Hall. “Now that the start of the season in Abu Dhabi is just a few weeks away, I am very excited to get going. I have a new plane, new team and I have worked harder than ever over the last few months to improve in every area I can. We have had to overcome some obstacles getting the aircraft ready but I am confident that things are on track and that I can have a great season.”

After the season opener in Abu Dhabi, the championship will return to Perth for the second race of the 2010 season. There have always been large and friendly crowds watching the high-speed, low-altitude flying action from the banks of the Swan River in past races in 2007 and 2008 but this year there will likely be many more spectators with the first Australian in the hunt for the world championship.
“I believe the crowds will be bigger than in the past,” said Hall, who is based in Merewether NSW. “Everywhere I go now people are recognising me and saying they will be in Perth to support me. It’s quite amazing how many people do this, just walking down the street.”

Hall said he realises the pressure on him will be greater this year after his sensational rookie season. Expectations were modest last year and he was able to brilliantly translate the discipline of an RAAF fighter pilot to the Red Bull Air Race. Hall’s strategy and race preparation were unrivalled last year but unsurprisingly his rivals have started borrowing a few pages from his game plan.

“My goals for this season are the same as last season – be safe, professional and consistent,” said Hall, who was the epitome of consistency last year. “As far as results go, I can’t predict. I believe my plane will be faster and I definitely have more experience with racing than this time last year. But I’m up against the best race pilots in the world. Who knows what they can do.”

Hall has invested heavily in the off-season to try to further improve his performance and this year will be flying in his own new 380-horsepower MX-S plane after using an older model of the plane last year. He is hoping to team up with a major sponsor – “then we can hopefully open up the research and development budget and really start getting fast,” he said.

There was a lot of hard work and delays for Hall in the off-season. “We ended up getting the plane in the air a lot later than hoped,” said Hall, who made several trips to the MX factory over the winter. “When we did we had some problems with it and needed to replace the engine and some other parts. We now have a serviceable aircraft, ready to race. The hard part is over. Now we just have to go out and race.”

Source and picture: RedBullAirRace.com

Air Race 2010

All info of the Red Bull Air Race and Reno Air Races here at www.aviationnews.eu and www.air-races.com

Red Bull Air Race 2010

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March 26/27
Perth, Australia April 17/18
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  May 8/9
Windsor, Canada June 5/6
New York, United States of America June 19/20
EuroSpeedway, Lausitz, Germany August 7/8
Budapest, Hungary August 19/20
Lisbon, Portugal September 4/5

Reno Air Races

2010 National Championship Air Races & Air Show are 15 – 19 September
Reno, Nevada USA

Rio confirmed for 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The Red Bull Air Race is returning to Rio de Janeiro in 2010, exactly three years after one million spectators packed the beaches to witness the biggest-ever sporting event in Brazilian history. Defending champion Paul Bonhomme won the race in South America in 2007 and the British ace will be leading the field of 15 of the world’s best race pilots on 8/9 May at the 3rd stop in the 8-race championship.

The return to Rio will be extra special this year because Brazil will have its first pilot, Adilson Kindlemann. The rookie from Curitiba, Brazil advanced through the rigorous Qualification camp and is the first South American pilot to compete in the world’s most exciting high-speed, low-altitude motorsport.

“Rio is a special place and we’re looking forward to another great race there this year,” said Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl. “The one million people who watched the 2007 race made it the biggest crowd in race history and in Brazil’s sporting history. That’s quite an accomplishment by itself. The Brazilians are a fantastic and supportive crowd and I’m sure that with Brazil’s very own Adilson Kindlemann racing this year they will be even more enthusiastic.”

The race will again be staged over the picturesque Botafogo Bay and near the giant statue of Jesus, known as Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) and Sugarloaf Mountain (Corcovado Mountain). The huge crowds will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the race track from the hotel-lined beaches.

Bonhomme beat Spain’s Alejandro Maclean in a thrilling battle for first place in the 2007 race to move into the overall lead in the championship for the first time ever. It was a special moment for the British ace -the first of three wins in 2007 and the second of his 11 career victories. It was also a career-best performance for Maclean.

