Michelin sponsors Melanie Astles, first female pilot competing in Red Bull Air Race World Championship

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin, which has supported racing sports for more than 100 years, today announced that it is continuing this tradition by sponsoring Melanie Astles, a five-time French aerobatics champion.

Astles will be the first woman to compete in the Red Bull Air Race, a must-see aerial aerobatics event. The Red Bull Air Race is the most advanced aerial challenge the world and a visual spectacle unlike any other. The race is a combination of high speed, low altitude and extreme maneuverability only possible for the world's best racing pilots. It combines speed, precision and skill using the fastest, most agile, lightweight race planes. The race has two classes — Master and Challenger. The Challenger Cup offers a new generation of exceptionally talented pilots from around the world a chance to experience the thrills of the sport. This year's series includes  10 pilots from nine different nations racing for Challenger Cup points.

Astles started flying lessons at age 21, and she became the reigning aerobatics champion of France 14 years later. Astles' journey reflects the passion, perseverance and century-old values of the Michelin Group.

Having finished several times among the world's top-10 aerobatics pilots, and ascended to a European Aerobatics championship ranking, Astles is now a Challenger Cup pilot. This new partnership between Michelin and Astles begins at the Red Bull Race in Cannes, France, April 20‒22.

Astles' personal aircraft will be equipped with Michelin tires during shows and demonstrations. As a world-class competitor, Astles symbolizes the spirit of aviation to aircraft owners in this segment. It is this focus and passion that impressed the Michelin team.

Michelin, long known for its participation in vehicle and two-wheel motorsports events, also has competitive aviation DNA dating back to 1908, when Wilbur Wright was named the first winner of the International Michelin Aviation Trophy.

Innovation has placed Michelin at the cutting edge of many breakthroughs in aviation tire technology, including:

• Developed radial tire technology in 1981 while still providing bias technology option
• Created the radial NZG (Near Zero Growth) technology in 2001, which notably helped the Concorde to relaunch and is today the high-tech reference
• Equipped almost half of all commercial aircraft flying today
• Manufactured more than 3 million aircraft radial tires

Michelin Aviation tire facts:

• Support up to 35 tons each – i.e., 300 times their own weight
• Land up to 30,000 times per day – once every three seconds in the world
• Accelerate from 0 to 260mph in a split second when landing
• Operate at temperatures ranging from -55^oC to 250^oC (-67^oF to 428^oF)
• Inflated with nitrogen up to 200 psi and tested at four times this pressure

About MICHELIN North America, Inc.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. Michelin also offers a full range of innovative services and solutions that help make mobility safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. To create unique mobility experiences, Michelin publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America, Inc. employs more than 20,000 people and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada.

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SOURCE Michelin