Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilot Kirby Chambliss returned to the Detroit Riverfront April 1 to unveil a contest for local children to put their artistic talent on display. Local middle schools can vie for the chance to decorate one of 20 small plane statues that will line the Riverfront throughout May.
Once these planes are on display, one school will win prize money and a unique experience during the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship hosted by Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Who chooses who wins? Michiganders do.
“I am really thrilled to be able to announce this contest today. It gives the kids a chance to do something fun and creative,” stated Chambliss. “It is not very often that children of this age get a chance to showcase their talent on a global stage.”
With an opportunity to showcase young, emerging talent to an international (and local) audience, every middle school is invited step up and get a set of wings. In order to participate in the contest, schools should email [email protected] before April 7. Each participating school will have one week to decorate the model race planes with a medium of their choosing, including paint, metal, paper and any other material left to their imagination.
The 3-by-5 wooden planes will be placed along the Detroit Riverfront during late April and May leading up to the race for people to choose their favorite design. Once on display, it’s up to Michiganders to cast their vote and give back to their community. People can place their votes online at RedBullAirRace.com and on the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s homepage from April 20 through May 31.
The winning school will be chosen based on the largest number of votes received. In addition, a $6,000 donation will be made towards the school’s art program. In addition to prize money, the winning school will receive a special party hosted by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy during the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Red Bull Air Race weekend which returns to the Detroit River on June 5 and 6. The second place school will receive $2,500 and the third place school will receive $1,500.
The Red Bull Air Race was created in 2001 to challenge the ability of the world’s best pilots, creating a race in the sky that isn’t about only speed, but precision and skill through specially-designed obstacle courses.
The objective is for each pilot to individually navigate predetermined aerial racetracks defined by air-filled pylons in the correct pattern in the fastest time possible just 10-20 feet above the Earth reaching speeds up to 230 mph. There are eight races in 2010 including, for the first time, a race hosted in New York City.
This year, the Red Bull Air Race will fly over the Detroit River on June 5 and 6.
Which school won the air brush contest for the best plane that was on display at the RENCEN in Detroit?