In Flight USA Article Categories
In Flight USA Articles
The Pylon Place: December 2014
Red Bull Air Race 2014: Worth the Wait
After a three-year hiatus, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship came back in 2014 with dramatic action.
By Marilyn Dash
Final Preparation for his Championship Winning Flight . ( Photos used by Permission from Red Bull Air Races)It all started when 12 of the world’s best pilots reunited in February for the season opener in Abu Dhabi. The new rules, which mandated standardization of engines and propellers, were created to level the playing field and to make the action tighter–and they did.
Fans were able to see the action at eight locations on three continents. Venues like England’s Ascot Racecourse and the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria completely sold out, and at the race in Gdynia, Poland–the officials had to close access to the beach viewing when they reached the mandated civic limit of 130,000. Now, that’s a crowd!
The Pylon Place - March 2014
Red Bull Air Races are BACK!
By Marilyn Dash
Kirby Chambliss flying over Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Garth Milan Red Bull Content Pool)After a three-year hiatus to revamp and rework, the Red Bull Air Races are BACK! As someone who has seen four races in person and all of them via video, I could not be more thrilled.
Many things have changed, but some things have remained the same. The most important aspect that has not changed is the pilots. All 12 of the pilots are returning racers.
The UK’s Paul Bonhomme, the Red Bull Air Race World Champion for 2009 and 2010 is the early favorite to repeat. But Austrian, Hannes Arch who won in 2008 is also looking to return to the top. Both of these men are very competitive and have kept their skills up flying airshows and competition. American, Kirby Chambliss won in 2004 and 2006 and is always striving for perfection. Michael Goulian, another American returning pilot is ready to take it all.
Red Bull Air Race World Championship Tickets On Sale
Global Series To Bring High-Flying Action to Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas
Tickets for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship season are now on sale, as the world’s fastest motorsport series returns to the skies at exciting new locations around the world after a three-year break. The 2014 schedule includes two U.S. based races, in Dallas/Fort Worth at Texas Motor Speedway on September 6-7 and in Las Vegas at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 11-12. A wide range of tickets – everything from general admission to Race Club hospitality areas with fine catering and the best views – are available with pricing starting at $39 for a weekend of high adrenaline racing.
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship features the world’s best race pilots in a pure motorsport competition that combines speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, pilots navigate a low-level aerial track made up of air-filled pylons 80 feet high at speeds of up to 230 mph. The competition is expected to be even more intense in 2014 as all 12 pilots will be using a standardized engine and propeller, intensifying the focus on pilot skill and precision flying through the high-g turns in the challenging race courses.
Tickets are now available through redbullairrace.com, ticketmaster.com, lvms.com, texasmotorspeedway.com and in person at both the Las Vegas Motor Speedway box office (800/644-4444) and Texas Motor Speedway box office (817/215-8500). Each ticket for the Finals on Sunday will also grant the ticket bearer access to Qualifying and the Challenger Cup on Saturday. Available ticket options include:
General Admission Weekend Packages - $39
Sunday ticket also grants Saturday access
Includes: open seating location (no assigned seats). Neon Garage and Hangar Walk (hangar area access at set times) can be purchased for an additional $25 (adult) and $19 (junior) at the venue on the day of the event.
Reserved Terrace Weekend Packages with VIP access - $59
Sunday ticket also grants Saturday access
Includes: front stretch terrace seats with excellent sightlines of the entire Speedway; wide, flip-down seats with cup holders and a private concourse with restrooms, concessions and elevator access; Neon Garage and Hangar Walk for both days.
Race Club Weekend Packages - $350
Sunday ticket also grants Saturday access
Includes: premium seats in the main grandstand; VIP Clubhouse Room access with food and beverage (Saturday and Sunday); Neon Garage & Hangar Walk for two days; an assortment of food and snacks served on Sunday (beer and wine will be included, in addition to soda and water); one VIP parking pass for every two tickets purchased; theater-style flip-down seats with cup holders; official event program; and special Red Bull Air Race pilot appearances.
Two-time world champion (2009 and 2010) Paul Bonhomme of Britain will lead a field of 12 hard-charging challengers from nine other countries in his quest for an unprecedented third straight title in the high-speed, low-altitude sport. The complete field also includes two Americans: Kirby Chambliss, who won the world title in 2004 and 2006, and Michael Goulian. The rest of the pilots include: 2008 champion Hannes Arch (AUT), Nigel Lamb (GBR), Matt Hall (AUS), Peter Besenyei (HUN), Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), Matthias Dolderer (GER), Yoshi Muroya (JPN), Pete McLeod (CAN) and Martin Sonka (CZE).
Extremely motivated after the three-year break, the pilots have been training feverishly with their crews to get their agile and lightweight racing pilots in peak condition ahead of the eagerly awaited Red Bull Air Race World Championship season-opener in Abu Dhabi on February 28/March 1. The racing then moves on to Putrajaya, Malaysia on May 16/17, Gdynia, Poland on July 26/27, Ascot, United Kingdom on August 16/17, Dallas/Fort Worth September 6/7, Las Vegas on October 11/12 and China on November 1/2. More information is available at www.redbullairrace.com.
Red Bull Air Race World Championship Returns in 2014
Global Series Returns with Seven Races, Including Two U.S. Stops in Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas
American Red Bull Air Race pilot Kirby Chambliss “breaks in” Las Vegas Motor Speedway with inaugural flight. (Garth Milan, Red Bull Content Pool )The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will be back in the skies beginning in February 2014 with a seven-race World Championship staged in six countries on three continents. Of the seven races, two will take place in the U.S. - Dallas/Fort Worth at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 6-7 and Las Vegas at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 11-12. Fans will be able to watch the entire seven-race 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, and can sign up to be reminded when tickets become available at
Red Bull Stratos – Successful First Manned Test Jump From an Altitude of 13.5 Miles
Chambliss, Goulian Blame Low Power Engines for Poor Season
By Kirsten Corrigan
The two American pilots in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship will be happy to draw a line under the 2009 season but neither former world champion Kirby Chambliss nor super focused Michael Goulian will be wasting a moment in the off season as they prepare to stake a claim on next year’s title. Chambliss finished 4th overall in the championship, making up for a slow start in the second half of the year, while Goulian had to settle for a 10th place result despite a career-first win in Budapest.