“Back to Rio? Fantastic,” said Bonhomme. “Back to the beaches and sunshine of Brazil and an incredibly emotional crowd. Let’s hope we have just as much fun as we did in 2007,” he added.

The 2007 Rio race was also significant for Austria’s Hannes Arch, a rookie that year who signalled great promise with getting fourth place in only his second race. Arch went on to win the championship in 2008. Kindlemann, Brazil’s national aerobatic champion for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2004, was one of the million faces in the crowd watching that first historic race in Rio.

“The vibes at the Rio race in 2007 were just amazing,” said Kindlemann, who set his sights on gaining a seat in the championship while watching that race. “I’m so happy to have achieved my goal to get in. I know it’s the dream of millions of Brazilians to see a compatriot in the Red Bull Air Race. Brazilians have a natural passion for speed,” he added, pointing to the popularity in Brazil of both Formula One and Red Bull Air Race. “The expectations on me are going to be high.”

Seven of the 15 pilots in this year’s championship raced in Rio. You can often see their eyes light up when they start talking about the amazing atmosphere there.

The Red Bull Air Race will touch down in a total of eight locations in 2010 beginning in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 26/27 March followed by Perth (Australia), Rio de Janeiro, Windsor (Canada), New York, EuroSpeedway, Lausitz (Germany), Budapest and Lisbon.

Source: www.redbullairraces.com

Goulian has eye on top again after 2009 Budapest victory

MAYNARD, Massachusetts – Michael Goulian had to wait four long years in the Red Bull Air Race to get his first taste of victory. But after winning the race in Budapest with a stunning performance over the Danube River last summer, the American is determined to get back on top of the podium more often in 2010.

The man from Massachusetts has hired one of the top technicians in the race, Dennis Sawyer. The American helped Australia’s Matt Hall to a stunning third last year in his rookie season but switched allegiances in the off-season to Goulian, whom he’s known for 20 years. The team has worked tirelessly through the winter to improve the Edge 540 that blew the rest of the field away in Hungary last summer.

“I can’t wait for the new season to start,” said Goulian, 41. “Once our plane arrived back in Boston after last season, we immediately started a test programme to give us base line data. After that, we systematically went after removing every extra ounce on the air frame. We even had new parts manufactured that look the same as the old ones but are made with slight changes to reduce weight.

“It’s expensive and time consuming, but that’s racing,” the always upbeat American added. “Give it your all or you will be left in the dust of the others.”

He has a clear goal for 2010: “Podiums! All the time!”

Goulian, who finished a disappointing 10th overall in the last two seasons, is chomping at the bit to get back closer to the top in 2010. He was 5th in his first season in 2006 before slipping to 8th in 2007 and then dropping two more pegs in the last two seasons. What was so maddening for Goulian and his fans in 2009 is that he showed he had the ability and speed to win – as he so clearly showed in Budapest. But he also stumbled after that with a discouraging 9th in Porto and even worse 11th in Barcelona. Before Windsor Goulian he had a solid 6th in Windsor but before that was a dreadful 14th in San Diego and 14th in Abu Dhabi. It was an exciting year for Goulian. But also a year with some parts he would rather forget.

“The biggest challenge last year was getting the plane on pace after we started the season with some incorrect mods and a very weak engine,” he said. “Our team put in a tonne of effort to make the changes, which gave us the success in Budapest.”

Goulian admits it wasn’t only an uncompetitive plane in the first part of the season that contributed to some sub-par results last year.
“I probably would not have tried so hard in some races, Windsor and Barcelona in particular,” he said when asked what he could have done differently. “In Budapest I flew my race and didn’t worry about the others. At other times I tried to ‘attack’ the course and it cost me in penalties. That’s not going to happen this year!”

Indeed, in Budapest Goulian did not even watch the lines the other pilots were flying and instead concentrated entirely on his own performance.

