MATT HALL RACING: Hall’s plane touches water in Detroit River but Aussie recovers
Saturday, 05 June 2010 00:00

WINDSOR, Ontario – Australia’s Matt Hall had a scare during the first Qualifying session at the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor on Saturday when his plane touched the surface of the Detroit River but the former RAAF pilot quickly recovered and returned safely to Race Airport.

Hall was challenging for the lead in the first of two Qualifying sessions when he suffered an aerodynamic wing stall. His left wing skimmed the surface of the river that separates the United States and Canada.

His right wheel cover hit the water as well but Hall was quickly able to regain control of his MXS-R aircraft and climb up away into the sky.

Wing_touch

“I felt I was having a fairly good run,” Hall said. “I might have skipped twice on the water. It’s a very disappointing result for me. It’s the motor racing equivalent of touching the wall.”

Hall, who fought combat missions with the U.S. Air Force in Iraq, was hoping to get his third career podium in Windsor and has been in the top three in most training sessions this week.

“The plane is damaged but will be recoverable,” Hall said.

“Our game plan is to get some rest for now. It will hit me harder in a few hours time. Everyone in aviation has been in some fairly tight situations before. I’ve been in tight situations before. I’m disappointed in myself for putting myself in that situation. We’re okay but we’ll move on from that. Everything’s fine.”

Just_after_water_1

Hall’s plane was inspected in the air after his safety climb out by Nigel Lamb, another pilot who was flying in a holding pattern. Lamb said the damage all appeared to be superficial. Hall then landed safely back at the Race Airport in Windsor.

“The main damage is on the right aileron,” Hall said. “I think the plane is not that badly damaged. It is going to be a matter of replacing parts.”

Hall will now set his sights on the next round of the championships in New York on June 19/20.

Hall has two podiums in his career, including a second place finish in his home race in Perth, Australia in April. He joined the race in 2009 and became the most successful rookie in race history last year when he took third place overall. Hall is in fourth place so far this year.

Post_qualy_flight
 
  • Matt Hall Racing partners with Oregon Aero
    Matt Hall Racing have today announced a partnership for product support with US aviation equipment maker Oregon Aero. Oregon Aero are the world’s leading aviation seating and headset cushion provider, used by Military forces and aerobatic pilots all around the globe. While Oregon Aero already provides Matt Hall Racing with the seat cushions for Matt’s MXS-R race plane, along [...]
  • Joy Flights available at Tyabb
    Matt will fly in the Tyabb Airshow on Sunday March 4 and will bring the Extra 300L down for Joy Flights on Friday March 2, Saturday 3 and Monday 5. For more details and booking go to this page.
  • Matt Hall on hit TV show Manly Surf
    Can Matt Hall surf? What does a big wave rider think of an aerobatic flight with Matt? Those questions and more can be answered in this video segment from Ch9′s hit TV program Manly Surf starring surf instructor and big wave chaser Matt Grainger. Thanks to Chris Whyte for the video
  • Matt’s 2011 New Year’s Eve Displays
    Check out Matt’s two displays over Sydney Harbour on NYE 2011. The first is a fly past of the harbour, all the way to Manly, while the second is right between the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison.
  • Moving forward while stationary (and a Christmas special)
    It has been a while since we put a newsletter out, and probably for good reason. Since August, we have had quite an interesting ride! Mid August saw the team off to Bundaberg for the Wide Bay International Air Show, which went very well. From there, I positioned the aircraft to Townsville, leaving it in [...]
  • Marathon man Berg the definition of consistency
    Completing one Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan race is tough. Completing a whole Series of races; even tougher. Doing it year after year for 15 seasons, just plain crazy. Add in running two businesses, finding time to train three hours a day and starting a young family, and you’d wonder where you’d even find the energy to [...]
  • Allen has surgery on foot, out for season
    Mooloolaba’s rising IronWoman Series star Danielle Allen has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering severe ligament damage to her left foot whilst competing in Sunday’s gruelling 11.4km marathon race in Perth. Allen was injured trying to pick up her board off the start line during the opening dash from Cottesloe beach and had surgery earlier [...]
  • IronMan Louis out for 12 weeks ending Series hopes
    Mooloolaba’s rising Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series star Kendrick Louis has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after hyper-extending his left knee causing severe damage to his kneecap and ligaments, during Sunday’s 22.8km marathon in Perth. The 21-year-old Collaroy athlete did the injury while trying to pick up his ski at the start [...]
  • King Caine of the Gold becomes Master of the Marathon
    Caine Eckstein came to Perth as the undisputed King of the Coolangatta Gold and left as the unrivalled Master of the Marathon, handing out an endurance clinic to his Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series rivals along Perth’s picturesque coastline. On a blistering hot day, Eckstein broke away from the elite field in the third of eight [...]
  • Pluimers takes Series lead after gutsy Perth win
    Elizabeth Pluimers has survived the roaring heat, blustery conditions and a brave performance by 18-year-old Jordan Mercer to take out round four of the IronWoman Series in Perth’s Marathon race between Cottesloe and Scarborough beaches today. Pluimers surged past the gallant Mercer in the final ski leg to take the race win and move into [...]