How did the Air Race E concept come about?
The idea was very much driven by the industry. A number of independent electric airplane manufacturers approached me having seen what we’d done with formula one air racing and the Air Race 1 series. They all wanted to showcase their products and use it as a test bed to trial their technology. But in each case the business model was tricky as they only wanted to use their own airplanes for all teams. What I realised was, it doesn’t really test anything if they’re all the same plane. The only real way is if it’s wide open to all manufacturers. We’re the only ones that were in a position to do an electric race series. I decided, now is the moment, we have all of the ingredients, let’s do it.
How crucial is it that the aviation industry moves towards electric?
It’s really no different to other forms of transport in that it’s the next step forward and something that is vital to the sustainability of the industry. Electric aviation is lagging behind other forms of transport but for understandable technological reasons. We have some catching up to do, but the potential for this technology to benefit the planet is significant.
There’s research to suggest that one round-trip flight between New York and California generates about 20 percent of the greenhouse gases that your car emits over an entire year. For those that travel by plane, air transport is probably the biggest portion of their carbon footprint. If you think there are around 20,000 planes in use around the world, serving 3 billion passengers annually, making those planes electric is probably one of the most important things we can do to save the planet.
What sort of impact do you think this race could have on the commercial aviation industry?
I see Air Race E as the focal point for engineering and the development of electric propulsion. I think some day when we’re flying on an electric commercial passenger airliner, we’ll be able to trace its roots back to Air Race E. That technology will get its start here. Air Race E will be a hub for that, demonstrating the various milestones throughout the entire life cycle of electric propulsion.
The technology used by Air Race E teams will be tested and adapted to help drive the development and adoption of cleaner, faster, and more technologically advanced electric engines.
How is Airbus involved in the series?
Airbus is an essential partner in this endeavour. Together, we’re working to create a mainstream platform in which innovation in electric propulsion can be developed, nurtured, and accelerated more rapidly. Airbus is supplying us with the industry expertise and insight to make this happen.
Does the recent news that Red Bull Air Race is discontinuing beyond its current season put any doubt in your mind about the viability of an air racing series like yours?
Air racing can be a demanding and logistically challenging sport and one that requires a lot of time and dedication from everyone involved. The added interest in electric transport is helping to drive the long-term potential of Air Race E, something other air race events, like the recently cancelled Red Bull Air Race, have struggled to sustain. The difference is that Air Race E goes beyond the realms of motorsport and entertainment, crossing over into industry and even environmentalism.
How attractive is it as a spectator sport?
Air Race E will see eight planes fly wing-tip-to-wing-tip around a tight five kilometre circuit, just ten metres above the ground and at speeds of around 450kph – faster than any land based motorsport. It is unbelievable to watch and witness the skill, concentration and stamina it takes from the pilots flying these planes.
You’ve recently opened the formal bidding process for the first host city – what are you looking for in a host venue?
The host venue will have the tourism and industry infrastructure to host the race including a viable airport but will also be a city that is seeking to be at the forefront of environmental innovation.
What sort of benefits are there to a host city?
This offers the opportunity to play a part in aviation history and massively reduce the impact of air travel on our environment and create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future. If our past Formula Air Race events are anything to go by, it will be a boon for the host city. Each event in Air Race 1’s seven-year history, including the latest Air Race 1 China Cup in Wuhan, China in 2018 and the Air Race 1 World Cup in Thailand in 2017, has attracted an average audience of more than 1.3 billion people in more than 120 countries, with media coverage in over 200 publications worldwide and significant social media engagement across YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. The events also see thousands of spectators fill the grandstands to see the action, which is broadcast live to television viewers.
Who are the pilots of Air Race E and what makes them want to take part?
We have four teams who have declared their interest so far. Team AllWays Air Racing from California, USA, will be represented by team captain and the only female pilot entered so far, Casey Erickson, an experienced Reno Air Race pilot in the bi-plane class and past president of International Aerobatic Club Chapters 36 & 131. The team is already at a midway point of building their own custom race airplane.
From the UK, Team Condor will be led by Martyn Wiseman, who is managing director of Condor Aviation International, a company known for designing, manufacturing and testing out-of-box solutions for aircraft. The team will modify and adapt an existing sport aircraft to create their race airplane with support from Teesside and Hull Universities.
Team NL from the Netherlands will be led by Rick Boerma representing a design team formed of university students. The team will work on designing and building a new aircraft specifically for Air Race E instead of converting an existing airframe.
Another strong competitor from the USA is Team Blue-BETA Racing, who in 2018 put an eVTOL in the air and has designed and built the world’s largest electric aircraft to have flown. The team is a partnership between propulsion and control system company BETA and the advanced composites company Blue Force Technologies.
Are you still seeking involvement from teams, sponsors, partners, and if so how can they get in touch?
We are still very much open to working with industry partners and welcome more teams and professionals to get in touch. Even if they don’t have enough people to make their own team, we may be able to connect them with other individuals seeking their expertise. They can get in touch by visiting our website airracee.com or emailing us.