Like most Red Bull Air Race pilots, Goulian is loath to reveal many details about the mods he and his team have done over the winter. But he is full of confidence that his plane will be considerably stronger than in 2009 – especially because he will be getting a new, more powerful engine by the second or third race.

“We designed an updated version of our late 2009 race engine,” he said. “The new engine might not be quite ready for the first race but very shortly thereafter. It will be awesome!”

Goulian said the other improvements should make him more competitive from the season opener in Abu Dhabi.

“All in all we made great strides in our plane,” he said. “The aerodynamic mods we made are great. The cowling is beautiful and the plane is incredibly balanced. Our engine is now very strong too so I think we’ll be looking good right from the start in 2010. We’ve also reduced weight on the plane.”

Defending champ Bonhomme plays it cool as race preparation heats up

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom – He may have a Red Bull Air Race World Championship win under his belt but British pilot Paul Bonhomme isn’t taking anything for granted as he prepares to defend his title. The unflappable and extremely calculated pilot has spent the winter planning how to raise the bar in order to remain ahead of his rivals in 2010. He is fully focused on the challenge that awaits.

The firm belief that the other teams are working tirelessly to raise their game this year has fuelled Bonhomme’s own competitive streak, regardless of how laid back he claims to be. You might think the pressure would have eased now that he’s proven he is worthy of the title. Not so. Bonhomme says there is still plenty of tension this year, despite the trophy on the mantelpiece.

“It kind of evens out to being about the same as last year but for different reasons,” he admits. “Instead of trying to shake a demon off my back I’m now keen to do as well as I placed last year. I’m personally not bothered by exterior pressure of people saying ‘will you win the championship’ – it’s more about personal drive to not do worse than last year.”

No stone unturned

Bonhomme may project a calm exterior but this man clearly wants to win – he wouldn’t have invested time and money into further improving his Edge 540 otherwise. Technician Wade Hammond has stripped down the race plane, re-built it and consequently reduced the overall weight in a short space of time. It’s been a pretty intense month or so since the Edge arrived in Arizona, where Hammond is working on the modifications. Last year’s lessons are being put to good use it seems and close analysis of other teams’ results have influenced technical strategy, as Bonhomme explains:

“It was no secret that we focused on aerodynamics last year and put weight and power on the back burner whereas a lot of other teams – notably Hannes ­ – went for a light weight airframe and put a bigger engine in, but didn’t do much with the aerodynamics. Even though we won the championship, if you look at the net times, Hannes was in the quicker aeroplane.”

With the unveiling of a radically re-modelled race plane in 2009 it was easy to spot where the team had focused their attention. This year – and after having had their fingers burned with an underperforming engine in 2009 – Bonhomme says no stone has been left unturned in the quest for engine power.

“Probably to the untrained eye there won’t be any difference, although we have stripped the plane right down and rebuilt it,” says Bonhomme with an air of confidence, adding, “it is very different even if it looks the same. Believe me we’ve made a lot of changes. Halfway through last year we discovered that the engine we were flying was… well, crap. We were promised a lot of good things with that engine that didn’t quite materialise. It was far from what we were expecting in terms of power.”

Last year the team’s Edge was also way off the minimum stipulated race weight of 540kg but it’s been on a serious diet over the winter and shed those vital pounds.

“We’ve addressed the weight issue so I’m very confident we’ll be at the lightest weight possible,” confirms Bonhomme. “I’m also planning to lose some more weight myself. At least half the pilots weighed significantly less than me last year – I probably had a 20kg disadvantage over someone like Yoshi or Matt,” he adds.

After a relaxing Christmas at home with the family, Bonhomme is now in overdrive preparing for Abu Dhabi at the end of March. “We basically have just seven weeks in which to fit, test, modify, retest, refit and go flying,” he says, adding that he’s already fully booked up with media appointments and other meetings. “This is the time when we really want to be flying as we basically lose the aeroplane with non-stop freighting throughout the season. While you’re sat there itching to put parts on the plane, it’s somewhere across the Atlantic – we have threatened to leave Wade with enough packets of sandwiches and bottles of water and put him in the container!”

