American pilots Michael Goulian and Kirby Chambliss will be racing over home turf in September and October 2014 as the Red Bull Air Race World Championship season resumes after a three-year layoff, and tickets are now on sale.
The Texas Motor Speedway will host a tour stop Sept. 6 and 7, followed by racing at (which is to say, just a little above) the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 11 and 12. Chambliss and Goulian will be among a field of 12 pilots representing 10 countries, flying low and fast through a course of inflatable pylons. The season begins in February in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with seven races planned.
The races, first launched in 2003, will return with some changes made to the equipment (standardized engine and propeller combinations), and a modified course design. The 270-degree “quarto” turn through a set of four pylons has been eliminated to reduce the G-force stress on aircraft and pilots, who will still be subjected to 10-G maneuvers as they race at 230 mph through the low-level course.
General admission tickets start at $39, with additional options available including hangar area passes. For those seeking the VIP treatment, weekend packages including food, drink, special seating, and a chance to meet pilots are priced at $350.
Tickets are available online, along with photos, video, and details about the races, aircraft, and pilots.
