The Air Gates define the course of the race, which can hit speeds of up to 400 kph, and they are set so close together that an airplane can barely fly between them. An Air Gate consists of two pylons (only the Quadro, a special Air Gate, has four). They are 18 metres high and set between ten and 14 metres apart. The pylons are made of a material that immediately rips if it is touched by an aircraft. Colliding with a gate is not dangerous to the pilot but produces a loud bang because the pylons are filled with compressed air. Additional stability is provided by the conical form (wider at the bottom than at the top), which helps them withstand wind speeds of up to 50 kph.
If a pylon is destroyed by an aircraft, a team of specialists stands ready to replace it within minutes. In races held over water, the teams have speedboats at their disposal.
Red Bull Air Race