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New York & New Jersey: Red Bull Air Championship

Look to the skies over the Hudson River on June 19 and 20.
There, 15 of the world’s best pilots will race individually against the clock for the fastest time through a racetrack made up of inflatable pylons. The occasion will mark the fifth Red Bull Air Race Championship season in 2010 and the first time in 100 years that an international air race is held in New York. NYC & Company has partnered withJersey City, NJ and Liberty State Park for this premier spectator experience.

The first Red Bull World Championship race was launched in 2005, with subsequent venues held in London, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, San Diego, Detroit, San Francisco and Utah. The objective of the race is for each pilot to navigate a set aerial racetrack in a specific pattern ten to 20-feetabove ground in the fastest time possible.yes""> Speeds generally reach up to 230 mph. Points are awarded after each race to the pilots and his accompanying technician and coordinator. The team with the highest overall annual score is crowned Champion of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

This year, representatives from 13 countries, including two from the USA and two from the UK participated in the events that included venues in Abu Dhabi, UAE,Perth, Australia, Rio de Janeiro and Windsor, Ontario. After the New York/New Jersey experience, the entire operation – 380 tons of infrastructure and race equipment, 15 light-weight race planes and the sport’s own air traffic control tower – will appear in Berlin, Budapest and Lisbon.

Evan Korn, the Executive Director of NYC CECM (Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management), His Honor Jerramiah T. Healy, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ, Sam Pesin from the Friends of Liberty State Park, Jimmy DiMatteo, Race Director of the Red Bull Air Race and five of the 15 world’s best race pilots were on hand in Times Square on May 25, 2010 to address the press and answer questions.yes""> It’s expected that 30,000 visitors will attend the June 19th and 20th event at areas along the Liberty State Park and the New Jersey coastline. “We are aggressively marketing Jersey City as a global brand and we are thrilled to have the world’s most talented pilots compete above our Hudson River waterfront,” said Mayor Healy.

When asked about the special features that will be in place for the race, Mr. DiMatteo stated that Red Bull has submitted an environmental impact report with the EPA to insure the protection of the Park and the coastline. Additionally, Red Bull’s own security
team, the police and coast guard are working to insure the safety of the pilots and the audience. “The track will not interfere with the River’s shipping lanes, and small pleasure crafts will be diverted from the area. There’ll be no change to the schedules embarking to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty or to the Staten Island ferry,” he said, concluding that visitors on boats to those sites may get a great view of the race.

For more information about the sport, visit www.redbullairrace.com.