Red Bull Air Race in Budapest Won by Winthropite

Michael Goulian is the only one of the three Americans in the Red Bull Air Race who has not won the championship – yet! And not winning in his first three years in the sport is clearly eating away at the quietly competitive man from Massachusetts. Another year of mechanical problems and some ill-timed penalties in 2008 left Goulian often fighting to make it to the 'Super 8'. But the man with the signature green, white and black plane is optimistic that 2009 will be the year of Team 99. He stayed with his Edge 540, although much of it has been changed.

"We’ve focussed our attention on making a very fast machine," he said. "We have spent a lot of time and money to try to give us every chance at the podium. The last two seasons we were hampered by inferior equipment. We changed the engine, the cowling, prop and improved the roll rate and the aerodynamics. The goal now is to win, and win a lot of races. I am fully engaged in the process to win."

Goulian, who co-authored a widely acclaimed industry standard for aerobatic flight training manuals entitled 'Basic and Advanced Aerobatics', might seem like one of the happiest pilots in the field – even when he is struggling. But the avid skier and ice hockey player admits it was not easy to smile about last season. "Last year started off bad and stayed that way. I'm very competitive so the smiling face you saw at the paddock all season was 'just for show'," Goulian said. "It was very difficult to find speed in the plane. It was a frustrating season. To be honest, I just hate to lose. The last two years of less-than-desired results have been tough for me to take."

Goulian is nonetheless a pilot with an infectious optimism. He believes his Boston-area base could turn out to be big advantage in 2009, when the championship returns to North America for two races. Despite following a strict training regimen, Goulian identified a lack of well-being in some of the overseas races last year as a key area to improve upon in 2009. "I’m always on a fitness program that is managed by a professional in my home town in Boston", said Goulian, who is a hard rock & roll fan. "This year I'll be trying to stay fit and well-rested on the road. In the past that has always been difficult for me."
Goulian, who turned 40 last year, grew up around airplanes and started flying as a teenager in high school. He took his first solo flight on his 16th birthday. His family is in the flying business, owning one of the largest flying schools in the Northeast United States. At 22 he became the U.S. National Champion in the advanced category and a year later won the Fond du Lac Cup invitational competition. He joined the U.S. National Aerobatic Team in 1994 and was the U.S. National Champion in the unlimited category in 1995.

Goulian said he has been astonished by the rising popularity of the sport around the world and said he feeds off of the enthusiasm from the ever-growing legions of fans. “We get a lot of fan mail,” he said. “It’s awesome to have so much support”. The atmosphere of 100-percent determination by everyone involved in the Red Bull Air Race is fantastic. I really thrive on that and hope I can start to put some wins ‘on the board’ in 2009.”

Flying achievements
2007:Awarded “Art Scholl award for air show showmanship” from the International Council of Airshows
1994 - 1998: Member of the U.S. Aerobatics Team
1995:U.S. Unlimited Champion
1991:Winner - Fond du Lac Cup
1990:U.S. Advanced Champion