Red Bull Air Race World Championship Pilot Gives Students A Chance To Paint Their Wings

Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilot, Kirby Chambliss, returned to the Detroit Riverfront on Thursday to announce a contest for local children to put their artistic talent on display. Twenty spots are available for local middle schools to vie for the chance to decorate small plane statues that will line the Riverfront throughout May. Once these planes are on display one school will win prize money and a unique experience during the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship hosted by Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

"I am really thrilled to be able to announce this contest today. It gives the kids a chance to do something fun and creative," stated Chambliss. "It is not very often that children of this age get a chance to showcase their talent on a global stage."

Each participating school will have one week to decorate model race planes with a medium of their choosing including paint, metal, paper and any other material left to their imagination. After they've been decorated, the city will set up the three-by-five wooden planes along the Detroit Riverfront during late April and May leading up to the race, and allow people to choose their favorite. Once on display, it's up to Michiganders to cast their vote and give back to their community.

Chambliss, Racing

People can place their votes online at the website of The Red Bull Air Races and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's homepage from April 20 at 1200 EDT through May 31 at 1200 EDT. The winning school will be chosen based on the largest number of votes received. In addition, a $6,000 donation will be made towards the school's art program. Along with the prize money, the winning school will receive a special party hosted by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy during the Windsor, Ontario, Canada Red Bull Air Race weekend which returns to the Detroit River on June 5 and 6. The second place school will receive $2,500 and the third place school will receive $1,500.

FMI: www.RedBullAirRace.com, www.Detroitriverfront.org