Alejandro Maclean - Red Bull Air Race Pilot

Alejandro Maclean of Spain made a major leap forward in 2007, climbing to a highly competitive sixth place with 16 points in his third season in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship after finishing a disappointing ninth in 2006 and 2005. Maclean, who owes his name to a Scottish grandfather, lost a lot of weight last season, flew smart and was a constant threat to the race hierarchy, reaching the semi-finals four times. Ultimately it was only a lack of consistency that prevented the Spanish pilot with a highly competitive nature from finishing higher. That should change in 2008, according to the intense man from Madrid.

"The highlight of the year 2007 was getting second place in Rio," said Maclean, who also had three fourth place finishes in Istanbul, London and Perth. "But in general, I was pleased that I was flying with a cleaner style with only a few minor penalty seconds and pylon hits last year. The goal for 2008 is to improve my performance further and get on the podium as often as possible. The ultimate goal is, logically, winning."

Maclean's interest in flying began as a child when he built model airplanes and operated remote controlled planes. He climbed into a cockpit for the first time at 18 when he bought an ultralight, the first of a Championship of planes he would own on the way to winning two Spanish aerobatic championships. He has had a lot of good fortune in his flying career, suffering multiple broken bones from a crash when the propeller broke apart on an experimental plane he was flying. His whole aircraft came apart in midair in another earlier incident, but he was able to bail out and land safely with his parachute from just 650 feet.

More about Alejandro Maclean on http://redbullairrace.com

Category:

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• alex
• alejandro
• maclean
• red
• bull
• air
• race
• pilot
• spain
• aerobatics
• aviation
• energy
• rbar08

[gtaxcstories]

Rest in Peace, Alejandro! Smoke on! :(

[Redaman10]

Repose en paix !! Allah yerhamek !!

[katram11]

Rest in peace Alex you will be missed... A Great Pilot..

[TheBuilder65]

RIP Alex!! You will be missed!!

[joselaga]

descanza en paz¡¡ gran piloto....

[aannddrreessee84]

ojala ahora sea ciudadano del cielo!!

[ostrasjo]

Descansa en paz amigo

[churupengogreen]

Rest in peace and may God give you peace. Thanks for the show you gave the skies in various countries through which they passed.

[catapral]

RIP :( you know fly with the angels

[DarkForce230]

RIP Alejandro Maclean. At least, he was living his dream, doing one of the most demanding sports ever, fly and compete at Red Bull Air Race. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, team and friends. Smoke on!