Red Bull Air Race, Abu Dhabi, 8th & 11th Apr'08
Friday 11th
April saw the actual Red Bull Air Race. The weather was much better, still
some wind, much better visibility and the temperature got to 35c. (Nice) 12
pilots flew.
Still in the "Super 8" section... (then came the semi finals which I
took video of for a change)
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No4 Peter Besenyei (HUN) flies an Extra 300SR, passing Pylon 12
The Extra is tighter in the vertical loop than the Edge 540 & he qualifies for the semi finals.
No1 Mike Mangold (USA) in his Edge 540 rounding pylon 2
The Red Bull film chopper, with Pilot Jurg, chasing Mike Mangold for the live video screens
No4 Kirby Chambliss runs in, yes, in another Edge 540..
..passing the skyline round pylon 3..
..and pylon 9
Kirby finished 5th, 1m 07.45secs because of 1 penalty
No2 Paul Bonhomme (GBR) runs in at 367Kph..!
..so precise all the week, and clean without penalties..
..knife edge through the Quadro and he qualified for semi & then the final..
Red Bull shuttle most of the day, gives a great solo display in a break before the finals.
Gehard Berger enjoying another super fast sport.
Then after the semi finals, we got down to the 3rd Place Fly-Off. Peter (HUN) No4 last year v Mike (USA) No1 last year
No4 Peter Besenyei (HUN) in his Extra 300SR in the 3rd place fly-off..
..he made two errors, so got beat & came 4th. Time was 1m 14.20secs, kept secret from him & Mike..!
No1 Mike Mangold (USA) half way round his lap, flat out as usual in his Edge 540..
..and pulls up to celebrate as he's told he came 3rd with a time of 1m 07.36secs
The Final, Hannes (AUT) No10 last year v Paul (GBR) No2 last year....
Hannes made one error (see his head was above the top of the pylon) on his lap and got a penalty. He finished 2nd with his time of 1m 10.36secs.
Paul (who isn't told the previous guys score or time) made another clean round, and wins. Time was 1m 03.31secs.
All of the other pilots arrived for the podium
Mike Mangold - 3rd
Hannes Arch - 2nd
Paul Bonhomme - 1st
finally, the red bull parachutists dropped from the chopper at under 2000 feet...
...and safely landed by the on looking Red Bull hostesses