Sun, May 28, 2006
Over 600,000 people packed Berlin's
historic Tempelhof Airport, Saturday 27 May, to watch American
Kirby Chambliss win the third leg of the Red Bull Air Race World
Series with a total time of 02:53.70. This was the second win for
Chambliss who won the season's first race in Abu Dhabi. New
Air Race records were also set with Chambliss reaching a top speed
of 513 kph (319 mph) and Hungarian pilot Besenyei achieving a
record 13.8G in his new Edge 540 plane. Berlin pilot Klaus
Schrodt came fourth place with great support from the local
crowd.
Prior to the race, thousands of Berliners swarmed onto the
paddock to meet the Red Bull Air Racers in person and get a
close-up look at their aircraft. Such was the popularity of the
pilots, that organisers were forced to close the area earlier than
planned due to overcrowding. With over half a million
spectators, the turnout for the race was more than twice the number
anticipated.
The Red Bull Air Race is a competition about skill as well as
speed. Eleven of the world's best pilots race individually against
clock through a slalom course in the air and any mistakes incur
penalty points which are added to their times. It's a tough race
and only the top pilots in the world have the experience and
training to cope with the physical demands such as the high G-force
and tremendous speeds.
It's currently a close race between Chambliss and Besenyei who
won the last competition in Barcelona. Chambliss is now
leading the World Series followed by Besenyei and then Mike Mangold
from the USA, with only one point standing between each of
them.
Chambliss was delighted with his win, saying, "I sorted out the
problems I had in Barcelona. I'm very happy but it was a really
close race!"
Berlin was a new addition to the Air Race calendar and also the
first time it has taken place at an international airport. The next
race takes place in St Petersburg on 17 June.
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