June 13-14, Windsor — Watching the highlights from last year’s Red Bull Air Race makes me want to fly airplanes, and I have never wanted to fly airplanes before (not even when I watch Top Gun, which is somewhat frequently). Red Bull has done to air shows what they have done to soft drinks and snowboarding in the past: taken something that is already high-energy and revamped it with an overdose of adrenaline.

The Red Bull Air Race is a time-trial race where pilots weave through a tightly confined obstacle course made of giant inflatable pylons. The course is laid out over a narrow strip of water, and planes fly as low as eight feet above the surface. This year, the race is taking place in six locations: Abu Dhabi, San Diego, Windsor, Budapest, Porto, and Barcelona. The first two legs have already taken place, with the third installment set to hit Windsor this weekend.

Windsor is the first Canadian city to play host to the Red Bull Air Race in the event’s seven-year history. This year is also momentous for Canucks as it marks the debut of the first Canadian pilot to compete: 25-year-old rookie Pete McLeod.