According to race officials, all seven classes of airplanes will take to the sky.

“We are incredibly excited as an organization for this monumental step in air racing history as we begin to execute our plan for the 2025 National Championship Air Races,” said Tony Logoteta, president and chief operating officer of the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA). “We’re invigorated by the fact that we’re hosting the air races in a brand-new venue in Roswell. It’s going to be amazing to see this iconic event put on again and see our September family.”

Race organizers have visited Roswell several times in recent months to meet with airport staff, emergency services, and city officials to design a new course for the races, review safety protocols, and establish partnerships with the community, according to the organization. Contractors have also been secured for construction of race infrastructure, such as a grandstand.

New Racing Challenges

Air race pilots are expected to visit the area to fly the proposed course in advance of the Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS) scheduled to be held in May in Roswell.

Race officials said the new venue will make for different challenges for the racers, but that “attendees can expect the same spirit of camaraderie, competition and classes of planes that are hallmarks of NCAR.”

Ticket sales and race details will be available in months to come. 

“Reuniting with our September family for the first air races in a new venue will be a historic and emotional moment for our organization as we eagerly prepare for next year alongside our partners in Roswell,” said Fred Telling, RARA chairman and chief executive officer.

• READ MORE: Taking in the Reno Air Races’ Final Lap

The National Championship Air Races traces its roots back to the Cleveland Air Races of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. 

The event, billed as the fastest motorsport around, moved to Nevada in 1964. It was first held at Sky Ranch airfield near Spanish Springs, before it moved to Stead Air Force Base, which was later renamed Reno-Stead Airport (KRTS) after the base closed.

In September 2023, fans gathered at the Nevada airport for the last air race at that location, which local officials said was a venue no longer able to accommodate the growing sport. Over the decades, homes and subdivisions encroached upon the airport that had once been remote, sparking concerns about potential accidents that could harm area residents. 

The air races have become an end of summer institution for aviation enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to attracting hundreds of aircraft, pilots and support crews, the event also features large displays of static aircraft along with demonstrations of military and civil aircraft.

The National Championship Air Races are set for September 10-14, 2025.

The post Plans Advance for 2025 National Championship Air Races appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Reno Air Racing Association said it will commemorate its 60th anniversary with an airshow at Reno-Stead (KRTS) from October 4-6. The event will feature a rare combination of military aerobatic teams: the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and theRoyal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds.

• READ MORE: Reno Air Races Reveal Final List of Participating Pilots, Aircraft

Other performers scheduled to appear include the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team and a range of top civilian aerobatic acts. RARA said the Reno Air Show will include static displays, a racing heritage area and its STEM Discovery Zone. The organization also said it has planned “a few surprises” for the event.

“Even though we are not racing, we are planning an epic celebration of our history and certainly our future that promises to be yet another amazing event for Northern Nevada,” RARA said.

• READ MORE: 6 Cities Competing to Host Next National Championship Air Races

Regarding the future, RARA previously disclosed that it was reviewing proposals from six cities interested in hosting the National Championship Air Races in 2025, which had been held in Reno since 1964. The candidate cities are: Buckeye, Arizona; Casper, Wyoming; Pueblo, Colorado; Roswell, New Mexico; Thermal, California; and Wendover, Utah. RARA said it expects to decide on a new host city this year.

The post Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Snowbirds to Perform in October Reno Air Show appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The RARA circulated a formal request for proposal earlier this year following its announcement that 2023 would be the final year for the races at Reno Stead Airport (KRTS) in Nevada. The responding cities are: Buckeye, Arizona; Casper, Wyoming; Pueblo, Colorado; Roswell, New Mexico; Thermal, California; and Wendover, Utah.

Officials from those cities submitted more than 1,500 pages of documents supporting their case for why each should be the next host, the RARA said.

“Seeing the interest to host the National Championship Air Races at each of these unique venues gives me great hope for the future of air racing,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the RARA. “We’re looking for our next home, somewhere we can celebrate many more anniversaries, so we’ve assembled an expert committee that is putting an extreme amount of care and diligence into choosing our next location.”

Often referred to as the Reno Air Races or simply Reno, the event began in 1964 at nearby Sky Ranch and moved to Reno Stead in 1966. Over time it developed into a singular motorsports gathering—a festival, really, celebrating high performance and camaraderie within the aviation community. It has also become a major economic boost for the local tourism industry.

“In the past 10 years alone, the event has attracted more than 1 million visitors to the region, generated more than $750 million for the economy, and contributed significant aviation related education and outreach to schools and nonprofits all around the area,” the RARA said.

The committee researching the proposals includes RARA personnel specializing in operations, safety, security, business development, and more. Representatives from the race classes are also “an integral part of the selection process,” according to the organization. The selection committee is vetting the proposals and plans to make site visits later this year. The RARA said it expects to announce a decision early next year.

The post 6 Cities Competing to Host Next National Championship Air Races appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The organization also identified the two pilots who died in the accident. They are Nick Macy, who piloted Six-Cat and Chris Rushing, who flew Baron’s Revenge.  RARA said both were “expertly skilled pilots and Gold winners in the T-6 Class,  Families of both pilots have been notified and support services are onsite as they deal with this tragedy.” There were no additional casualties on the ground, the group said.

RARA said it decided to end the event after discussing the situation with the pilots’ families and representatives of the race classes that had not yet completed all of their scheduled races. A competitor in the Unlimited Class told FLYING that a vote was taken by a show of hands and only three people indicated they wanted to keep racing.

“I am completely devastated and heartbroken…,” said Fred Telling, chairman of RARA and president of the T-6 Class. “These two pilots weren’t just an integral part of the National Championship Air Race family, they were a part of my family. My heart goes out to their own families and to all of the spectators and fans who have so enthusiastically supported us this week.”

RARA said it is cooperating with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the accident.

The post Reno Air Races Canceled Following Fatal Collision appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Reno Air Racing Association, which hosts the annual STIHL National Championship Air Races near Reno, Nevada, is sending out a cry for help to save the iconic event. In addition to several race classes, featuring a range of aircraft types from backcountry taildraggers to military speedsters, the event includes airshow performers, STEM education stations, military and vintage aircraft displays, vendors and much more. RARA announced in a press release that it is looking for donations to enable the event to proceed in 2021.

RARA was forced to cancel this year’s event, citing health concerns driven by the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason. While much of the work had already been done to put the event together, the cancellation resulted in zero revenue. Federal aid and the sale of a hangar helped cover some operating costs and kept the organization from laying off all of the staff, but 75 percent of the employees had to be let go.

The viability of the event had already come into question with continuing cost increases. RARA said insurance premiums increased unexpectedly by $160,000 for the 2019 event, which, as a result, “experienced a significant financial loss” despite good attendance. Insurance costs had already surged as a result of the tragic crash of Galloping Ghost, in which 11 people died and 70 people suffered serious injuries. The crash resulted in stricter maintenance inspections for the race airplanes and reshaping of the race courses to protect the spectators.

It would be a shame to see this unique event end up in the history books. RARA says it needs $500,000 by the end of the year to re-hire critical staff and “begin paying for the ongoing costs necessary to produce the large-scale event whose mission is to celebrate and preserve air racing’s rich history while honoring military and inspiring youth.” Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to help save the air races.

The post Race Fans Called Upon to Help Save Reno’s Air Races appeared first on FLYING Magazine.