Second time around

Put the calm façade to one side for a moment, however, and you can guess Bonhomme won’t want to see the title slip from his grasp now he has it.  “Yes, there was a huge amount of relief to get the title last year and to a certain extent it makes it a lot easier but at the same time I don’t want to come second again,” he confides. “If you have a realistic goal and you never quite achieve it then that’s frustrating. In life it’s important to have high goals to keep progressing and in this case the frustration was coming second, certainly in 2007. It was so painfully close; if the rules had been very slightly different then it would have been in the bag. To have that goal and to have not achieved it was frustrating but now I have and that’s a good feeling.”

So should we expect a Bonhomme first place finish in all 8 races this year? “That would be nice,” he smiles, before quickly switching back to a matter of fact response, “the goal for this season has to be to do at least as well as last year – so winning the championship. Can we do better than last year? Yes, I suppose we can win more than half the races.”

Source: RedBullAirRace.com
Photo: Rob Vogelaar

Muroya, training in New Zealand, delights big Auckland crowd

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Japan’s Yoshi Muroya, who has been training hard through New Zealand’s summer for the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, was able to show off some of his high-speed, low-altitude flying prowess in front of a big crowd gathered at the Auckland Anniversary Day celebrations in the city’s famous harbour on Feb. 1.

Muroya, who emerged as one of the most improved pilots late in his rookie season, delighted the many thousands of spectator by flying a Sukhoi 29 owned by his team coordinator Rob Fry in a high-energy 15-minute demonstration over the harbour in Auckland, known as the “City of Sails” because it has more yachts per capita than any city in the world.

“The Red Bull Air Race is quite well known here in New Zealand,” said Muroya, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Jan. 27. Muroya was one of four rookies last year is counting on winning over New Zealand fans away from Australia’s Matt Hall, another rookie in 2009.

“Many people have been following it on TV,” Muroya added. “There is a strong sporting rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. I think as long as there’s no New Zealand pilot in the race, the people would probably support the Aussie pilot. But now that I’ve been here for so long I’m sure the New Zealand fans will be cheering for me.”

Popular in Japan and New Zealand

Muroya, the first Asian pilot in the championship, has helped make the Red Bull Air Race popular in his home country Japan and is hoping that there will one day be a race staged in Tokyo.

“There were so many TV programmes about the Red Bull Air Race in Japan and now many people know what the race is,” he said. “They’re really looking forward to having a race in Japan one day.”

During this off-season, Muroya has been shuttling between Japan and New Zealand. He has spent about half the time between December and February in the warmer climate here in a series two-week stints with his Auckland-based team coordinator Fry, working on his flying skills and on improvements in his Edge 540.

“The weather is fine so the flying is easy and the plane is progressing so things are good here,” Muroya said. “Rob Fry lives here in Auckland and I’m staying at his home, which is just a one-minute walk from his hangar on a small airfield. The people are really nice and the local reaction has been very positive. It’s a safe, laid-back environment.”

The training conditions in Auckland are also superb, he said. “There’s a designated low-flying area nearby over the water. There’s also plenty of technical support nearby. New Zealand is also easily accessible to Japan. There’s only a four-hour time difference.”

Muroya, an avid snowboarder, has also spent time in the off-season on the slopes in Japan. “Snowboarding in Japan and then swimming in the sea in New Zealand,” he said, surprised himself by the temperature extremes he has been shifting back and forth through since December.

Aims for top 7 finish in 2010

Muroya displayed an admirable degree of self-discipline to stick closely to his plan for his first season with an emphasis on safety and acquiring experience in the first four races before attacking for points in the final two rounds.

He hopes to make a big move up in the championship standings in 2010. After finishing 13th with 9 points in 2009 and getting a season-best in the final race of the year in Barcelona, Muroya has set his sites on 7th place overall in 2010.

