Round 3 Windsor, Ontario
 Bonhomme on track in Windsor.
The third race of what will be a six race series this year, was held in Windsor, Ontario on June 14th. British Pilot Paul Bonhomme proved that it takes more than just a powerful engine to win a Red Bull Air Race. As the only pilot to finish the day with no penalties, he nipped Hannes Arch by 1.15 sec. to take the top step on the podium with a time of 1.08.16. This marks the ninth career victory for Bonhomme, the most by any of the Red Bull pilots. Arch actually flew the fastest time in the Final Four but was smacked with a 2 sec. penalty for flying too high through the course. He would have to settle for second, and American Kirby Chambliss finally received his new engine and put it to good use as he took his best finish of the season in third with a time of 1.10.19. Kirby proved the worth of the new "lump" as he dominated qualifying and took the 1 Championship point.
The tricky 15 gate course laid out over the Detroit River was intensified by the swirling winds, which was the downfall of most of the pilots, leading to the rash of penalties and pylon strikes, one of which was severe enough to require a climb out.
Hometown boy and Red Bull rookie, Pete McLeod, gave the crowd of 250,000 something to cheer about as he makes it into the Top 12 and finished 11th to earn his first Championship point. After the race the excited 25 year old exclaimed " “It’s very special to have my first championship point here in Canada, it’s great. You’ll see progression from race to race and not just in terms of modifications or flying but it’s going to be non-stop growth each season.”
The victory for Bonhomme pulls him to within 1 point of Hannes Arch in the Championship standings with 32 points. French pilot Nicolas Ivanoff sits in third place with 24 points and Australian Matt Hall resides in fourth with 19. Americans Mike Mangold, Kirby Chambliss, and Michael Goulian currently hold positions 6,8, and 11 respectively.
The next race of the Series will be in Budapest, Hungary on August 19. For more info on Red Bull Air Racing go HERE !
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Today in Aviation History :
July 30, 1935... Lieutenant Frank Akers of the U.S. Navy becomes the first person to make a "blind" landing at sea. His biplane has a hooded cockpit allowing him to see only his controls and instruments. He lands on the USS Langley.
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Aviation Weather Links
www.nws.noaa.gov/
www.noaa.gov/wx.html
http://maps.avnwx.com/
www.usairnet.com/weather/
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