View source for Matt Hall (pilot)

{{Other people|Matt Hall}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox aviator
|name= Matt Hall
|image=
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Matt Hall at the first round of the 2019 Red Bull Air Race
|full_name=
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1971|9|16|df=y}}
|birth_place= [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[New South Wales]]
|death_date= <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
|death_place=
|death_cause=
|resting_place=
|resting_place_coordinates= <!-- {{Coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark}} -->
|monuments=
|nationality={{flag|AUS|name=Australian}}
|spouse=
|relatives=
| air_force        = [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
|first_race =2009
|racing_best = 1st ([[2019 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2019]])
|racing_aircraft = [[Zivko Edge 540]] V3
|website=[http://matthallracing.com/ matthallracing.com]
|module            = {{Infobox military person
|embed             = yes
| branch        = [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
| serviceyears  = 
| rank          = [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit          = 
| commands      = 
| battles       = 
| battles_label = 
| awards        =
| memorials     =
}}
}}

'''Matt Hall''' (born 16 September 1971 in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redbullairrace.com/cs/Satellite/en_air/Profile/Matt-Hall-021238611567283?CategoryName=Red+Bull+Air+Race&p=1238611393596&pageOrigin=RedBullTW |title=Matt Hall :: Red Bull Air Race Pilots |publisher=[[Red Bull GmbH]]|access-date=2010-06-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929061038/http://www.redbullairrace.com/cs/Satellite/en_air/Profile/Matt-Hall-021238611567283?CategoryName=Red+Bull+Air+Race&p=1238611393596&pageOrigin=RedBullTW |archive-date=29 September 2011}}</ref>) is a third-generation pilot, a former [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) fighter combat instructor, international unlimited [[aerobatic]] competitor and the first [[Australia]]n to be selected to compete in the [[Red Bull Air Race]] World Championship, starting in 2009 with his team Matt Hall Racing. He won the championship in the final season of Red Bull Air Race in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://airrace.redbull.com/en/news/hall-2019-world-champion|title=Hall Is The 2019 World Champion|publisher=[[Red Bull GmbH]]|date=8 September 2019}}</ref>

== Flying history ==

Hall has a long flying history, having started flying with his father at an early age. He is a third-generation pilot, his grandfather having flown in [[World War II]].

Hall's first solo flight was at age 15 in a [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]], and he gained his aircraft pilot's licence at the age of 18. He is licensed in gliders, [[Ultralight aviation|ultra-lights]] and [[hang glider]]s, and has had one [[parachute]] jump. He has more than 4,000 hours in various aircraft types, including over 700 in light aircraft and over 500 doing aerobatics. As these flights are often only 20–30 minutes, he has many more takeoffs and landings. Hall has over 300 hours in his airshow display aircraft, the [[Giles G-202]].

A Mustang [[P-51D]] is his fifth aircraft (the others were a [[Vans RV-4]], [[Acrosport II]] biplane, [[Piper Cherokee]]180C and the [[Giles G-202]]). He raced an [http://www.mxaircraft.com MXS-R] during the first five seasons of his Red Bull Air Race World Championship career (2009–2010, 2014–2016), switching to his current race plane, the [[Zivko Edge 540]] V3, for the beginning of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

He also flies an EXTRA300L in which he performs domestic displays and conducts more than 400 joy flight experiences per year.

== Military career ==

As a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter pilot, Hall logged over 1,500 [[F/A-18 Hornet]] hours. As a Fighter Combat Instructor, in 2006 he completed a tour as the chief instructor for this demanding course.

He has received many awards during his military career, including [[Dux]] of Pilot, F/A-18 Hornet and Fighter Combat Instructor courses, the 1997 Fighter Pilot of the Year, and he was awarded a Chief of Air Force commendation for his performance as the Chief Instructor of the 2006 Fighter Combat Instructor course.

Hall spent three years in the [[United States of America]] on a [[USAF]] exchange programme, flying over 500 hours in the [[F-15E Strike Eagle]], including combat. For his efforts, he was awarded combat decorations by both the US and Australia.

He resigned from the RAAF to allow him to become a full-time race pilot.

