Hartzell Propeller has extended its sponsorship relationship with Michael Goulian for the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship. This is the second consecutive year for the partnership between the aviation superstar and Hartzell.

“We were so pleased with being able to sponsor exciting airshow veteran Michael Goulian for the Red Bull Air Races in 2014 that we wanted to do it again. He personifies the excitement for aviation and flying that as a company and as individual aviators we fully embrace,” said Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown.

“The Hartzell Claw propeller on my Red Bull Air Race Edge 540 performed perfectly and, of course, reliably during all of the 2014 race events,” said Goulian. “With the Hartzell Claw I have one less thing to think about during the races because it performs as expected every time I fly.”

As the official propeller technical partner for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, Hartzell will also provide its three-blade structural composite propeller known as The Claw, carbon fiber composite spinners and lightweight governors to each of the race teams. In addition, Hartzell is providing complete propeller technical support and maintenance services for all of the race entrants.

Hartzell’s three-bladed structural composite propeller was nicknamed the Claw due to its high thrust and low gyroscopic forces and inertia. These characteristics, coupled with the strength of the composite construction, make it an ideal match for the race series.

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an official World Championship, accredited by the FAI – The World Air Sports Federation. Since it was launched, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has become globally renowned as the fastest and most exhilarating motorsport on the planet.

Devised by the Red Bull sports think-tank, the initial goal was to create the most advanced aerial challenge the world had ever seen; what has evolved into the Red Bull Air Races has far exceeded original expectations. It is a visual spectacle unlike any other. A combination of high speed, low altitude and extreme maneuverability make it only accessible to the world’s most exceptional pilots.

About Hartzell Propeller Inc.
Hartzell Propeller is the global leader in advanced technology propeller design and manufacturing with over 3,800 propellers delivered annually to business, commercial and government customers. The company designs these next generation propellers with innovative “blended airfoil” technology and manufactures them with revolutionary machining centers and robotics. With ASC-II™ composite technology, Hartzell delivers optimal performance, strength, and durability with carbon fiber blades.

Hartzell Propeller and its sister company, Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC, form the general aviation business unit of Tailwind Technologies Inc. This growing aerospace technology company also includes Hartzell Aerospace and Mayday Manufacturing. For more info on Hartzell Propeller go to www.hartzellprop.com.

It’s the dawn of a new year for Team Goulian Race #99. After a short and cold off-season in eastern United States, Mike Goulian takes his new Edge 540 VX (EVX) to the skies under below freezing temperatures for the first pre-season flight testing sessions in Burlington, NC.

For Team Goulian, 2015 started as soon as the Spielberg race was in the books. A new team was formed and challenged with creating a clean sheet design natural born race machine. Within days, a brand new airplane was in the making at Bully Aero’s facilities in North Carolina. The goal: build the most efficient, lightweight, fast and safe race plane possible.

Just before Christmas and New Year’s holidays all new titanium, carbon fiber and kevlar parts were fabricated, exhausting weight-savings work and aerodynamics improvements had been completed, virtual design models had been optimized. A newly designed engine cowl, canopy, and landing gear are the most visual mods, but what you don’t see is just as impressive. The EVX was flown for the first time on January 9th, 2015 and proved that weight, speed, and reliability goals were all exceeded.

The new team is just as impressive as the airplane. For this season Goulian has selected Team Coordinator Pablo C. Branco and Team Technician Dax Wanless for these key roles.

Pablo, born in Brasillia, Brazil grew up around aerobatic airplanes and motorsports. Always a fan of compatriot famous Formula 1 drivers Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, Pablo comes from a Corporate Aviation background and is a fellow veteran team member in NASCAR, having flown for Nelson Piquet Jr during his years racing in Europe and the USA. His ability to combine his love for flying and racing makes him a natural for Team Coordinator.

American, Dax Wanless  is a veteran technician specializing in aerobatic and high performance aircraft. Originally from Platteville, Wisconsin, Wanless spent many years traveling the world with renowned airshow performers where he earned a reputation for his expertise not only as a mechanic but also aerobatic pilot in this demanding environment. Wanless’ experience and well rounded pilot skill will allow him to excel as the Team’s Technician.

“Our #99 Team is making the trip to Abu Dhabi as prepared as we have ever been. We have all worked very hard during the off season and this hard work has reflected on how our brand new race plane performed during our test sessions. I feel like we have such a great race plane, and I know that gives the whole team a lot of confidence to build the momentum we need for the first race. I believe this season will require even more consistency in every aspect, and that is what we will strive for. Speed and consistency.”

The season of the 2015 Red Bull Air Race kicks off February 13-14 over the sparkling blue waters of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates.

Here is the official 2015 Red Bull Air Race Schedule. We’re pumped for next year’s race season. Goulian’s Team #99′s new race plane is going through its race mod program right now. We…… will be ready!!!