“The plane is coming along well,” he said. “We’re making a lot of modifications during the summer here. I’ve been able to prepare and train more than last year so I’m looking forward to getting off to a good start in Abu Dhabi. I’ve got an overall development plan for 2010 and I’m progressing along that nicely. The off-season training is going well so I expect to see much better results in 2010.”

One area Muroya hopes to improve in the upcoming season will be cutting down on pylon hits. He took the dubious distinction of having the most pylon hits in his rookie season but chalks that up to experience. He’s confident he won’t “win” that title again this year.

“I’m the reigning world champion for pylon hits but I need to hand that over to someone else,” he said. “I think I’ve tested the strength of the Air Gates enough.”

Source and picture: RedBullairrace.com

Cirrus Aircraft and Red Bull Air Race announce global partnership

SANTA MONICA, California – Cirrus Aircraft, a leading personal airplane manufacturer, and Red Bull Air Race have announced a global partnership for the 2010 World Championship. At Red Bull Air Race events around the world in 2010, guests will have the unique opportunity to experience Cirrus Aircraft, the world’s best-selling four-place, single-engine piston airplane. Guests attending the races in either the Race Club or the High Flyers Lounge will have special access to both the SR22 series of piston aircraft, as well as the upcoming Cirrus Vision ‘personal jet.’

In his comments to several hundred at a press conference in Santa Monica, Cirrus Aircraft CEO Brent Wouters noted, “The Red Bull Air Race World Championship represents a passion for precision and performance in aviation. These same attributes are shared by the employees of Cirrus Aircraft, and thousands of Cirrus owners and pilots around the world. We are proud to join this world-class event in 2010 and bring together air race fans, pilots and a new generation of aviators for a season of the most exciting, skillful and technical aerial competition in all of flying.”

Wouters added, “The Red Bull Air Races and its select global venues are a spectacular aviation experience. These locations showcase the unique lifestyle of convenience, comfort and access Cirrus owners enjoy around the world. At Cirrus, we proudly redefine personal transportation as ‘Flying 2.0′, and because of our shared passion, we are excited to partner in the worldwide aviation phenomenon that is the Red Bull Air Race.”

Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl noted the synergy of the new partnership. “We are pleased to welcome Cirrus Aircraft on board as a partner of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. As one of the leading and most innovative aircraft manufacturers in the world, Cirrus is constantly pushing the boundaries in the development and design of premium aircraft. This together with their passion for flying and focus on excellence provides a perfect synergy with the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.”

Source: RedBull AirRaces

OFFICIAL MATT HALL SUPPORTERS TOUR ANNOUNCED

Matt Hall Racing and leading tour operator Avtours Australia have today launched the Official Matt Hall Supporters Tour to the Perth round of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championships. 

The four night tour from Thursday April 15 to Monday April 19 will take in all the thrills and excitement of the Western Australian capital with the highlight being Grandstand or Race Club seating at the Air Race on April 17 and 18. 

Tour guests will also receive signed Matt Hall memorabilia, enjoy an exclusive dinner with Matt Hall on the Friday night and be treated to a private pit walk led by Matt and Matt Hall Racing staff. 

There are also limited tickets for a Perth only component for those who have already purchased flights and accommodation. 

Hall, who finished his debut Air Race season in 2009 in third place overall, said he was very excited to be able to cater for some of the large group of supporters that are expected to travel to Perth. 

“As soon as I heard the race was coming back to Australia and to Perth I was determined to make sure I had plenty of fans over there,” Hall said. 

“The level of support I have received in my short career so far has been overwhelming and I really wanted to give fans the opportunity for an exclusive experience they would never forget. 

“The team at Avtours Australia are the best in the business when it comes to Aviation Tours and the Red Bull Air Race themselves have been very accommodating in helping us put together something special. I can’t wait for April!” 

