Matthias Dolderer
Encyclopedia
Matthias Dolderer is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 professional race pilot, who competes as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...

 pilot in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Beginnings

Dolderer, who once colourfully compared the precision-flying of the Red Bull Air Race to trying to park a car in a garage while travelling at nearly 400 kilometres per hour, first went flying with his father when he was three years old. He was raised at his parent’s flight school and at the early age of five became hooked on machines and fast cars making his first solo flight at 14. His life has revolved around aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...

 ever since. “Flying was my passion from the very first moment and my inspiration. I’ve spent my whole life in hangars, on airfields and in cockpits,” says Dolderer.

He gained a glider and ultralight license at the age of 17 and the following year obtained his private pilot’s license. Just a few days later he finished 3rd in the German Championships. From 1988 until 1991, Matthias Dolderer took part in four German and two European Championships, and the World Championships as a member of the national ultralight team. He ended his ultralight aviator career as the German Champion.

At 21 he became the youngest flight teacher in Germany. He and his sister Verena took over Tannheim
Tannheim
Tannheim is a municipality in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located in upper Swabia at the river Iller which forms the border to Bavaria.Tannheim is the home of the annual Tannkosh airshow.-External links:****...

 Airfield to continue their family’s vision: ‘To establish a meeting place for aviators, enthusiasts, amateurs as well as professionals.’ The legendary Tannkosh
Tannkosh
Tannkosh is a large airshow and fly-in held annually in July at Tannheim, upper Swabia in Germany.The event is the closest European equivalent to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and, although smaller than the Oshkosh airshow, Tannkosh attracts hundreds of private aircraft from all over Europe.Tannkosh...

 event, Europe’s biggest Fly-In, became a reality in 1993.

Dolderer has spent almost 300 days of his life in the cockpit in more than 100 different aircraft types, with 23,000 landings all over the world and has performed in many air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....

s across Europe since 1993. In 2002 he became an official pilot of the Flying Bulls, Austria, where he still performs with different aircraft.

Competition aerobatics

In 2006, Matthias Dolderer intensified his aerobatic activities to become a Red Bull Air Race pilot in the near future. Just one year later, he took part at the World Aerobatic Championship, category "Unlimited". In 2008, Dolderer made his breakthrough after hard training. He won the German Aerobatic Championship and achieved also top standings at international competitions such as the World Aerobatics Cup.

Red Bull Air Race pilot

Matthias Dolderer's achievements opened him the way for an invitation to attend the Red Bull Air Race qualification camp in Casarrubios
Casarrubios del Monte
Casarrubios del Monte is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 4321 inhabitants....

, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, at the end of September 2008. Of the six candidates, five qualified for the "super license" required to compete in the world championship. Matthias Dolderer was one of four rookies selected for active race status. He joins the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009.

Dolderer is proud to fly for his home country Germany and already set objectives for his first season: “At first, I’ll be focussing on safety and avoiding penalties and then start attacking for points by mid-season. A top 10 finish for 2009 would be cool.”

Dolderer seems to be on a good way to reach this goal. He placed 5th at the last Red Bull Air Race in Budapest and collected 7 championship points.

Achievements

2009
  Matthias Dolderer
at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points Wins Rank
2009  
11th
 
13th
 
13th
 
5th
 
6th
 
3rd
23 0 9th


Legend: * CAN: Cancelled * DNP: Did not take part * DNS: Did not start * DSQ: Disqualified

2008
  • European Aerobatic Championships, "Unlimited" Category, 19th Place
  • World Aerobatics Cup, Czech Republic, "Unlimited" Category, 2nd place
  • German Aerobatic Championships, "Unlimited" Category, 1st place
  • German Aerobatic Championships, 4-minute freestyle program, 2nd place
  • Qualified at the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp and selected to race in 2009

2007
  • Participation German Aerobatic Championships "Unlimited" Category
  • Participation World Aerobatics Championships "Unlimited" Category

2006
  • Participation German Aerobatic Championship, "Advanced" Category

1991
  • Microlight European Championships, German Champion

1990
  • Microlight World Championships

1988
  • Microlight European Championships

1988 till 1991
  • Microlight German Championships

External links

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