Wed, Aug 18, 2010
Former Captain Of The Spanish National Aerobatic Team
Red Bull Air Race pilot Alejandro (Alex) Maclean was fatally
injured Tuesday at the age of 41 in an accident in his native
Spain. Maclean was practicing aerobatics for an air show.
Maclean was considered one of the air racing and aerobatic
communities' most vibrant and passionate characters. The former
captain of the Spanish national aerobatic team began his Red Bull
Air Race career in 2003 and was a key figure in the evolution of
the championship. A fiercely competitive streak led the Spaniard to
accelerate the development of the MXS-R with fellow pilot Nigel
Lamb and Alex kept his longstanding technician busy with an
aggressive modification schedule.
Maclean is being remembered on the Red Bull Air Race site as
being known at the Race Airport for his expressive Latino
temperament. His colleagues say he was a deeply sensitive and
emotionally charged character who fought against obvious
frustration when results weren’t forthcoming. Despite this,
he continued to push forward with his loyal team and finished the
2010 season on a philosophical note, taking personal responsibility
for a disappointing result.
While he worked his race team hard and expected absolute
commitment, Maclean reportedly treated his technician Jesús
Cañadilla, team coordinator Carola Bisci and coach Eneko
Larumbe like family. He showed a deep respect for those who
supported him and placed great value on building genuine
friendships. Definitely not one to suffer fools gladly, the
articulate and considerate pilot often made journalists work hard
for their quotes but his level of introspection and self-awareness
added a fascinating dimension to any interview. His colourful
character was a welcome contrast to many of the more reserved
pilots.
Outside the Red Bull Air Race, Alex was considered a dedicated
ambassador for flying and was recently named as the 2010 recipient
of the prestigious Paul Tissandier Diploma for his contribution to
sporting aviation. Fascinated by the idea of flight since
childhood, he started flying ultralight aircraft before moving on
to high performance aerobatic planes and was a celebrated
competition pilot on the European stage before embarking upon the
next chapter of his career with the Red Bull Air Race.
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