by admin | Apr 28, 2022 | Air Race News
2021 was the year the STIHL National Championship Air Races returned after we all weathered some of the most challenging circumstances on record. Generous donations from our dedicated fans and supporters are a vital element of the Reno Air Racing Association’s success, and we want to give our most sincere thanks to everyone who made a gift to help us emerge from the Covid shutdown in 2020 and back into air racing in 2021! Your donations not only helped make the past year possible, but also gave us the resources and energy to begin an exciting journey as we launch our 2022 STIHL National Championship Air Races and our new “Racing for the Future” campaign.
Our vision is to establish the Reno Air Racing Association as the pinnacle of inspiration, education, and exhilaration for people of all ages. Our success with our STEM education programming has now led to our first flight training scholarships and we have even more programs coming to life in the near future. We hope you will join us as we accelerate into this new chapter in our evolution.
Air racing is our passion, and we are using the excitement, history, and pageantry of our beloved sport to inspire the next generation of aviators, fans, and stakeholders. Your contributions are an important factor in making this possible, and we’d like to extend our deepest heartfelt gratitude to those who gave this past year.
$200,000
Fred and Barbara Clark-Telling
$50,000 & Up
Anonymous
William Freeman
Mercer-Fraser Company
The Ray Foundation
Seymour Robin
$20,000 – $35,000
Fay Gregory
Joan And Herb Kelleher Charitable Foundation
$5,000 – $10,000
Ronald Bath
Dennis And Tami Buehn
Clay Lacy
Finnegan Aviation Services, LLC
Donald Jensen
Shahin Mehrabanzad
Nevada Tri Partners, LLC
Joel Stinnett
$1,000 – $2500
Lisa Aguirre Simcoe
Thomas Bradley
Enterprise Holding Foundation
Curtis Johnson
John Krawczyk
Larry Labriola Foundation
Tony & Deanna Logoteta
James Macdougall
Frank & Carroll Marguire
Jerry Mowbray
Gil Shoham
Kent Snider
Roberta Thompson
Chuck Trousdale
Richard Wenzel
Abel Wilson
$101 – $500
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Aeroadvisors Inc.
Anonymous x 5
Roberta Bell
Charles Bowyer
Dennis P. Bryan
Kerry Chapman
Chevron Employee Match
Leon Corley
Lud Corrao
Stanley Crosswhite
Sid Dodd
Galen Gault
Jack Harrington
James Harris
Mike Henniger
Conrad Huffstutler
Cynthia Mcdonald
Dana Munkelt
Mr. & Mrs. Newlin
Don Permoda
Gregory Powell
Mike Qutermous
Betty Sherman
James A. Thornton
$51 – $100
Anonymous x 16
Antelope Valley 99’S
John Babbidge
Evan Bender
Eric Bocanegra
Jonathan Chan
James Dunn
Charles Flint
Dave Franks
Michael Frederick
Graeme Frew
Rande Gallant
Brian Garrett
Ron Gerber
Craig Gill
Marc Grundfor
Tanya Ice
John Jacks
Jim Jensen
Jerome Jessop
Chris Leeper
Roger Lemmel
Mark A. Magin
Walter Manning
Scott Mccue
Patricia Mcgovern
Todd Mcmaster
Maralyn Mencarini
James Messinger
Kyle Peirson
B Pratt
Richard Reinhardt
Edward Rij
Randolph Royce
C A Rumple
William Ryan
Bob Ryker
John Sewell
Lynn Shawback
Gregg Springer
David Tansley
Lauriston Taylor
The Mary P Hicks Trust
John Vargas
Paul Wells
Martin Wermes
Brian White
Up to $50
Applied Materials Foundation & Employees
Douglas Archdeacon
Joshua Awosoga
Todd Becker
Luke Bednarek
Nathan Biasotti
Chase Birks
Chris Bosco
Carl Bovee
John Bratcher
John Briscoe
Joseph Burkhart
Max Carley
Jeffrey Cohn
Jarathan Cook
Chris Cosfol
Anthony Cox
Jacob Crisler
Michael Darko
Austin Dyer
Ryan Eckstein
Steven Edmundson
Michael Evanger
Andrew Fearn
Allan Fisher
Mason Forkey
Trisha Gereaux
Jonathan & Stephanie Gilstrom
Josh Goulart
Brian Grant
Stu Greene
Cameron Gross
Alex Hair
Noah Hanifen
Kathy Harnack
Steven Hartness
Kenneth Herndon
Andreas Heyen
Anthony Hitchings
Oran Hollingsworth
Roger Howard
Marisa Irwin
Ronald Jermstad Jr
Stuart Katzen
Keaton Keene
Vernon Keener
Brian Kohl
Ron Kopa
Joseph Langlois
Matthew Lawless
Nancy Leases
Satn Luke
Richard May
Stu Mayerson
Peter Mccombs
Jeremiah Melin
Chris Menno
David Minnis
Matthew Molsen
Robert Montgomery
Kirby Moughon
Dana Nolan
Per Nordstram
Zak Nyberg
Sam Osman
Philip Perez
Jay Pitts
Tim Porter
Jayce Poshek
Ray Rasmussen
Clayton Relf
Roslynn Ricard
Shawn Robbins
Bryan Rohr
Michael Ryan
Dean Severns
Trish Sherman
Steven Shivers
Tyler Snyder
Anthony Sprayberry
Jonathan Stackhouse
Chris Stieber
Kent Stokes
Sara Stout
Gretchen Straatsma
Dan Stratton
Corey Sullivan
Masashi Tahara
Travis Thompson
Kevin Thompson
Eric Titus
Emanuele Tosoni
Jeffrey Tunison
Rachel Twine
John Weaver
David Wright
Jonathan Zaritz
by admin | Apr 19, 2022 | Media, Scholarships
RENO, Nev. (April 19, 2022) – Today the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) proudly announced the recipients of their inaugural Flight Training Scholarship. Ten students were selected from an impressive field of applicants residing in Reno and the surrounding area including Carson City, Fallon and Truckee.
