Reno Air Race

Ian Cant wrote in message ...
Hmmm, we all have our predilections..

The Red Bull events [races ? demonstrations ?] kept
the competitors close to the spectators, kept them
moving dramatically, and showed the progress of the
event. A big TV screen fed by real-time downlinked
flight data gave a pilot's-eye view of the action as
well. The combination of speed against a ticking clock,
aerobatic maneuvering over a marked course, and spot
landing tasks was imaginative and the crowd did enjoy
it.

The same imagination and use of existing technology
could possibly be aplied to soaring. The engines,
or lack of, are not very relevant.

Ian


I'm sure the crowd was entertained. So were the crowds in Rome, a
long time ago...

Sorry, this isn't racing, it's a circus act. Wait until the first
plane snags one of the pylons and crashes in front of the crowd.
Heck, why not just have the planes race though a bunch of hangars and
under bridges! Yeehaa!

Better yet, give them real guns and have a dogfight inside a giant
cage!

This is typical of all RedBull events; they are more like video games
than anything else - and intentionally so; to appeal to their target
audience. Smart marketing.

Every year one of those goofy RedBull Suzukis (I think) comes by our
gliderport, with a couple of young kids in it trying to get us old
geezers (usually sitting aroung the clubhouse, drinking beer, cursing
the ultralights in the pattern for making too much noise - there
really ought to be a season on those things) to try their product.
It's fun to leer at the cute chick while telling her that I never
touch the stuff, while imbibing a suitable adult beverage. Ah, the
joys of age...

Does anyone else find that current airshow aerobatics are boring? I'd
rather watch model airplanes - and it's getting to the point where
it's hard to tell the difference!

What I like is some guy (or gal) in a 450 Stearman or T-6 doing nice
slow graceful energy management aerobatics. Acro should be fun to do
and ride through, not beat you up!

Kirk

Kirk,
Lighten up! The Reno Air races may not be your cup of tea but it does
generate public interest in aviation. Interest in general aviation
helps us counter crazy Congressmen who would lock the skies from any
GA aircraft - gliders included! Barron Hilton, who sponsors the Hilton
Cup for us glider types, is also a big supporter of the Reno Air
Races. Also, one of our own glider pilots, Dave Morss, one a Silver
race at Reno this year. Stead was a nice place to soar from in the
past and the folks there are still friendly when you land-out there.
If the Air Races help to keep that airport open and in good repair
then I'm all for them!
Al Thomas
"4"

(glider4) wrote in message . com...
Kirk,
Lighten up! The Reno Air races may not be your cup of tea but it does
generate public interest in aviation. Interest in general aviation
helps us counter crazy Congressmen who would lock the skies from any
GA aircraft - gliders included! Barron Hilton, who sponsors the Hilton
Cup for us glider types, is also a big supporter of the Reno Air
Races. Also, one of our own glider pilots, Dave Morss, one a Silver
race at Reno this year. Stead was a nice place to soar from in the
past and the folks there are still friendly when you land-out there.
If the Air Races help to keep that airport open and in good repair
then I'm all for them!
Al Thomas
"4"

Relax, I have nothing against the Reno Air Races, having attended many
of them starting in the 70s and even crewed for Ray Cote's Formula 1
team a long time ago. I've got Bob Hoover's signature on a program to
prove it!

It's the Red Bull "race" that I think is totally bogus.

It's a marketing scheme disguised as an "extreme sport".

But if it draws the crowds and helps pay the bills, then I guess it
has it's place - not that anybody is going to ask my opinion!

BTY, we had our last official ASA race weekend, and on Saturday the
winning speed was 88 mph over 262 miles! Not bad for late September.
I only managed 75 mph over 230 miles for 4th place - someday I'll
learn to read clouds better (sigh).

Kirk

On 27 Sep 2004 12:22:29 -0700, (Kirk Stant)
wrote:

It's the Red Bull "race" that I think is totally bogus.

It's a marketing scheme disguised as an "extreme sport".

LOL.... as long as it attracts (and fascinates) ten-thousands of
spectators, it cannot be bogus.

And flying below a 50 ft bridge at a recorded speed of 230 kts is
certainly an extreme sport, in't it? (This stunt was required of ALL
contestants).

Sure - it is a marketing show for Red Bull - but I can imagine much
worse ones.




Bye
Andreas