Preserve Women's Air Racing!  

Help us preserve the legacy of pioneering women in aviation by encouraging and educating current and future women pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women's roles in aviation, and promoting the tradition of women's air racing!

THE UPCOMING 2020 AIR RACE

This year's race starts at KGFK, Grand Forks, ND! Hosting the Start this year is UND Aviation in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Following WWII, Grand Forks Air Force Base was established in 1954, and the first civilian passenger terminal opened 10 years later. In 2018, the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences celebrated its 50th anniversary!

Leaving Grand Forks, racers will fly to Pierre Regional Airport (KPIR). Pierre (pronounced "peer") is the capital of South Dakota, and, with a population of about 14,000 people, it's the 2nd smallest capital city in the U.S. 

Heading west, racers will head to Sheridan County Airport (KSHR) with the backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains and Cloud Peak Wilderness. The airport traces its roots back to a grass strip in 1919 and barnstormers coming through.  

With the route turning southeast, the next stop will be Sterling Municipal Airport (KSTK), also known as Crosson Field, honoring one of the first women's air racers in the 1929 Women's Air Derby - Marvel Crosson.

Continuing southeast, Dodge City Regional Airport is the next stop. KDDC traces its roots to Dodge City Army Airfield. It was was one of three B-26 Marauder training bases during WWII. The Free French Air Force and WASP trained pilots here.

Leaving the mountains behind and entering the plains, racers arrive next at Ada Regional Airport (KADH), which celebrated its 90th birthday this year and has a brand new terminal building that opened in 2018. It shows a commitment and support for the value of small airports that often represent the "front door" to a community.  

Pine Bluff Regional Airport - Grider Field is the next stop on the race. KPBF honors the memory of WWI pilot John McGavock Grider. Just before America's entry into WWII, a US Army Air Corps training base was opened in Pine Bluff. A few years after the war, the airfield was given back to the city of Pine Bluff and is now managed through the Pine Bluff Aviation Commission.

Mount Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) is looking forward to hosting the next stop on the 2020 Air Race Classic. Every other year, they host the annual AirVenture Cup with planes racing from Mount Vernon IL to Oshkosh WI kicking off EAA's biggest aviation extravaganza.

When teams arrive at Tullahoma Regional Airport - William Northern Field, the race is almost done! KTHA is home to the Beechcraft Heritage Museum which houses a fully restored vintage Staggerwing, Twin Beech, and Bonanza aircraft. ARC racer Gene Nora Jessen's "Threezie" Beech Musketeer was recently acquired by the museum - the 3rd Musketeer off the production line, Gene Nora piloted the plane around the U.S. in 1962 as one of the "Three Musketeers" team showcasing the plane to pilots and dealers.  

The Terminus for the 2020 Air Race Classic is Terre Haute Regional Airport (KHUF), home to Hoosier Aviation FBO, as well as Indiana State University's Aviation Technology program, the host of the Terminus. ISU's flight team are frequent flyers in the ARC. In 2018, the airport hosted SAFECON, the annual National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition.

Are you ready to race? Registration starts January 2! For more information, contact entryadmin@airraceclassic.org.

Help us preserve the legacy of pioneering women in aviation by encouraging and educating current and future women pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women's roles in aviation, and promoting the tradition of women's air racing! For more information, visit us at www.airraceclassic.org.

Air Race Classic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are deductible as allowed by law.

Continue the Tradition

Support The Air Race Classic and Make 2020 The Best Race Ever!

June 23-26, 2020