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Author Topic: Red Bull air races  (Read 1777 times)

Fly320s

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Red Bull air races
« on: September 20, 2007, 10:46:30 AM »
I'm in San Diego for the day.  The Red Bull air race is in town and the pilots were practicing this morning over the harbor, just southwest of the USS Midway.

It's very cool to watch.  The planes are racing one at a time around a low-altitude pylon obstacle court.  Lots of tight turns, course reversals, knife-edge flying between pylons.

If any of you are in the area this weekend, go check it out.

http://www.redbullairrace.com/

eta: The pylons are inflatable cones, sort of like the novelty type used to get your attention you may have seen at car dealerships or other businesses.  They aren't very tough, which is good.  I saw one of the planes clip a pylon.  It ripped a hole in the top which caused the pylon to deflate which closed the course for repairs and disqualified the pilot.
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Sergeant Bob

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2007, 11:21:19 AM »
I saw some verts for that. I would so love to see those.
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Fly320s

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2007, 06:02:45 PM »
Here's an article and graphic showing the course:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20070920-9999-1s20redbull.html#

Haven't found any video yet, but there were two news helicopters around during the qualifiers.
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Antibubba

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2007, 08:22:13 PM »
The irony being, of course, that no pilot in his right mind would drink the stuff before getting behind the stick.  Nothing like muscle twitches when you're making that turn.
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S. Williamson

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2007, 12:40:25 AM »
How does one qualify for entry?

... not that I'd ever want to...








...until after I got my pilot's license...
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Fly320s

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2007, 04:52:02 AM »
Quote
Q: What does it take to become a Red Bull Air Race pilot?
A:  Only the worlds most skilled and experienced pilots are selected to compete in the Red Bull Air Race.  The criteria to become an Air Race pilot are extremely high. Top achievements in international flying competitions are a pre-requisite, such as the aerobatic European Championships, the aerobatic World Championships and aerobatic World Grand Prix competitions organised by the FAI. Pilots must also be actively performing low-level aerobatics in air shows. If they meet these minimum requirements, and also have a suitable aircraft, they will be invited to participate in the Red Bull Air Race qualification camp which takes place each at the end of each season.
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jeepmor

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2007, 05:17:56 AM »
I've seen the ads.  I wonder if a plane whacked one of those pylons with a prop if it would be catastrophic?   At that altitude and speed, if they crash, is there any hope of survival.

At those speeds, the difference between hitting the water and the ground are neglible.  Ever crash water skiing at 30mph, you get the idea, now lets go 100+.

I wonder if there are special safety designs in those planes for such eventualities.
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Fly320s

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2007, 05:46:20 AM »
jeepmor,

Two planes did hit a pylon while I was there.  I saw one of the hits.  The plane was not affected at all.  In fact, if I wouldn't have known the plane hit a pylon if I hadn't heard the pylon "pop."

The pylons are made of light-weight sail material.  There are designed to rip open easily if a plane clips one.

For a pylon to cause a crash,  I would think that a plane would have to hit a pylon dead on.
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2007, 06:49:22 AM »
bring back the Gee Bees!
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JonnyB

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2007, 09:03:28 AM »
Gee-Bee? Yikes! Possibly the world's most unstable (least stable?) aircraft? You won't catch *me* flying it!

I guess, according to the earlier-posted prerequisites, I won't be flying the Champ (all 90 horsepower!) in the race any time soon. Drat! At the speed I fly, the turns wouldn't be all that difficult.

jb
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Art Eatman

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2007, 01:35:28 PM »
I've seen a couple of thes on the Fox Sports TV...

Art
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esheato

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Re: Red Bull air races
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2007, 01:59:59 PM »
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