- Red Bull Air Race World Series
Infobox sports league
logo=Red Bull Air Race Logo.png
sport=Air Racing
founded=2003
teams=10
country=flagicon|United Nations International
champion=flagicon|USMike Mangold (pilot)
Cobra (team)Red Bull , is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the sky in the fastest time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of pylons, known as "air gates".The races are held mainly over water near cities, but also at airfields or natural wonders. They are accompanied by a supporting program of show flights. Races are usually flown on weekends with the first day for qualification then finals the day after. The events attract large crowds and are broadcast, both live and taped, in many nations.
At each venue, the top nine places earn World Series points. The air racer with the most points at the end of the series becomes Red Bull Air Race world champion. The 2005, 2006 and 2007 series were won respectively by the American pilots
Mike Mangold ,Kirby Chambliss and Mangold again.History
The idea of the Red Bull Air Race came in 2001, following Red Bull's efforts to create a new aviation event. The aim of the event was to challenge some of the world's best pilots in speed, precision and skill. With these criteria, Red Bull approached
Péter Besenyei , then two-time World Aerobatics champion, seeking to use his skill and experience to adapt the concept in to real race situations. Two years of planning culminated in the first Red Bull Air Race being held inZeltweg ,Austria in 2003 during the AirPower show.cite web |url=http://www.redbullairrace.com/2007/about.php?sub=history&lang=en |title=The History |work=RedBullAirRace.com |accessdate=2007-11-04] cite news |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080501-9999-1w01redbull.html |title=Speed racers |work=Dan Diego Union-Tribune |first=Penny |last=Lingo |date=2008-05-01 |accessdate=2008-05-03]Format
In earlier seasons, 2005 and 2006, pilots first ran two qualifying rounds to determine starting order, with the fastest time starting last. The race was then run over two rounds, and the combined time of both rounds determines the winner. Starting in 2007, a new knock-out format was introduced which was modified for 2008.
During the first day, pilots run two training rounds then two qualification rounds. The times of the last training session determine flight order for both qualifying rounds, slowest racing first. The best time from either qualifying run counts. Twelve pilots with the fastest times continue on to race the second day. The lowest four who made it through qualifying race for ninth place and one World Series point in the aptly named "Point One" round. The top eight, or "Super Eights" are seeded based on qualification times then race head-to-head. Winners from the Super Eight round race again in the semifinals while losers are ranked 5th through 8th based on their time. From the semifinals, the pilots either head to the final to determine the winner and runner-up, or to the consolation final to settle third and fourth places.
Based on the pilot's place at each event, World Series points are awarded. First place receives nine points, second place receives eight, on through ninth who receives one. A pilot must complete a minimum of eight races to and earn the most points after the final event in the season is the Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion.
Rules
Pilots must pass through each of the air gates correctly while completing the required aerobatic manoeuvre. Three different gate types require a specific manner of crossing. Blue gates must be crossed in level flight, red gates must be crossed in "knife-edge" or vertical flight, and the
slalom gates as their name implies.Penalties are incurred for violations of the rules.cite web |url=http://www.redbullairrace.com/about.php?subpage=3 |title=Time Penalties & Disqualifications |work=RedBullAirRace.com |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-04-11]
3 seconds penalty
* Incorrect passing of a gate
** Too high
** Incorrect level (horizontal) crossing or knife (vertical) angle
** Incorrect knife direction
* Incorrect turning maneuver10 seconds penalty
* Touching a gate
Disqualification
* Dangerous flying
** Any form of dangerous flying
** Flying too low
** Crossing the crowd line
* Not flying the course
** Course deviation
** Not executing prescribed aerobatic maneuverAircraft
The competitors use high-end aerobatic planes such as the Zivko Edge 540X, the MX Aircraft MX2, and the Extra 300SR, all of which are equipped with Lycoming engines. All three aircraft have a wingspan less than 25 feet (8 m) and top speeds ranging from 252 to 265 mph (406 to 426 km/h).
Competitors have developed enhanced versions of their aircraft to better performance, and thus times. For example,
Michael Goulian is flying a modified Extra which uses lighter composites and a more highly tuned Lycoming engine. However, the safety implications of engine or airframe failures mean that performance tuning by individual teams, as is commonly done in other motorsport events, is limited in scope.Air gates
The air gates are made up of one, two, or four pylons for the maneuvers the pilots must perform. The pylons are approximately 65 feet (20 m) high, and spaced 33 to 49 feet (10 to 15 m) apart depending on the gate. The pylon was designed by
Martin Jehart and is made up of six sections which are attached together byzipper s andVelcro . Prior to May 2008, the races had used more than eight tons of fabric for the various pylons, and the average life of each pylon was 15 races. Thirty-five pylons are transported to each race, and at each race's completion, the pylons are sent toInnsbruck, Austria to be repaired.cite journal |title=Behind the Scenes: Air Gates |journal=Red Bull Air Race Magazine |month=May |year=2008 |pages=pp. 32-35]If a pylon is hit by the plane, it is designed to break apart, preventing it from harming the plane and pilot. The damaged parts of the pylon are replaced by course personnel nicknamed "Air Gators". It usually takes a few minutes to replace a pylon. The record for the setup of a replacement pylon is 1 minute 30 seconds, set in 2007.
Results
Race locations
*1 The 11th round of the 2007 season in Acapulco, Mexico was cancelled.
*2 The 4th round of the 2006 season in St.Petersburg, Russia was cancelled.
*3 The 5th round of the 2007 season in Barcelona, Spain was cancelled.
*4 The 4th round of the 2008 season in Stockholm, Sweden was cancelled.
*5 Race in Spain was cancelled.ee also
*
Competition aerobatics
*Reno Air Races References
External links
* [http://www.redbullairrace.com/ Red Bull Air Race] - Official website
* [http://www.air-races.com/ Air-Races.com] - Independent informational website
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