There is a bonus too for those that book early – anyone who books before February 28, 2010 will go into a draw to win the following prizes:

* Prize 1: Win one flight in the Red Bull Air Race 2-seater plane, on the Friday preceding the race (time TBC)

* Prize 2: Win an upgrade to the exclusive Race Club hospitality area for you and 3 friends

* Prize 3: Win an exclusive gift-pack signed by Australian pilot Matt Hall

 

For bookings email Karene – karene@avtours.com.au or call 1300 728 634

 

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AVTOURS AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL MATT HALL SUPPORTERS TOUR 

Packages

Silver Package

Return Economy Airfares (Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane – Perth) Flying with Qantas

Group Airport Return Transfers

 Twin Share Accommodation Deluxe Studio Room – The Esplanade River Suites, Como

 (4 nights)

Full buffet breakfast each morning (4 breakfasts)

Thursday night Evening Vineyard Cruise

Friday Day tour of Perth & Fremantle

Friday night dinner with Matt Hall

Private Pit Lane Walk with Matt Hall

Matt Hall Racing Polo Shirt & personally signed Baseball Cap

Matt Hall Racing Grandstand seating for both Saturday & Sunday events

Group transfers to Grandstand each day

Sunday night farewell dinner

Personalised Itinerary

Post trip extensions if required

Gold Package extras

Saturday & Sunday Exclusive Race Club Seating

Twin Share Accommodation Executive Studio Room – The Esplanade River Suites, Como

 

Prices

SILVER PACKAGE PRICE:

$2265.00 per person ex Melbourne

$2295.00 per person ex Sydney

$2399.00 per person ex Brisbane

 

Single Supplement – $470.00 

 

GOLD PACKAGE PRICE:

$2785.00 pp ex Melbourne

$2825.00 pp ex Sydney

$2930.00 pp ex Brisbane                                                                       

Single Supplement – $530.00 

PERTH ONLY COMPONENT PRICES: For Reserved Grandstand Seating, Friday night dinner, Private Pit Walk and merchandise is $460.00 per person.  For the same but Race Club tickets $910.00 per person.

AL AIN AEROBATIC SHOW TO BE BROADCAST LIVE Online sports channel – Airsports.tv to Broadcast for 5 Hours

Al Ain, UAE 29 January, 2009: The Al Ain Aerobatic Show, due to be held later this week, is to be broadcast live online for the very first time in its eight-year history, with coverage of the last two days of the event streamed to viewers across the globe. The event is the world’s only aerobatic spectacle that combines military and civil aircraft, stunt displays and competitions. 

Internet-based sports channel Airsports.tv will be broadcasting live from the Al Ain show – being held at Al Ain International Airport – on the 30^th January, with full running commentary for up to 5 hours from 13:00 – 18:00 (09:00 – 13:00 GMT), delivering an estimated 80,000 video streams over its customised live events page: 

 http://www.airsports.tv/alainaerobaticshowlive.asp. 

A record 23 international teams – featuring some of the world’s top pilots from Croatia, Hungary, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA – will be taking part this year, including an Aero Grand Prix air race – known as the Formula One of Air Racing; the stunning ‘Saudi Hawks’ – the Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatics Team; the ‘Breitling Jet team’, and ‘We Fly’ from Italy. In addition, the South African Goodyear Eagles Aerobatic Team will attempt to complete a never-before-seen triple synchronised inverted parachute drop, whilst three aircraft perform a formation loop. 

The UAE Armed Forces – who this year are taking part both as organiser and participant – will be showing off an F16-C multi-role jet fighter aircraft – known as the  ’Fighting Falcon’; a French multirole, single-engine jet Mirage 2000 fighter; and, for the first time, an AH-64D Apache four-blade, twin-engined attack helicopter. The Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) will also be making its international debut, with two RBAF F16s demonstrating daily. 

Jeff Zaltman, Managing Director of Flying Aces Ltd and Airsports.tv said “We have a unique opportunity to bring this event into the homes, offices and work spaces of thousands of aerobatic pilots, fans and enthusiasts across the globe and we are thrilled to be able to do so. There are thousands of aerobatic flying clubs, aerobatic pilots and aerobatic flight fans worldwide who won’t get the chance to attend Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2010. The live online broadcast will give those people an opportunity to take part in the adrenalin fuelled excitement of this prestigious event.” 

