Category: Aerobatics

Tags: kirby, chambliss, carrier, take, off, uss, midway, san, diego, red, bull, air, race, rbar08

The USS Midway CVB-41 has dropped its anchor permanently in front of the San Diego skyline. The decommissioned aircraft carrier has been turned into an impressive museum that draws huge crowds in San Diego Bay but as part of the activities leading up to the Red Bull Air Race in San Diego 2007 the Midway was briefly put back into service of sorts -- used as a temporary runway. Red Bull Air Race pilot Kirby Chambliss (USA) took advantage of the opportunity to take off from the aircraft carrier's flight deck in his Edge 540 out of the bay towards the race track. While the USS Midway had a top speed of 33 knots, the Red Bull Air Race planes used by Chambliss and his rivals can hit up to speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph). "It was an interesting experience," said Chambliss, adding he did not have nor need the slingshot that fighter planes use to get aloft. "There was plenty of room. The flight deck was about 780 feet long and I got right up with about 150 feet to spare." http://redbullairrace.com

 Send to a friend