Here is the video of the flight in Auckland NZ!
Video From Red Bull Japan.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Muroya, training in New Zealand, delights big Auckland crowd
From RedBull AirRace News;
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Japan’s Yoshi Muroya, who has been training hard through New Zealand’s summer for the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, was able to show off some of his high-speed, low-altitude flying prowess in front of a big crowd gathered at the Auckland Anniversary Day celebrations in the city’s famous harbour on Feb. 1.
Muroya, who emerged as one of the most improved pilots late in his rookie season, delighted the many thousands of spectator by flying a Sukhoi 29 owned by his team coordinator Rob Fry in a high-energy 15-minute demonstration over the harbour in Auckland, known as the “City of Sails” because it has more yachts per capita than any city in the world.
“The Red Bull Air Race is quite well known here in New Zealand,” said Muroya, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Jan. 27. Muroya was one of four rookies last year is counting on winning over New Zealand fans away from Australia’s Matt Hall, another rookie in 2009.
“Many people have been following it on TV,” Muroya added. “There is a strong sporting rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. I think as long as there’s no New Zealand pilot in the race, the people would probably support the Aussie pilot. But now that I’ve been here for so long I’m sure the New Zealand fans will be cheering for me.”
Popular in Japan and New Zealand
Muroya, the first Asian pilot in the championship, has helped make the Red Bull Air Race popular in his home country Japan and is hoping that there will one day be a race staged in Tokyo.
“There were so many TV programmes about the Red Bull Air Race in Japan and now many people know what the race is,” he said. “They’re really looking forward to having a race in Japan one day.”
During this off-season, Muroya has been shuttling between Japan and New Zealand. He has spent about half the time between December and February in the warmer climate here in a series two-week stints with his Auckland-based team coordinator Fry, working on his flying skills and on improvements in his Edge 540.
“The weather is fine so the flying is easy and the plane is progressing so things are good here,” Muroya said. “Rob Fry lives here in Auckland and I’m staying at his home, which is just a one-minute walk from his hangar on a small airfield. The people are really nice and the local reaction has been very positive. It’s a safe, laid-back environment.”
The training conditions in Auckland are also superb, he said. “There’s a designated low-flying area nearby over the water. There’s also plenty of technical support nearby. New Zealand is also easily accessible to Japan. There’s only a four-hour time difference.”
Muroya, an avid snowboarder, has also spent time in the off-season on the slopes in Japan. “Snowboarding in Japan and then swimming in the sea in New Zealand,” he said, surprised himself by the temperature extremes he has been shifting back and forth through since December.
Aims for top 7 finish in 2010
Muroya displayed an admirable degree of self-discipline to stick closely to his plan for his first season with an emphasis on safety and acquiring experience in the first four races before attacking for points in the final two rounds.
He hopes to make a big move up in the championship standings in 2010. After finishing 13th with 9 points in 2009 and getting a season-best in the final race of the year in Barcelona, Muroya has set his sites on 7th place overall in 2010.
“The plane is coming along well,” he said. “We’re making a lot of modifications during the summer here. I’ve been able to prepare and train more than last year so I’m looking forward to getting off to a good start in Abu Dhabi. I’ve got an overall development plan for 2010 and I’m progressing along that nicely. The off-season training is going well so I expect to see much better results in 2010.”
One area Muroya hopes to improve in the upcoming season will be cutting down on pylon hits. He took the dubious distinction of having the most pylon hits in his rookie season but chalks that up to experience. He’s confident he won’t “win” that title again this year.
“I’m the reigning world champion for pylon hits but I need to hand that over to someone else,” he said. “I think I’ve tested the strength of the Air Gates enough.”
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Japan’s Yoshi Muroya, who has been training hard through New Zealand’s summer for the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, was able to show off some of his high-speed, low-altitude flying prowess in front of a big crowd gathered at the Auckland Anniversary Day celebrations in the city’s famous harbour on Feb. 1.
Muroya, who emerged as one of the most improved pilots late in his rookie season, delighted the many thousands of spectator by flying a Sukhoi 29 owned by his team coordinator Rob Fry in a high-energy 15-minute demonstration over the harbour in Auckland, known as the “City of Sails” because it has more yachts per capita than any city in the world.
“The Red Bull Air Race is quite well known here in New Zealand,” said Muroya, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Jan. 27. Muroya was one of four rookies last year is counting on winning over New Zealand fans away from Australia’s Matt Hall, another rookie in 2009.
“Many people have been following it on TV,” Muroya added. “There is a strong sporting rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. I think as long as there’s no New Zealand pilot in the race, the people would probably support the Aussie pilot. But now that I’ve been here for so long I’m sure the New Zealand fans will be cheering for me.”
Popular in Japan and New Zealand
Muroya, the first Asian pilot in the championship, has helped make the Red Bull Air Race popular in his home country Japan and is hoping that there will one day be a race staged in Tokyo.