== Aerobatic history ==
[[File:Red Bull Air Race Chiba MXS-R Matt Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Hall finished second in the [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba]].]]
Hall has flown aerobatics for many years, becoming more serious about competition and display aerobatics whilst on his military exchange in the USA. He travelled widely to [[air show]]s, [[fly-in]]s and aerobatic competitions, and was inspired by performances at the 2003 World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) in [[Florida]]. Through involvement at competitions and as a member of the [[International Aerobatic Club]], he was able to be coached and mentored by many of the top US competitors and performers.

Initially competing in his Acrosport II biplane, he won the US East Coast Aerobatic Championship at the Sportsman level. He soon reached the limits of the aircraft's capabilities, and moved up to the [[Giles G-202]], which he brought back to Australia, as the first of type. He won the [[NSW]] State Aerobatic Championships at Intermediate level in the Giles G-202 in October 2005.<ref>[http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2005results.htm "2005 NSW State Titles, Temora"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719033127/http://aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2005results.htm |date=19 July 2008 }}, ''[http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au Aerobatics Australia]''</ref>

In April 2006 Hall won the Australian Aerobatic Championships at the Advanced level, his first Nationals and Advanced competition.<ref>[http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2006results.htm "2006 NSW State Titles, Temora"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029162937/http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2006results.htm |date=29 October 2009 }} ''Aerobatics Australia''</ref> In April 2007 he moved up to Unlimited, and competed at the Australian National Aerobatic Championships, placing second overall, but first in Freestyle.<ref>[http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2006results.htm "2007 National Championships, Parkes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029162937/http://www.aerobaticsaustralia.com.au/Results%20Archive/2006results.htm |date=29 October 2009 }}, ''Aerobatics Australia''</ref> He then went on to compete in the US Nationals in September, using Rob Holland's [http://www.mxaircraft.com MX-2], achieving 10th place overall, and 5th in the Freestyle competition.

In November 2007, the Red Bull Air Race offered him the chance to participate in a series of Training Camps under former world champion [[Patrick Paris]], as a lead up to the 2008 European Aerobatic Championships. During the lead up, he competed in the World Aerobatics Cup in [[Prague]], finishing 8th,<ref>[http://www.aerobaticcup.com/index.php?lang=en&node=107.com "World Aerobatics Cup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092100/http://www.aerobaticcup.com/index.php?lang=en&node=107.com |date=7 July 2011 }}, ''[http://www.aerobaticcup.com Aerobatic Cup.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226050603/http://www.aerobaticcup.com/ |date=26 February 2009 }}''</ref> then achieved the required top half finish in the European Championships, finishing his eligibility requirements for selection for a Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp. Racing aside, he aims to be aerobatic World Champion in the future.

In September 2008, he successfully completed the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, becoming the first Australian to be awarded the coveted Red Bull Air Race Super Licence. Finally, in November 2008 he heard the news that he was selected to join Red Bull Air Race World Championship circuit in 2009.<ref>[http://www.redbull.com.au/en/ArticlePage.1226756020036-1842393097.0/htmlArticlePage.action.com "Aussie Top Gun selected for 2009 Red Bull Air Race"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111357/http://www.redbull.com.au/en/ArticlePage.1226756020036-1842393097.0/htmlArticlePage.action.com |date=6 July 2011 }}, ''[http://www.redbull.com.au Red Bull Australia]''</ref>

In June 2010 while qualifying for first session in [[Windsor, Ontario]] for the Red Bull Air Race his plane touched the water of the [[Detroit River]] due to [[aerodynamic stall|aerodynamic wing stall]] but he recovered and landed safely. The plane received "superficial damage", mainly to the right [[aileron]].<ref>[http://matthallracing.com/archives/1671 "Hall’s plane touches water in Detroit River but Aussie recovers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714045649/http://matthallracing.com/archives/1671 |date=14 July 2011 }}, ''[http://matthallracing.com matthallracing.com]''. Retrieved 6 June 2010.</ref>

Competition aside, Hall also spends a significant amount of his aerobatic flying working on his high energy display flying. This is a new style of "freestyle" flying, in which the pilot uses the aircraft surfaces in novel ways to develop new manoeuvres such as end-over-end tumbling. He is based at [[Belmont Airport]], near his hometown of Newcastle, having purchased the site with other investors including a skydiving company in July 2014.

