Recon Over Rotterdam

E365 -- Renowned Dutch pilot Frank Versteegh joined two of the pilots competing in this weekend’s Red Bull Air Race as they took to the skies of the Netherlands for the traditional ‘recon flight’.

Versteegh, a former Red Bull Air Race pilot himself, led the formation over the Dutch village of Kinderdijk, famous for its many windmills, in his Extra 300L followed by American Kirby Chambliss in his Edge 540 and Britain’s Nigel Lamb in his MXS.

Versteegh has fond memories of the 2005 race in Rotterdam where 700,000 spectators turned out to watch the world’s best pilots flying at breakneck speeds through the race track along the River Maas. Although Versteegh retired from the sport last year he is still an integral part of the Red Bull Air Race World Series in a role that keeps him in front of the camera - he is the expert aviation commentator and can be seen on the big screens at the race and the television programme which is broadcast on 70 TV stations around the globe including RTL 7 in the Netherlands.

“It’s nice to hear people on the street telling me that it’s a shame I’m not racing in Rotterdam,” said Versteegh. “But I love my new role with the Red Bull Air Race and today it was just nice to be able to take my former race rivals and colleagues for a sightseeing tour over the Dutch landscape!”

The largest and busiest port in Europe will stage the fourth leg of the championship with 12 pilots racing at speeds reaching 370 km/hr and pulling up to 12g right next to the Erasmus Bridge. Qualifying takes place on Saturday 19th July followed by Race Day on Sunday 20th July.

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