Red Bull Air Race Aircraft of 2009: Who'll Be Flying What?

In 2008, Hannes Arch became world champion in only his second season of flying in the Red Bull Air Race.

For 2009, Arch will keep his Edge 540 that he invested so strongly in going with the concept of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Photo courtesy of the Red Bull Air Race Newsroom.

Bonhomme is sticking with his trusty Edge 540 as well for the 2009 season after winning four of the eight air races in 2008.

Hopefully the 2009 season will finally prove fruitful after missing out twice on the championship in 2007 and 2008.

Photo courtesy of Sheiban Shakeri

Chambliss got back to form in 2008 by winning two races after a 2007 filled with disappointment.

In 2009, Kirby Chambliss will be staying with his Edge 540 and will have a craving for the No. 1 on his plane.

Photo courtesy of the Red Bull Air Race Newsroom.

2009 is a year to rebuild for the Mike Mangold team. After winning the championship by the closest of margins in 2007, Mike Mangold was nowhere to be found for most of the time in 2008.

Hopefully, this coming season is a change for the American. Mangold will be sticking with his Edge 540 as he attempts to return the championship to the Americans.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The godfather of the Red Bull Air Race had a tough time in 2008 by being out of the top three for the first time.

He is also changing his main equipment by trading in his Edge 540 (pictured) and going over to a brand new MXS similar to Nigel Lamb, Alejandro Maclean, Sergei Rakhmanin and Matt Hall.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

2008 was a transition year for the Breitling-sponsored Englishman. Nigel Lamb was the first pilot to take delivery of the brand new MXS aircraft: a plane specifically built for the Red Bull Air Race.

However, the honeymoon was short-lived as Lamb had trouble throughout the season and just wasn't producing the results he would've liked.

All that effort paid off in the final round of 2008, when Lamb took a career-best second place on the podium and left him and many followers optimistic for 2009.

Photo courtesy of the Red Bull Air Race Newsroom.

Alejandro "Alex" Maclean was in a similar situation to Nigel Lamb. He was the second and last pilot in 2008 to take delivery of the new MXS aircraft as pictured above.

Like Lamb, Maclean experienced difficulties and problems, but that all paid off in the final round of 2008 when he came in fourth place...his highest position that entire season.

Photo courtesy of Sheiban Shakeri.

Nicolas Ivanoff or better known as "The Quick Corsican" will enter the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Series with an Edge 540, a change from the Extra 300SR (pictured above) that he had to give up at the end of 2008.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Michael Goulian's 2008 season was a season of mainly lows but he will be staying with his tried and true Edge 540 and familiar green livery (possibly a dedication to MLB's Boston Red Sox and the Green Monster?)

Photo courtesy of Sheiban Shakeri.

After a decent year of breaking out into the points, Rakhmanin will be upping his game by switching from his Edge 540 to an MXS, as pictured above.

Photo courtesy of Sergey Rakhmanin's Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sergey-Rakhmanin/63511188864

2008 was Glen Dell's rookie year. He looked to be having a tough time, but his learning and discipline was starting to show towards the end of the season.'

Had it not been for a single error, usually incorrect knife edge or level, he would have been able to register his first points.

For 2009, Dell will be sticking with his Edge 540.

Photo courtesy of Sheiban Shakeri

All that is currently known about newcomer Matthias Dolderer's new set of wings is that it's an Edge 540, and there will be some sort of red and white livery.

In the image above, Dolderer and Formula One driver Sebastien Vettel tried out each other's rides!

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Another newcomer to the Red Bull Air Race, Matt Hall brings a military background and the spirit of Australia to the international circuit.

His first aircraft will be the MXS, as pictured above.

Photo courtesy of Matt Hall Racing's Flickr page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthallracing/

Pete McLeod from Canada is the youngest Red Bull Air Race pilot ever at only 25 years of age.

He is the first Canadian pilot in this sport and a good time, considering that 2009 is the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada!

Having an impressive resume of airshows and awards, McLeod aims to be world champion by the time he's 30 with his Edge 540.

Photo courtesy of Pete McLeod's Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pete-McLeod/42640879204

Yoshi Muroya is the first Japanese pilot in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, with 2009 being his rookie season.

All that is known about him with regards to the Red Bull Air Race is that he will be flying an Edge 540 that will be painted in a light gold colour, but nothing else has been revealed just yet.

Muroya has an impressive resume, filled with awards from FAI championships the world over.