WA: Red Bull race cleared for Perth take off

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2006
WA: Red Bull race cleared for Perth take off

By Liza Kappelle

PERTH, Aug 13 AAP - A high-speed obstacle race for some of the world's best air pilots
has been cleared for take off in Australia for the first time.

In what is known as the world series for pilots, contestants in the global Red Bull
Air Race will streak across Perth skies in November following approval for the event from
the nation's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

West Australian Tourism minister Sheila McHale said CASA's approval had removed the
last hurdle for the spectacle that above Perth's Swan River from November 17 to 19.

"The Red Bull Air Race has never been held in Australia and it was a real coup for
Perth to win the bid last year," Ms McHale said.

"It will see some of the world's top pilots undertake precision manoeuvres through
a series of inflatable `gates' at speeds of up to 400 kph while withstanding forces of
about 10G," Ms McHale said.

Pilots, hand selected for the race, fly individually against the clock through a "slalom
course" consisting of specially designed 20 metre pylons, known as air gates, the race
website says.

The event has drawn massive crowds in cities including San Francisco, Berlin, Barcelona
and Istanbul.

In Istanbul recently, 1.5 million spectators lined the banks of the Golden Horn estuary
to watch American pilot Kirby Chambliss win that leg of the race.

The next event takes place on the River Danube in Budapest, Hungary, on August 20,
before it comes to Perth.

Pilots will fly a practice run on November 17, a qualifying round on November 18 before
they are selected for the race itself on November 19.

AAP lk/pe

KEYWORD: REDBULL

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