Red Bull Air Race

Nicolas Ivanoff established himself as a bonafide title contender with his victory in San Diego and podium-filled first half of the 2009 season. The elegant Frenchman’s skill flying through tight turns makes other pilots stop and watch. Ivanoff has found a plane to suit his style and will be a pilot to watch in 2010.

A Corsican with Russian and Greek heritage, Ivanoff is always a bit of a mystery: He might fly brilliantly in one race to end up on the podium but then he might struggle with penalties the next race and not even make it to the Top 8. He takes an artistic approach to flying, comparing it to “painting in the sky”, and when things are going well his style of flying is a delight to watch. With the help of modifications, Ivanoff’s plane was better than ever in 2009. The good-natured Frenchman is confident that he will be able to put it all together in his 6th championship season.

A quintessential Frenchman, Ivanoff is always the best-dressed pilot both in the cockpit and at the after-race parties. He invariably arrives wearing stylish scarves and smart pilot garb. The imperturbable Ivanoff has finally broken free of the middle of the pack and has his sights set on more wins and more podiums in 2010.

Ivanoff became an aerobatic pilot in 1990 after having spent most of his adult life as a flight instructor at Corsica’s famous ‘Corse Voltige’ flying school. He joined the French Aerobatics Team 7 years later and was a member of the French team that won the World Championships in Toulouse in 2000. He took second place at the French Unlimited Aerobatics Championship in 2004.

THE TEAM

The French team consists of Jean-Paul Kieffer as team coordinator and Bruno Marlière on the technical side. Both are fellow pilots and flying fanatics, who crossed paths with Ivanoff as a result of their mutual love of flying. Marlière is one of the youngest techs but noticeably fast times from the distinctive orange stock Edge 540 in 2009 caused other teams to pay closer attention to the Frenchman’s work. With over ten years’ experience flying and restoring classic aircraft, Marlière is now rapidly gaining respect in the race arena.