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Air Racing Racing in aeroplanes goes back as far as 1909, when none of the 4 competitors finished! Up to 1964, various annual events were established - the Schneider Trophy for sea planes and the National Air Races in the USA - and even ran for long periods, but the National Championship Air Races also in the USA, racing round pylons, could be regarded as the start of popular annual events attended by large numbers of spectators. The sport came to Europe in 1970. More recently, races with competitors flying singularly through a series of air gates, between which
they must perform a prescribed maneuvers - The Red Bull Air Race Championships - have become very popular. An alternative format - Aero GP air racing, based on the classic format of multiple planes racing together and against each other in a tight pylon circuit - has also become popular. For more detail see Wikipedia.
The Global GameAll about Air RacingWhat is Air Racing
Red Bull Air Race Championship In a new format compared to other air racing, pilots fly individually against the clock on a tight, 2,000-meter course, close to the spectator, between five sets of 60 feet tall inflated pylon gates, manoeuvring through the slalom-style course at speeds of up to 250 mph. They also have to perform set manoeuvres - eg four-point rolls, four-point vertical rolls and low-level knife-edge passes between two pylons. To finish, they need to perform a 11⁄4 vertical roll-up followed by a touch-and-go landing on a specified section of adjacent runway. For more detail see Air Racing History.
Aero GP- eight high performance aeroplanes racing together near ground level at speeds of up to 400kph on a figure of eight racecourse, dropping bombs on targets and competing in air to air combat heats!
Formula One Air Racing
Sport Class Air RacingSport Class aircraft race with experimental home-built aircraft which are some of the fastest piston engine aircraft ever built, on the Reno Stead field.in the USA. To qualify, five kits need to have been sold to customers. Piston engines must not exceed 650 cubic inches. Aircraft must have a valid FAA issued airworthiness certificate. The planes race on a roughly circular course at speeds of over 300 mph. They are kept in formation in the air until a pace aircraft starts the race. For more information see Air Racing History
The History of Air Racing
Play/Watch Air RacingAir Racing Teams
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The Formula One racing class - small racers powered by inexpensive and reliable engines of fixed engine size, racing round 6 pylons - has been one of the most successful race class of all time. Initially with 190 cc engines, other developments have led to slightly larger engine size. The class was exported successfully to Europe and is the only class to be recognized by the International Aeronautics Federation (FAI), the world governing body for competitive aviation. For more detail see 
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