== Achievements ==
===Red Bull Air Race===

{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|- valign="top"
! Year
! Class
! Aircraft
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! Position
! Points
|-
! [[2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2009]]
| Master
| [[MX Aircraft MXS]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[San Diego|SDE]]<br><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Windsor, Ontario|WIN]]<br><small>7</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Budapest|BUD]]<br><small>7</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[Porto|POR]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Barcelona|BAR]]<br><small>9</small>
| 
| 
! style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd
! style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 36
|-
! [[2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2010]]
| Master
| [[MX Aircraft MXS]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br><small>8</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[Perth, Western Australia|PER]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[Rio de Janeiro|RIO]]<br><small>4</small>
| style="background:black; color:white;"| [[Windsor, Ontario|<span style="color:white;">WIN</span>]]<br><small>DSQ</small>
| style="background:black; color:white;"| [[New York City|<span style="color:white;">NYC</span>]]<br><small>DSQ</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[EuroSpeedway Lausitz|LAU]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| [[Budapest|BUD]]<br><small>CAN</small>
| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| [[Lisbon|LIS]]<br><small>CAN</small>
! 7th
! 31
|-
! [[2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2014]]
| Master
| [[MX Aircraft MXS]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br><small>4</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Rovinj|ROV]]<br><small>7</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Putrajaya|PUT]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Gdynia|GDY]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Ascot|ASC]]<br><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Fort Worth|FTW]]<br><small>6</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Las Vegas|LVG]]<br><small>4</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[2014 Red Bull Air Race of Spielberg|SPI]]<br><small>10</small>
! 6th
! 33
|-
! [[2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2015]]
| Master
| [[MX Aircraft MXS]]
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|CHI]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Rovinj|ROV]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|BUD]]<br><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Ascot|ASC]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Spielberg|SPI]]<br><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Fort Worth|FTW]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Las Vegas|LVG]]<br><small>1</small>
! style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
! style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 71
|-
! [[2016 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2016]]
| Master
| [[MX Aircraft MXS]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br/><small>9</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Spielberg|SPI]]<br/><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|CHI]]<br/><small>7</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|BUD]]<br/><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Ascot|ASC]]<br/><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Lausitz|LAU]]<br/><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|IND]]<br/><small>4</small>
| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| [[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Las Vegas|LVG]]<br/><small>CAN</small>
! style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
! style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 55.75
|-
! [[2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2017]]
| Master
| [[Zivko Edge 540]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br><small>10</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of San Diego|SDE]]<br><small>9</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|CHI]]<br><small>6</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|BUD]]<br><small>8</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Kazan|KAZ]]<br><small>6</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Porto|POR]]<br><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Lausitz|LAU]]<br><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|IND]]<br><small>8</small>
! style="background:#;"| 6th
! 40
|-
! [[2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2018]]
| Master
| [[Zivko Edge 540]]
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br /><small>5</small>
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Cannes|CAN]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|CHI]]<br /><small>1</small>
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|BUD]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Kazan|KAZ]]<br /><small>7</small>
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Wiener Neustadt|WIN]]<br /><small>3</small>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|IND]]<br /><small>6</small>
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Fort Worth|FTW]]<br /><small>2</small>
!style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
!style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 75
|-
![[2019 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2019]]
|Master
|[[Zivko Edge 540]]
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|ABU]]<br>{{small|5}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Kazan|KAZ]]<br>{{small|2}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Zamárdi|ZAM]]<br>{{small|1}}
|style="background:#ffffff;"|EUR<br>{{small|C}}
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|CHI]]<br>{{small|3}}
|style="background:#ffffff;"|ASI<br>{{small|C}}
|style="background:#ffffff;"|[[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|IND]]<br>{{small|C}}
|style="background:#ffffff;"|KSA<br>{{small|C}}
!style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1st
!style="background:#ffffbf;"| 81
|-
|}

'''<big> </big>'''
== Media ==

<gallery>
Image:Matt Hall001.jpg|Competing in the 2010 Abu Dhabi event
Image:In Flight.jpg|In flight
Image:2017RedBullAirRaceChibaN540MH.jpg|[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba]] – N540MH
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Matt Hall}}
* [http://www.matthallracing.com/ Matt Hall Racing]

{{Red Bull Air Race World Series Pilots}}
{{Red Bull Air Race World Series Champions}}
{{Aerobatics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Matt}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian air racers]]
[[Category:Aerobatic pilots]]
[[Category:Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilots]]
[[Category:Red Bull Air Race World Championship winners]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Newcastle, New South Wales]]