global briefing
Red bull
cancels
Air Race
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The organizer of the Red Bull Air Race has
decided not to continue the championship
beyond the current season, after it said the
events failed to secure sufficient interest.
Two more races will now be held this year after
the race schedule was reduced, in Hungary on July
13 and Chiba, Japan, on September 7.
The Red Bull Air Race began in 2003. Since then
more than 90 races have been held. Red Bull said
in a statement: “The Red Bull Air Race provided
sports entertainment of highest quality but did not
attract the level of outside interest as many other
Red Bull events across the world do.”
The World Air Sports Federation (FAI), the
governing body for air sports, said it was
unaware if a new FAI-sanctioned championship
was planned. It said, “The Red Bull Air Race is the
only one of its kind to be registered in the FAI
Events Calendar. It is sanctioned by FAI and
therefore follows the FAI Sporting Code.
“The Red Bull Air Race features some of the
world’s best pilots in a competition that combines
speed, precision and skills in a safe environment.
“We have been honoured to be a partner of the
Red Bull Air Race since 2005 and are sorry to see
this fabulous air sports event being discontinued.”
Jeff Zaltman is CEO of Air Race 1, a championship
similar to the Red Bull Air Race. He is also planning
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// The Red Bull Air Race sets eight
teams against each other in races at
cities across the world
to launch Air Race E, an electric aircraft
championship, next year. Zaltman said, “This is sad
news not only for the pilots, teams and fans that
put so much effort into that iconic series, but the
wider aviation community as a whole.
Zaltman also addressed fears that the loss of
the Red Bull Air Race would reduce innovation in
light sport aircraft. He said, “We have just
announced the formal bidding process for venues
interested in hosting the world’s first ever electric
air race, Air Race E, next year. This will be the first
in a series of international electric air racing
events aimed at accelerating and promoting the
development of cleaner, faster and more
technologically-advanced electric engines.
“We’re delighted to have Airbus as the founding
partner of the Air Race E series and we are actively
seeking the involvement of other industry partners
to collaborate on all aspects of making this series
a success.”
Four teams have entered Air Race E so far, from
Holland, the USA and the UK. Eight teams are
required for a race to happen.
Each race will see the aircraft compete against
each other around a 5km circuit, just 10m above
the ground. A bidding process for hosting the first
race is underway and is expected to close by
December 2019. \\
14 JUNE \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM 9
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