WINDSOR ONTARIO, Canada - They turn the screws for the top 3 pilots in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. Vito Wyprächtiger (Team Arch), Bruno Marlière (Team Ivanoff) and Wade Hammond (Team Bonhomme) are in their late 20’s, early 30’s which is by far younger than the experienced technicians of the other teams, but they raise the bar.
Only three points separate the top 3 ahead of the third race of the season in Windsor, Ontario in Canada. It’s time to talk with the team technicians about tactics, mods and expectations.
How satisfied are you with the performance of the plane and pilot after the first 2 races?
Vito: Overall I am very satisfied with the performance so far. There are two major things which we are working on to get fixed before Windsor. I am pleasantly surprised that Hannes and the whole team works really well under pressure and that we can achieve top performances. It’s not always easy if every single step is watched.
Bruno: I am really pleased about Nicola’s trust in me and my work. It is great to work on a plane with a great design and a strong main structure that I find easy to work with at the same time. I have to say a big thanks to the Ly-con the engine manufacturer, they did an amazing job.
Wade: Extremely satisfied with both, especially in what will prove to be the most competitive Air Race season so far. The combination of extensive modification over the winter and the most talented pilot will ensure Team Bonhomme continues to add to our record 26 podium finishes.
Are you working on any modifications/changes to the plane before Windsor? Do you look into specific areas to improve or the whole plane in general?
Vito: First of all our plane has to be repaired. We’ll definitely have some mods in Windsor, some will be visible, others not - anyway we’ll work on the aerodynamics. I think all teams work constantly on their planes in order to remain competitive.
Bruno: There won’t be any changes before Windsor. But afterwards we’ll work on the manoeuvre performance and the performance in general.
Wade: Yes we work on further weight reduction, engine performance and aerodynamics so I guess you could say the whole aircraft and you will see the race aircraft continue to evolve throughout the 2009 season. I will happily provide more specific information in October if you tell me what Bruno & Vito are up to right now.
Hannes’ Bird Strike: What needs to be done to Hannes’ plane before Windsor? How long will this take and what does it involve exactly?
Vito: We need to replace the whole horizontal stabilizer, the wing has also been considerably damaged. Our plane is currently at the manufacturer Zivko Aeronautics. These guys are the experts and they’re fast. The plane shall be just right before Windsor, which gives us some time for testing and for Hannes to get used to the new horizontal stabilizer and elevator. I will work on some mods in the meantime and brood about new ways of tuning.
Bruno and Wade, do you feel sympathetic to Vito as he has so much work to do to get the plane ready for Windsor?
Bruno: This could have happened to anybody, therefore I am always careful and fair till the end. I am happy that Hannes managed so well and that nothing worse happened. Also I hope the plane will be ready in time for Windsor.
Wade: I feel sorry that poor Vito is not out at the Zivko factory nursing his baby back to full health; however I have full confidence in Eric and his team to get it repaired correctly. Unfortunately I do not think this is the first or last time Hannes will be hit by some bird!
All Top 3 pilots fly an Edge 540. Lamb and Rookie Hall have already proven what the MXS-R is capable of. How strong do you see the performance of the MXS-R and what do you think of its potential? Are you at all curious to see how your pilot would perform in an MXS-R?
Vito: I am honestly surprised how strong the MX pilots are, I also think that they’ll be able to climb up in the rankings as the season goes along. As far as weight reduction is concerned the MX technicians have done a great job! However I still think the Edge is the best of the best, however I am open to other ideas. Of course it would be interesting to see how Hannes would perform in an MXS-R, however it needs a certain time to get used to a plane.
Bruno: The differences between the two plane types on paper are marginal. Yet I think it’s easier to tune the edge and reduce weight, which is more difficult with the MXS-R. You have to be in line with your plane, but it would be interesting to see Nicholas flying in an MXS-R, a good pilot makes the difference though.
Wade: Having watched the development of the -R version of the MX carefully I think it has now started to achieve its potential in the right consistent hands. I am sure Paul would also do well in a MXS-R but the Edge is still the superior race aircraft.
The world championship is getting more competitive so does the secrecy among the teams. How to you ensure that competitors don’t find out what you’re doing?
Vito: Of course every team tries to be as cautious as possible with showing what they work on, just like F1. It wouldn’t make any sense at all to work on something which other teams copy. Some mods are more obvious than others; however seeing a mod does not necessarily mean to know how it has been done. Bruno: At the end of the day the time of the last round counts. Every team tries to protect its work. I think you have to find your own way and trust in your work rather than trying to copy others, otherwise you are always one step behind.
Wade: The privacy in our hangars is good but the walls are thin, being conscious that there a lot of cameras around at all times keeps you cautious.
How big is the competition between the 3 of you (with Bruno and Wade)? Do you have bets running?
Vito: Sure we’re competitors since all of us want to win, but at the same time we’re also friends which is not always an easy situation. Also I know that I can count on the guys. We want to battle it out in the race track. After our plane got hit by a bird in San Diego we got immediate help from Team Mangold and Lamb who provided us with some spare parts – thanks guys for helping out! I don’t know if there are any bets running – but maybe that would be profitable ☺
Bruno: Everybody has to find their own way to get the most out of it. I do have a lot of respect of the achievements of the other two teams and can’t wait to get our plane to this level.
Wade: Competition is always healthy and I would be willing to wager a few beers on the Championship results.
Who do you guess will be on top in Windsor?
Vito: I am not too sure what the MX guys do to their planes, but I think the rankings will be similar to San Diego. I heard some rumours that Paul is working on reducing the weight of his plane and if this is true he’ll be the one to beat. It is definitely tight for us to get all mods done since we have to work on the plane hit as well – but we’ll see.
Bruno: Our goal of course is to stay in the top 3 – keep your fingers crossed!
Wade: Certainly one of our three pilots, perhaps the one with the shortest first name.
Comments
Add a comment