This year the Red Bull Air Race came to Royal Ascot, the horse racing venue just outside London.
In minature!
And what a good idea that turned out to be! No stuffy suits and top hats, just many many plane geeks and families enjoy a good day out at a stunning venue – and even better, in the sunshine!
Normal Ascot attire (although no hat!) was not necessary – we went in jeans
We luckily had some complimentary tickets and parked at a friends house nearby – although that did involve digging out the Ordnance Survey map and getting creative with some road blocks… Never a dull day!!
I must have been living like a hermit as I have never heard of the Air Race before – but wow, now I’m hooked, its fantastic – although I would never, NEVER want to fly like that! Pleasingly, or perhaps that is worryingly, the ultimate winner was Paul Bonhomme – a BA pilot! I assume he doesn’t fly his planes like that! I’m fairly sure he doesn’t (a friend of ours has flown with him), but just imagine if a 777 was put through the sort of stunts done at Farnborough Air Show! At least with Paul you’d be in safe hands having watched him race!
What is the air race?
Whoosh
It is a series of races across the world as I now know. And at each location they blow up massive inflatable pyramids that mark out a race-course which the planes have to navigate around at high speed, one at a time. They have to go between the inflatables at a certain height (each is marked) or they will get penalty points. It is made trickier by the wind which really affected the tracks that different plans took. It’s great because no matter where you are sitting, you will get a good view – and unlike horse-racing, you can see the whole of the track at all times!
Caught a plane in my panorama!
The venue is so well set up for large crowds – such a lot of space to sit and watch as well as plenty of easy food options (although not ‘fast’ – we managed to quaff a bottle of prosecco from the prosecco bar whilst queuing for our lunch, needs must!) and the ever present corporate entertainment suite as well as the normal race-course boxes.
So what did we see? Lots of planes! And also some other demonstrations – one from a Chinook helicopter that was flying near vertically at one point!
Part of the course
Well for once we actually watched what we had gone to see – normally I go to a sporting event and it doesn’t really capture my attention, but this time it really did! I guess you could liken it to Formula 1, or in sailing the America’s Cup – it is edge of the seat high adrenalin stuff. The races and qualifying sessions are also all very short so even if you do have a short attention span like yours truly, then that won’t be a problem!
Next stop is Texas in September – sadly a little too far for us to go for the weekend!
Spot the plane!
We particularly enjoyed the bus bar – a great idea and a particularly good (if not expensive) spot for viewing the action above!
Joining up for #weekendwanderlust with A Brit and a Southerner
It looks like not your typical sporting event – really unique and lots of fun! I’d be watching, too! I’m glad you had such a great time! Thank you so much for linking up with #WeekendWanderlust, and we hope that you join us again next week! 🙂
Author
Thanks Lauren – I am sure I will! Sporting events are best when they’re quirky!!
What a cool event. I’ve never heard of plane racing before. The only time we see planes flying around here are at the air shows, mostly military planes. Thanks for linking up to #WeekendWanderlast.
Author
It’s great, and I guess not altogether surprising that Red Bull are the sponsor either! Glad they brought it to the UK!
This looks like such a fun and exciting event to see. Very unique too. I have never heard of an air race before too. I know there are are airplane shows but nothing like this. Sadly, Texas is too far for a weekend trip for us too. I have a short attention span for things like these too so this would be great.
Author
this is exactly the sport for us for just that reason – short attention spans! Football/rubgy – 80-90minutes – just too long to concentrate!
This does look great fun but it did bring to mind the saying.. There are old pilots and their are bold pilots but there are no old, bold pilots.
Author
A very good point, probably better not to think about that when watching this..!
I must have been living like a hermit also, as I’d never heard about it before either. Looks like fun, though… and that bus bar looks really cool! 🙂
Author
That bus bar is such a good idea – if only operational London buses had it!!
I so wanna go in one of those.. 🙂
Author
You’re braver than me!!!…
Have always been intrigued about what this event must be like – I’d love to try and make it down there next time – must be enthralling to watch!
Author
Enthralling even with a short attention span! Hope you get to visit one, such a good turn out I’m sure it will come back to UK!
This looks so cool. I used to absolutely love going to air shows as a kid (the Cleveland Air Show is huge), but I’ve never seen races. I’m definitely going to have to add this to my bucket list! Thanks for linking up to #WeekendWanderlust!