“There were so many TV programmes about the Red Bull Air Race in Japan and now many people know what the race is,” he said. “They’re really looking forward to having a race in Japan one day.”
During this off-season, Muroya has been shuttling between Japan and New Zealand. He has spent about half the time between December and February in the warmer climate here in a series two-week stints with his Auckland-based team coordinator Fry, working on his flying skills and on improvements in his Edge 540.
“The weather is fine so the flying is easy and the plane is progressing so things are good here,” Muroya said. “Rob Fry lives here in Auckland and I’m staying at his home, which is just a one-minute walk from his hangar on a small airfield. The people are really nice and the local reaction has been very positive. It’s a safe, laid-back environment.”
The training conditions in Auckland are also superb, he said. “There’s a designated low-flying area nearby over the water. There’s also plenty of technical support nearby. New Zealand is also easily accessible to Japan. There’s only a four-hour time difference.”
Muroya, an avid snowboarder, has also spent time in the off-season on the slopes in Japan. “Snowboarding in Japan and then swimming in the sea in New Zealand,” he said, surprised himself by the temperature extremes he has been shifting back and forth through since December.
Aims for top 7 finish in 2010
Muroya displayed an admirable degree of self-discipline to stick closely to his plan for his first season with an emphasis on safety and acquiring experience in the first four races before attacking for points in the final two rounds.
He hopes to make a big move up in the championship standings in 2010. After finishing 13th with 9 points in 2009 and getting a season-best in the final race of the year in Barcelona, Muroya has set his sites on 7th place overall in 2010.
“The plane is coming along well,” he said. “We’re making a lot of modifications during the summer here. I’ve been able to prepare and train more than last year so I’m looking forward to getting off to a good start in Abu Dhabi. I’ve got an overall development plan for 2010 and I’m progressing along that nicely. The off-season training is going well so I expect to see much better results in 2010.”
One area Muroya hopes to improve in the upcoming season will be cutting down on pylon hits. He took the dubious distinction of having the most pylon hits in his rookie season but chalks that up to experience. He’s confident he won’t “win” that title again this year.
“I’m the reigning world champion for pylon hits but I need to hand that over to someone else,” he said. “I think I’ve tested the strength of the Air Gates enough.”
Friday, January 8, 2010
A New Year and a New Race Season
Happy New Year followers!
Team Muroya is working hard on modifications to our race plane here in New Zealand. Unfortunately we can not give you the details but all will become clear at the first race in Abu Dhabi in 2 months time!
After a trip back to Japan to be with family over the new year period, Yoshi is here in Auckland again for several weeks helping with the Edge mods. Prior to heading down to the hanger each morning, Yoshi and TC Rob have been doing some cycling around the farms in the airport area. Here we see them just back from a hilly work out.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Edge in New Zealand
After a long wait our race plane has arrived in NZ for flight tests and.....
Yoshi came in to late spring weather in Auckland from late Autumn in Japan and we assembled the plane and carried out test flights for 3 days. Now the hard work begins on some exciting ideas for next season. Watch this space!
Yoshi came in to late spring weather in Auckland from late Autumn in Japan and we assembled the plane and carried out test flights for 3 days. Now the hard work begins on some exciting ideas for next season. Watch this space!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Back in Japan
Photo: Taro Imahara
Photo: Taro Imahara
Photo: Taro Imahara
Amongst Yoshi's commitments in Japan was staging the 2009 Skyleisure Japan in Fukushima at his home airport, Fukushima Sky Park.
In the photo Yoshi introduces the TV Tokyo team to Mr Saito, the head of the Fukushima Sky Park Flying Club.
TV Tokyo together with many local Fukushima media reps were there to record and broadcast the 2 day event. The main atractions were Jurgis Kairys' and Yoshi' solo flights and the "Air Bandits" formation team of TC Robert Fry in lead with a Yak 50 and wing men Jurgis and Yoshi.
Photo: Taro Imahara
Photo: Taro Imahara
Amongst Yoshi's commitments in Japan was staging the 2009 Skyleisure Japan in Fukushima at his home airport, Fukushima Sky Park.
In the photo Yoshi introduces the TV Tokyo team to Mr Saito, the head of the Fukushima Sky Park Flying Club.
TV Tokyo together with many local Fukushima media reps were there to record and broadcast the 2 day event. The main atractions were Jurgis Kairys' and Yoshi' solo flights and the "Air Bandits" formation team of TC Robert Fry in lead with a Yak 50 and wing men Jurgis and Yoshi.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Not so Coveted award!
Yoshi receives Air Gators award! To the most deserving pilot of the season, the Air Gators present their special award each year! This season Yoshi was a narrow winner of the most Pylon hits (14) award for 2009. "This is the one trophy that we WON'T be trying for next year" says Yoshi and paid tribute to his coach Steve Jones for selling him his special pylon attractive aircraft.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
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