Posts Tagged ‘Windsor’
Rio’s washout does not deter Brazilian babes for Red Bull Air Race
The 2010 Red Bull Air Racing World Championship had an inauspicious start this year when in the second race of the series in Perth, Australia the first ever crash in the events 7 year history was recorded.
Adilson Kindlemann of Brazil lost control of his aircraft after rounding a pylon during practice. Kindlemann managed a near wings level impact, but as the aircraft’s fixed landing gear dug into the water, the aircraft flipped, leaving Kindlemann and the aircraft floating upside down in Perth’s Swan River. As you can see, Red Bull rescue crews arrived quickly to the inverted MXS-R aerobatic race plane and Kindlemann was pulled out alive. Amazingly his injuries were minor – but he was unable to fly when his home country hosted a race last weekend.
The crash is recorded here by AVweb –
As can be seen in the picture below the weather was not looking good for the race which was held off Rio de Janiero’s Flamengo Beach in front of huge crowds. Unfortunately the Top 12 round on Sunday had to be cancelled due to the poor weather and the race placings and points were determined by the pilots times in qualification.
Hannes Arch of Austria was declared the winner and Britain’s Nigel Lamb was awarded second place while championship leader Paul Bonhomme was forced to settle with a disappointing third place in the third race of the 2010 season.
This leaves the 2010 World Championship scoreboard after 3 events with Bonhomme narrowly clinging to his lead – see below.
| POS | PILOT | NAT | ABU DHABI | PERTH | RIO | PTS |
| 1 | Paul Bonhomme |  GBR |
12 | 9+1 | 9 | 31 |
| 2 | Nigel Lamb | GBR |
10 | 8 | 10 | 28 |
| 3 | Hannes Arch |  AUT |
1+1 | 12 | 12+1 | 27 |
| 4 | Matt Hall |  AUS |
4 | 10 | 8 | 22 |
| 5 | Pete McLeod |  CAN |
7 | 7 | 5 | 19 |
Fortunately the Brazilian babes were not deterred and on the Saturday it was not only the planes that drew the photographers attention.
The video below shows action from Rio – both the video and pictures come from Redbullairrace
The remaining race schedule is as follows:
- June 5/6 – Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- June 19/20 – New York, NY, USA
- August 7/8 – EuroSpeedway, Lausitz, Germany
- August 19/20 – Budapest, Hungary
- September 4/5 – Lisbon, Portugal
Tickets and information for any of these events can be obtained from the following link:
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Air race first in two countries at the same time
The next installment of the Red Bull Air Racing World Series moves to a course built over the Detroit River between Detroit in the USA and Windsor in Canada and will be held on May 31st and June 1st.
Created in 2001 the air show now visits 10 cities worldwide, each with its own unique features and recognizable backdrop. The automotive city, aviation beacon and stunning skyline will be the stage for 12 world class pilots who will be judged on speed, flying precision and skill. Not only is the air race being held in two countries for the first time but it is the first time this world series has been to Detroit.
Pilots must navigate their lightweight planes on a low-level race track made up of air-filled pylons, flying at speeds reaching 230 mph, while withstanding forces up to 10 Gs. The object is to complete the course and steer through 65 foot high inflatable pylons – or air gates – in the fastest possible time.
“Planes race only 10-20 feet above the water. Unlike other air shows, the Red Bull Air Race takes place at eye-level providing amazing views of high performance race planes flown by some of the best pilots in the world right in front of you,” says Maddy Stephens, Red Bull communications manager.
Speed is not all. Pilots must also pass between the air gates in the correct position, if not, penalty seconds are tacked on. The pilot who accumulates the most points at each race and at the end of the season wins the Red Bull Air Race World champion crown.
Spectators will also get a chance to check-out the race pits from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st at the Metro Airport. Tickets on the Detroit side are sold out, but tickets are still available on the Windsor side. Another extreme sport which is certainly attracting the crowds.
Pilots in the Red Bull World Series Air Race scheduled to race in Detroit over the weekend May 31st/June 1st