THIS IS JACINTA'S STORY...

average randomness of zero proportions...

Friday, November 24, 2006

RED BULL AIR RACE

As you can see, since the exams ended, I've been doing quite a bit of activites...

Sunday was the day Perth hosted the Red Bull Air Race. Must say it was a mighty fine event, something very different from your usual events u tend to see. Well at least for me it was kinda like the first air race I've been to.

Went with MJ, Isaac and we decided to take a slow 6km walk from our place all the way down the Swan River towards the city center where the race was held. Was a good idea indeed coz there were so many ppl... according to the news, there was a turn out of more than 300 000 people!

Anyway, more abt the race: The Red Bull Air Race World Series, established in 2005 and created by Red Bull is an international series of air races with the participation of the world's most skilled pilots, in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the sky, in the fastest possible time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed pylons, known as ‘air gates’

At the races, currently 11 pilots compete against each other. The race winner is the competitor who accomplishes the best time after two runs of the same course. Pilots race on a twisted course with five groups of specially erected spinnaker pylon obstacles. Flying against the rules results in disqualification or in a time penalty added to the flying time. The first six ranked pilots of each race leg get points from 6 to 1 from top down. The air racer with the most points at the end of the series becomes Red Bull Air Race world champion.

It's real cool, the planes fly at up to 400km/hr and come down to as low overhead and just above the water surface of the Swan River. It's quite amazing actually, all that skill and precision involved. The loud engine sounds of the jets are deafening yet gives this adrenaline rush within. I particuarly loved the aerial acrobatics where the planes and helicoptors showed off fancy jaw-dropping stunts... upside downs, plunges, 360's, twists and turns ...etc. There was even this jet that just shot up towards the sky and released flares... real pretty indeed. Also, after watching the stunts, I never knew how 'flexible and versatile helicopters could be! Amazing!