The 2010 Al Ain Aerobatic Show is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

Source: Airsports.tv

Red Bull Air Race returns to Windsor, Canada in 2010

WINDSOR, Ontario – The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will return to Windsor, Ontario in 2010 after the Canadian city hosted one of the most exciting races in the sport’s history last year. 15 of the world’s best race pilots will be battling it out on 5-6 June at the 4th stop in the 9-race championship. A 2-year agreement means that Windsor will also be a fixture in the 2011 season.

“We’re really excited to be returning to Windsor, Ontario and continuing the partnership for the next two years,” said Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl, “It’s a great venue in an exciting city and last year’s race there was a huge success. The enthusiasm for the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor is just tremendous. It feels like all of Canada is behind the race.” 

The 2009 Windsor race also gave an important boost to the economy of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan emphasized the economic activity generated by the race and highlighted that it gave the entire region a “psychological lift.” 

“Last year’s event was not just an economic shot in the arm for Windsor.  The excitement of the race was plainly seen not only by the people of Windsor but also the hundreds of thousands of viewers from around the world who tuned in to watch the race,” said Duncan.  “Our government is pleased to work with Red Bull Air Race and the City in order to bring the race back to Windsor.”

“This is a great coup for our city. Windsor will be joining a select group of major international cities to host the Red Bull Air Race again in 2010,” added Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sandra Pupatello. “We look forward to welcoming this unique event and the economic boost it will provide to our region.”

Canadian pilot Pete McLeod said he is delighted the race will be back in his home country. “Of all the locations on the 2010 calendar, I’m most excited to be back racing in Windsor,” he said. “The support I had from my fans, sponsors and the entire city last year was outstanding and resulted in my best finish of the season. We’ve been working hard in the off-season to be more competitive and I hope I can represent Canada strongly again on home soil this summer.”

Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain began his comeback in Windsor in 2009, scoring the first of three victories on the challenging track over the Detroit River in front of over 200,000 cheering fans in the high-speed, low-altitude race through 20-metre high Air Gates.

“Windsor 2009 will go down in my memory bank as a favourite,” said Bonhomme, adding he had never been made to feel more welcome anywhere in the world. “There were warm and hospitable people, a challenging track to test man and machine, and a charming village feel to a great city. If we have half as much fun as we had in 2009, then this year’s race will be superb.”

New York City to host Red Bull Air Race in 2010

The fifth race of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season will be held, in partnership with NYC & Company, Jersey City, NJ and Liberty State Park, over the Hudson River on June 19 and 20. This year marks the sixth year of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship which will also land in nine cities including Abu Dhabi, UAE; Perth, Australia, and Lisbon, Portugal.

“New York City is known for its ability to draw some of the world’s greatest, large-scale events each year, and we’re always happy to welcome new and exciting sporting events that amplify its reputation as one of the most electrifying cities in the world,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will, without a doubt, bring a new element of adventure to this city, and add to the incredible roster of events taking place here in 2010.”

In 2009, the Red Bull Air Race was broadcast in over 180 countries reaching over 300 million viewers. The two-day spectator experience, coupled with the global television broadcast, will showcase New York as a premier sporting destination. The race in New York and Jersey City also represents an exciting opportunity to stimulate the local economy.

“Jersey City is fast becoming a premier destination to host major events, such as the All Points West concerts and the 2009 Barclays golf tournament,” said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. “The Red Bull Air Race is a high-caliber event that provides international exposure and will bring millions of tourism dollars into our city. We are aggressively marketing Jersey City as a global brand and we are thrilled to have the world’s most talented pilots compete above our Hudson River waterfront.”

The Red Bull Air Race is different from all other motorsports in that it takes its race track with it wherever it goes around the world bringing the action to the spectator. To do this, it takes a logistics operation unparalleled in the sports business to transport 380 tons of infrastructure and race equipment including 15 light-weight, 24-foot wingspan race planes and the sport’s own traveling air traffic control tower.

