Mike Mangold

Mike’s first aviation passion was skydiving, which led him to flying in 1977. He traded parachute repacks for flight time in a Super Cub at Littleton, CO. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978, he went on to fly F-4 Phantoms for 10 years, accumulating over 2500 hours including one successful high speed ejection. His missions ranged from Nuclear Weapons Delivery to Air Superiority to Wild Weasel at bases in South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, and Egypt. Mike has flown all models of the F-4 and was the Outstanding Graduate of the Air Force’s “Top Gun” Fighter Weapons School in 1983.

Leaving active military duty in 1989, Mike began his airline career, first with USAir then American Airlines in 1991. He has over 11,000 airliner hours flying the B-727, MD-80, BAE-146, and presently, the B-767, based in LAX. In 1990 Mike started flying Airshows and competition aerobatics in a Super Decathlon. He has worked his way to the Top flying a Pitts S-1, S-2, Extra 300, Sukhoi-26, and now the Edge 540. Mike has more Red Bull Air Race podium finishes and race wins than any other pilot; he was the 2004, 05 & 07 World Champion. He has won Gold, Sliver, and Bronze at the US National Aerobatic Championships. In 2002 Mike received the “L. Paul Soucy Award” for the highest scoring unlimited aerobatic pilot for the year. Mike was a member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team from 2000-04 and a 5 time California Unlimited Aerobatic Champion. His precise and spectacular flying has amazed millions at numerous Airshows around the globe. Mike has over 5000 skydives and is a National Champion in Accuracy and Para-Skiing. He was a US Parachute Team member from 1981-85 and a participant in the World Record Largest Formation Skydive of 300 jumpers over Anapa, Russia in 1996.

Mike shares extreme aviation hobbies with his wife, Julie, a 4-time member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team. They meet while skydiving and started pursuing Sport Aerobatics together on a date. Julie is also a Boeing 767 Pilot with United Airlines and is the Army’s first Female Helicopter Test Pilot. They have two children with lots of aviation in their genes.

Lance Winter - Race technician

Lance was born in Rochester, New York and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 21 to become an M-1 Tank mechanic. He learned to work and gained valuable experience on turbine powered machinerary and was honorably discharged in 1997. Lance moved to Atlanta Georgia where he began working on aircraft and obtained an FAA Airframe & Powerplant license eventually working for Airtran Airlines. From Atlanta he moved to Phoenix and took a mechanic’s job at an aerobatic training school. There he upgraded his credentials to an FAA certified Airframe Inspector and began flying lessons.  Lance loves to keep things outdoors by riding and working on his 4 wheelers and camping.

Devon Godshall - Team Coordinator

Devon is the glue that holds the race team together. Her tasks are very difficult but necessary and include: coordinating travel, accommodations, supplies, paperwork, media, daily scheduling, and public relations. Devon brings charm and youth to the veteran race team. She lives in Southern California, where she sells insurance, helps run a night club, and is pursuing her pilot’s license when not working with the RBAR. She just learned to drive a stick shift automobile and is looking forward to racing around Europe in the sponsor cars!
http://devongodshall.blogspot.com/

Mike Mangold Air Race Support Team

Mike Moore - Engine builder, tuner, and fabricator

Mike is the driving force behind many of the speed modifications to Mangold’s race plane. Moore embraces the challenge to find and fabricate solutions to increase speed in Mangold’s race plane. His innovative engine modifications are the envy of the other RBAR Teams. Moore’s shop, AvWorks is located in Mooresville, NC, in NASCAR heartland. His shop specializes in maximizing power output of all engine types. His clientele includes: Airshow performers, NASCAR and IRL Teams, and Reno Air Racers.

John Roncz - Aerodynamic Guru

In order to win 2 RBAR World Championships, Mangold’s speed modifications had to work. Knowing before doing is crucial in the World Series due to the time and logistics constraints. John’s aerodynamic intellect is one of the best in the world allowing him to develop his own analysis software, which we believe is better than wind tunnel testing. His past projects include the only 2 aircraft to fly around the world without stopping for fuel, several types of air racers, and aircraft flying on the fringes of the atmosphere. As the original designer of the Edge airfoil, Mike sought out John to make it perform better in the RBAR environment. Like other members of the MMAR Team, John thrives on the challenge to get more speed out of the Mangold racer. He’s not just an idea man; he does some of the fabrication hand work and regularly analyzes race data providing suggestions for better performance.

Hans DeBot - Carbon fabricator

DeBotech, Inc. located in Mooresville, NC (NASCAR Heartland) produces the finest Carbon parts in the industry. Once given the data, Hans does is magic to optimize strength, weight, and appearance of any needed race vehicle components. The modifications on Mike’s aircraft remain untouched since emerging from the DeBotech Autoclave; their finished look is admired by all who see it. Debotech’s other projects include: entire prototype car bodies, NASCAR components, sailboat masts, and child safety seats.