French aerobatic champion Mélanie Astles is writing history as she becomes the first female pilot to join the Red Bull Air Race’s Challenger Cup. Two other new exciting pilots will also join her, Britain’s Ben Murphy and American pilot Kevin Coleman.
Salzburg, (Austria) – The 2016 Challenger Cup promises plenty of surprises for 2016, with three new contenders in the eight-pilot field. New for 2016 are Mélanie Astles, a five time French aerobatic champion who has earned top ten rankings at World and European levels. She is the first woman ever to compete in the sport. Astles will compete against fellow debutants Ben Murphy and Kevin Coleman. The UK’s Ben Murphy is a former Commanding Officer and team leader of the RAF’s Red Arrows display team. Kevin Coleman, a flying prodigy from the US Advanced Aerobatic Team is the first American to join the ranks of the Challenger Class and will be the youngest competitor this season. 2016 will also see the return of Luke Czepiela, an accomplished Polish aerobatic pilot who competed in the 2014 season.
Mélanie Astles said, “I will mostly enjoy the tremendous opportunity of sharing my passion with the crowds. I can’t hide the fact that for me it’s a real dream to join the 2016 Challenger Cup, I’m really looking forward to that great challenge.”
Ben Murphy also spoke of his delight about joining the Red Bull Air Race, “I’ve been lucky enough to have done some amazing flying in my career so far, but the Red Bull Air Race remains the ultimate challenge for me. The precision, skill and teamwork needed to succeed in the Master Class is second to none, and the Challenger Cup competition will give me the chance to build the experience required to compete at that level.”
The new pilots will be making their debut at the Red bull Air Race World Championship in Abu Dhabi on 11/12 March.
2016 Race Calendar:
Abu Dhabi, UAE 11/12 March
Spielberg, Austria 23/24 April
Japan*
Budapest, Hungary 16/17 July
Ascot, Great Britain 13/14 August
Lausitzring, Germany 3 /4 September
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 1/2 October
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 15/16 October
Press release and picture Red Bull Air Race