“Staging a Red Bull Air Race in New York City and Jersey City marks an important milestone in the history of the global motorsports championship and we feel privileged to be given this opportunity,” said Bernd Loidl, CEO of the Red Bull Air Race. “We look forward to our partnership with both cities and providing spectators with an incredible experience as well as enabling millions of television viewers around the globe to watch the best race pilots compete against the spectacular skyline of some of the world’s great cities.”

Over the past five years, the Red Bull Air Race has held races in major metropolitans such as London, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, and in the U.S. in San Diego, Detroit, San Francisco, and Monument Valley, Utah. Of the fifteen race pilots from around the world, two are Americans, Kirby Chambliss from Arizona and Michael Goulian from Massachusetts. Each pilot operates a year-round race team including a technician and team coordinator. The end goal for each race team is to accumulate as many points throughout the season in a quest to achieve the prestigious honor of 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

Red Bull Air Race Locations:

Abu Dhabi, March 26/27
Perth, April 17/18
South America*
Canada*
New York, June 19/20
France*
EuroSpeedway, Lausitz, August 7/8
Budapest, August 19/20
Lisbon, September 4/5

* Dates and exact locations to be confirmed
Source: Red Bull Air Race.com

Red Bull Air Race returns to Germany with race at EuroSpeedway Lausitz

LAUSITZ, Germany – The Red Bull Air Race World Championship returns to Germany in 2010 with a race at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, the first time the high-speed, low-altitude competition will be held at a motorsports race circuit. The world class track just south of Berlin will be the venue for the 7th stop in the 9-race 2010 championship. Taking place on 7-8 August, the race will be one of the highlights in a year of celebrations at the EuroSpeedway marking its 10th anniversary.

The EuroSpeedway grandstand, the largest and most modern in Europe, will provide spectators with a unique perspective of the race, enabling them to view not just the race itself but also the pit lanes where the hangars of the 15 pilots and their teams will be set up directly in front of the grandstand. This will give the crowd a first-hand glimpse of how the pilots prepare their powerful 540-kg propeller planes for the race and they will be able to watch the pilots take off and land from the runway which will be located close by. At other races around the world the race airport is usually set up far from the track.

“We are delighted to be able to present a top sports event to the fans of Germany and to the neighbouring countries Poland, Czech Republic and Austria, which will entice thousands of spectators to Lausitz,” said the managing partner of the EuroSpeedway Verwaltungs GmbH Josef Meier. “It will also be the highlight of the 10th anniversary of the EuroSpeedway Lausitz.”

“We’re extremely pleased to be returning to Germany,” said Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl. The first German race was in Berlin in 2006 at Tempelhof Airport. “It’s a country with a rich motorsport tradition and millions of fans have been following the racing here on television. EuroSpeedway is going to be a fantastic venue. It’s going to be an exciting race weekend.”

German pilot Matthias Dolderer, one of the championship’s rising stars, is looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd. He joined the championship in 2009 and got the first podium of his career in the final race in Barcelona and became one of the top 3 pilots in the second half of the season.

“I’m thrilled that there will be a race in Germany this year,” said Dolderer. “It’s a great opportunity to make the Red Bull Air Race better known in Germany and it’s going to be brilliant to fly in front of my home crowd. Naturally I hope that we’ll have more races in Germany. It is one of the world’s top motor sport countries.”

The race at the EuroSpeedway will also be something of a homecoming for Martin Sonka, a 31-year-old rookie from the Czech Republic who recently qualified for a place in the championship. The race track is only 90 km away from the Czech border and about the same distance from Berlin. Sonka will be joined by another rookie in 2009 – Brazilian Adilson Kindlemann.

While most Red Bull Air Races are held over rivers, lakes or ocean shorelines such as London, Perth or Barcelona, there have been a handful of races held on land – such as Longleat (UK) and Berlin in 2006 as well as Monument Valley (USA) and Interlaken (Switzerland) in 2007.  The race at EuroSpeedway, Lausitz will be the only race held over land this year.

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