Mike Mangold

Mike Mangold
Mangold receiving World Championship in Perth, 2007
Born	October 10, 1955 (1955-10-10) (age 56)
Nationality	United States
Racing career
First race	2004
Best position	1st (2005 & 2007)
Aircraft	Zivko Edge 540, L-29 Viper
Website
mikemangold.us

Mike Mangold (born October 10, 1955) is a Boeing 767 commercial pilot for American Airlines and an aerobatics pilot. Mangold competed in the Red Bull Air Race World Series from 2004 through 2009, where he repeatedly placed first and won the World Championship in the 2005 World Series, as well as the 2007 World Series. His nickname is "Mongo".

Biography

Early life

Mangold was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the oldest of three children (Robert and Frank). He moved to California at 3 years old and then to Pennsylvania for his high school years.

Career

Mangold began his aviation career in 1974 as a skydiver while attending the United States Air Force Academy. He went on to USAF pilot training, learned to fly fighters, eventually attending the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School. Mangold graduated first in his class earned the "Outstanding Graduate" award. During his military career Mike served in the Pacific and Conus theaters, flying nuclear, conventional, smart weapons, and air intercept missions in the F-4 Phantom, including the F-4G "Wild Weasel". After leaving active duty he became a commercial airline pilot, starting his competitive aerobatic and air show career in 1990. In 2004 Mike got into air racing by joining the Red Bull Air Race and in 2007 the National Championship Air Races flying a Lancair IV in the Sport class and a L-29 Delfin in the Jet class. Mangold has over 16,000 hours of flying time, including 2,500 hours of military fights and 5,500 hours of aerobatics.

Personal life

Mangold also skydives, hang glides, and skis. In 1996, Mangold, along with 296 other skydivers, set a world record for the most amount of people in a skydiving free-fall formation in Anapa, Russia. Mangold commented on his passion for skydiving: "Skydiving; that's how I relax now. It's great, you are at one with the air, you are totally relaxed, no pressure." Mike's wife Julie was once a test pilot for the US Army and now is also a commercial airline and aerobatic pilot. They have an eight-year-old son, Nicholas, who loves doing rolls in his father's aircraft, and a five-year-old daughter, Melissa.

Achievements

Mangold racing in Perth during the 2006 series

2001

• US Unlimited Aerobatic Team member
• World Air Games - Bronze medal (team)

2002

• US Point Series Champion
• US National Aerobatic Championships - Silver medal

2003

• US Unlimited Aerobatic Team member
• World Air Games - Bronze medal (team)

2004

• RBAR North American Champion

2005

• RBAR World Champion

2007

• RBAR World Champion

2008

• Reno Air Races, Second Place, Jet Class, Rookie of the Year in the Jet Class

2009

• Reno Air Races, Second Place, Jet Class, 525 mph.

2010

• Reno Air Races, Second Place Jet Class, 519 mph, (groundspeed).

Mike Mangold at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Points	Wins	Rank
2004	DNP	DNP	1st										6	1	5th
2005	3rd	1st	1st	5th	1st	1st	1st						36	5	1st
2006	2nd	2nd	3rd	CAN	4th	3rd	4th	4th	4th				30	0	3rd
2007	2nd	3rd	3rd	1st	CAN	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	5th	CAN	3rd	47	3	1st
2008	3rd	2nd	4th	CAN	5th	6th	4th	3rd	CAN	9th			44	0	4th

Legend:

• CAN: Cancelled
• DNP: Did not participate
• DNS: Did not show
• NC: Not classified

External links

United States Air Force portal

• Mike Mangold Air Displays
• Mike Mangold Air Racing
• Red Bull Air Race World Series official website

Sporting positions
Preceded by Kirby Chambliss	Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion 2005	Succeeded by Kirby Chambliss
Preceded by Kirby Chambliss	Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion 2007	Succeeded by Hannes Arch

Persondata
Name	Mangold, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 10, 1955
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death