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Fifty-one teams of women will take off for the 42nd Air Race Classic, racing from Jackson, Tenn., beginning on June 18, over a 2,538-mile (4084.5-kilometre) race course which ends in Welland, Ont., on June 21.
“We wish blue skies and tailwinds to all the racers, many of whom are WAI members,” said Women in Aviation International (WAI) president Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “This year, 17 collegiate teams represent aviation colleges and universities nationwide, and we wish safe landings to all.”
As the oldest race of its kind in the United States, the Air Race Classic traces its roots to the 1929 Women’s Air Derby. Then known as the Powder Puff Derby, the race marked the beginning of women’s air racing, with this year celebrating the 90th anniversary of the race. The July/August issue of WAI’s magazine, Aviation for Women, will include a feature story on the history and details of women’s air racing and will be distributed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Interested individuals can follow frequent, real-time updates during the race at airraceclassic.org.
Next year’s Air Race Classic will be held from June 23 to June 26, 2020.
