"YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IT ALL"

 SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEED

SEND TO FRIEND

Pilots debate what it takes to be successful in the Red Bull Air Race

What is more important? Pilot skill or a fast plane? This has been a topic of much debate since the Red Bull Air Race was created and only seems to grow stronger each year. There are the purists and their supporters, such Paul Bonhomme, who argue it is skill that is essential to winning while there are others such as American Mike Mangold who believe you do not have a chance if you are not sitting in one of the very fastest planes. And there are others who, predictably, say you need both skill and a great plane to have any chance in the increasingly competitive battle for championship points. Despite the differing points of view, pretty much everyone agrees with the sentiment expressed by Kirby Chambliss, the fast-flying American with a great plane who won the 2006 World Championship: ‘It takes different horses for different courses.’

Bonhomme is widely considered to be one of the best high-speed low-altitude pilots in the world and his elegant style of flying has drawn both praise and imitation from his Red Bull Air Race rivals. ‘It's a funny question, isn't it?’ Bonhomme said. ‘I think you'll find the guys who don't do well will say ‏It's the technical side that needs improving' and the guys who do well will say 'It's flying skill'. That's probably a natural response. I do think, however, it depends a lot on the track.’

Bonhomme said, for example, if a fictional course were made up of just two Air Gates set up 10 miles apart, the plane's speed would be vital and pilot skill would not make much difference. But on the other hand pilot skill would be vital for success if instead it were a highly challenging course full of extremely difficult turns and treacherous winds (such as San Diego this year) where it would be impossible to get much above 100 knots.

‘It depends on the track,’ he said. ‘If you had a gate and then another one 10 miles away it would be purely down to the airplane. You don't have to do anything but point it in the straight line and fly for 10 miles. If you go to the other extreme, and it's a really windy track where you can't get above 100 knots, then maybe it has a lot to do with the pilots. The tracks we have aren't anywhere near those extremes but there are differences towards one end or the other.’