Pilot Proficiency

Speed Secrets of the Red Bull Air Race

Pia Bergqvist

Monday, August 14, 2017 at 09:19 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Red Bull Air Race is a high-precision aerial competition where pilots fly through a challenging course of Air Gates, with points accumulating across multiple global races to determine a world champion.
Teams extensively modify specialized aerobatic airplanes for optimal speed, maneuverability, and reliability, utilizing advanced software to calculate the fastest flight paths while adhering to strict rules and penalties.
Safety is paramount, with races governed by rules on speed and G-force limits, and featuring innovative inflatable pylons designed to collapse harmlessly upon impact and be quickly repaired.

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Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.