Red Bull Air Race

 

• Norman Hoad 1923- 2014
• Formula 1 Air Racing
• Oil on canvas. Signed
• 17″ x 23″

A highly talented artist specialising in aviation and animal subjects, Hoad studied under the renowned aviation artist Frank Wootten. With Wootten and others [including David Shepherd] he was a founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists , later becoming vice-president. His works are on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon and in many public and private collections.

This is a photograph of Air VIce- Marshal Norman Hoad and his obituary recorded in the Telegraph.

Air racing is a motorsport that involves airplanes competing over a fixed course. with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a previously estimated time.

The first heavier- than -air airrace was held in 1909 -the Prix de Lagatinerie, South of Paris. And, the first major international flying event was the Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne in 1909 at Reims, France.

In the years before WW1 popular interest in aviation led to a large number of air races in Europe. The Great Air Race was a fictional movie made in 1990 about the 1934 London – Melbourne Air race based on real people and events.

In 1970 American Formula 1 Air racing was exported to Europe. Since then, Red Bull has created a series called the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in which competitors fly individually between pairs of pylons, while performing prescribed manoeuvres. Usually held over water near large cities, the sport has attracted large crowds and renewed media interest in air racing.

The Red Bull Air race will be held at Ascot this year on 13th- 14th August.