Chambliss Wins!

Air Race World Series – March 19, 2006 –American Kirby Chambliss won the first Red Bull Air Race on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates beating 10 other world-class pilots with a total time of 3:33.37.

American Mike Mangold, last year’s World Series champion, came in second place, followed by Peter Besenyei of Hungary. The third American, Michael Goulian, was in sixth place.

Thousands of spectators lined the famous 'Corniche' stretch in Abu Dhabi to see the pilots perform difficult maneuvers as they raced through an obstacle course in the sky.

March 17 Results, Abu Dhabi

First Race
Place Name Total Time

Kirby Chambliss (USA) 3:33.37

Mike Mangold (USA) 3:37.94

Peter Besenyei (HUN) 3:41.72

Alejandro Maclean (ESP) 3:42.25

Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 3:49.11

Michael Goulian (USA) 3:49.62

Paul Bonhomme (GBR) 3:49.85

Steve Jones (GBR) 3:51.74

Nigel Lamb (GBR) 3:56.42

Frank Versteegh (NED) 4:15.61

The first race of the season was originally scheduled to take place on Friday, but was postponed due to strong northeasterly winds. Wind gusts reached 32 mph, triggering a sand storm that filled the air with dust and sand. The weather worsened throughout the day, making it increasingly dangerous for the pilots.

See Race Highlights.

What are the Red Bull Air Races?

Nine pilots from around the world are pitting their skills against each other for a chance to be known as the best of the best.

It’s the 2006 Air Race World Series, a new chapter in the Red Bull Air Races that is taking these seasoned pilots to nine cities on four continents to strut their stuff.

Withstanding forces up to 10 Gs (or 10 times the force of gravity!), the thrilling air races have taken the sport of aerobatics to a new level and new audience.

The concept of air racing dates back to the early years of aviation, but it took former world aerobatic champion Peter Besenyei, who is also competing, to come up with the idea for today's air races. Unhappy with the way most aerobatic competitions are scored, these pilots are really judged by a stopwatch, eliminating inconsistencies in scoring. The races are sponsored by Red Bull Energy Drinks.

Can’t make any of the races in the World Series? Then do the next-best thing — visit the Red Bull Copilot website.

Kirby Chambliss in action during the first race of the 2006 Red Bull Air Race Series held this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The series continues in May when the races move to Spain. Photo by Stefan Aufschnaiter

Kirby Chambliss signs autographs for fans following his victory in the first race of the 2006 Red Bull Series. Photo by Balasz Gardi

Meet The Pilots

American Kirby Chambliss of Flying Crown Ranch, Ariz., is a five-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and 2000 World Champion. Chambliss won both the Budapest and Gloucestershire Red Bull events in 2004. A Southwest Airlines 737 captain and air show pilot, performed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2005.

American Mike Mangold is ranked 1st in the Red Bull Air Races of 2005. He is also a five-time Unlimited Aerobatics Champion of California, a two-time Unlimited Aerobatics Champion of Arizona, US and World Champion and has won other awards. He is also a commercial pilot, flying a Boeing 767.

Hungarian Peter Besenyei is a two-time winner of both the FAI World Grand Prix series and the World Aerobatics Championships. He invented the Red Bull Air Race, won the first race in 2003 and took first place in two of the competitions in 2005.

Spaniard Alejandro MacLean is a two-time Spanish Aerobatics Champion and winner of the 1998 Lithuanian Aerobatic Championship. In 2005 he was the Captain of the Spanish Aerobatic Team.

Nicolas Ivanoff is the 2004 French vice champion in Unlimited Aerobatic and the 2000 World Aerobatics Champion with the French Aerobatics Team. He also teaches flying.

American Michael Goulian is a Fond du Lac Cup winner and both a U.S. Advanced Champion and U.S. Unlimited Champion in the 1990s. He also competed in the inaugural Championship Airshow Pilots Association series as a member of the U.S. Aerobatics Team.

Great Britain’s Paul Bonhomme is the winner of one silver and three gold medals in the FAI World Grand Prix series as a member of the “The Matadors.” He is also a 747 captain for British Airways.

Englishman Steve Jones is the 1995 UK Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, 1996 Overall British Aerobatics Champion, winner of one silver and three gold medals in the FAI World Grand Prix series as a member of “The Matadors,” flying with friend Paul Bonhomme. He also is a 747 captain with British Airways.

Great Britain’s Nigel Lamb is an eight-time British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion. Silver medallist of the Masters of Aerobatics South Africa, he was also a member of the British team in three World Aerobatic Championships and two European Championships.

Dutchman Frank Versteegh is the Dutch Unlimited Aerobatics champion and competed in the World and European championships from 1982-94. He is also a FAI judge, flight instructor and air show organizer.

Next Race is May 6
Barcelona, Spain

For More Information
Red Bull Air Races
Kirby Chambliss Home Page
Mike Mangold's Home Page
Mike Goulian’s Home Page
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