Supported by a fundraising campaign and matching grant from the Ray Foundation, scholarships were opened to 15–22-year-olds.
“With the success of our NVBAA / GRADD sponsored STEM education area during Race Week each year, it made sense to expand that reach to actual flight training for local youth,” said Fred Telling, President and CEO for RARA. “Flight training used to be something a summer job could pay for, but in today’s economy that really isn’t possible anymore. We are thrilled to be able to provide this path to deserving young people to help them realize their dreams of flight.”
Ten aspiring young pilots have been awarded scholarships to help achieve their Private Pilot License (PPL). Modeled after successful programs at SUN ‘n FUN’s Aerospace Center for Excellence, AOPA and EAA, the program implements best practices and administrative policies to ensure the best chance of success for the young pilots in training. In addition to the training itself, the scholarship ensures that mentors are available to help the students with specific challenges during their journey.
The 2022 Reno Air Racing Association Flight Training Scholarship recipients are:
Koree Bostrom
Jonathon Burleson
Clinton Dewitt
Hunter Drost
Patrick Fredrickson
Xavier Frock
Annaliese Hornback
Kurtis LeMay
Justin Pedersen
Thomas Vann
“Providing these scholarships not only gives these students an opportunity to learn to fly, but also shows that that the Reno Air Races are fully invested in contributing more to the future of flight than just inspiration on the track,” said Greg Gibson, Scholarship Coordinator for RARA.
The scholarships are awarded in two parts; first the student receives the funding to solo, then upon achieving that milestone they receive access to the funds to complete their PPL.
“Flight training will begin over the summer months, and the students are expected to be well underway with lots to report in September when Race Week comes around,” said Gibson. “They will be official ambassadors to this year’s STIHL National Championship Air Races and be able to meet the pilots and share their journey and accomplishments with our race fans.”
Scholarships are planned to be awarded annually, with the application window opening in December each year. For more information, visit airrace.org/flight-training-scholarships/.
-###-
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races
The STIHL National Championship Air Races are held every September just north of Reno by the Reno Air Racing Association, a 501(c)(3). The event has become an institution for Northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world with seven racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civilian flight demonstrations. Independent economic impact studies show that the event generates as much as $100 million annually for the local economy. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
by admin | Mar 14, 2022 | Media
The world’s fastest motorsport returns to the Northern Nevada skies this year for the 58th time, September 14th through 18th! And that means you can now purchase tickets for the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
What do we have in store for this year? Well for starters, we recently announced the military performers for this year’s event. Here, fans will be able to witness the unparalleled power, awe-inspiring maneuverability of the F-22 and F-18. Watch as they thunder past the grandstands during their demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday of race week! You won’t want to miss these performances!
What else is there, you may ask? First, we have the seven racing classes going head-to-head at speeds that can exceed 500 mph. And next of course, the civilian and military flight demonstrations. If you’re looking for a more hands on experience, you can check out the static aircraft displays, the GRADD-NVBAA STEM Education Discovery Zone. Got a thing for old, beautifully restored aircraft? Then the National Aviation Heritage Invitational is for you. And finally with food, merchandise and drinks to cap everything off, this year’s event is one you won’t want to miss.
Tickets can be purchased at airrace.org/reno-air-races-tickets/ or by calling 912-470-5773 or emailing support@eventsprout.zendesk.com.
Look for more announcements about ticket sales, performers and more on AirRace.org or on the STIHL National Championship Air Races Facebook page.
by admin | Mar 9, 2022 | Media
RENO, Nev. (March 9, 2022) – Attendees of this year’s STIHL National Championship Air Races will be able to witness unparalleled power, awe-inspiring maneuverability and some of the world’s greatest pilots as the F-22 and F-18 demonstrations thunder past the grandstands when they perform Saturday and Sunday of race week.
Fans can see these two military demonstrations and so much more during the 2022 event set for Sept. 14-18.
F-22 Raptor Demonstration
The U.S. Air Force’s premier combat-ready air-to-air dominance stealth fighter aircraft is showcased by the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. The team performs precision aerial maneuvers at airshows around the world to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the world’s premier 5th generation fighter aircraft. The F-22 cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft.
F-18 Tactical Demonstration
U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122) “Flying Eagles” will perform their tactical demonstration. The squadron is United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The “Tac Demo” team flies the single-seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F as close to the “edge of the envelope” as safety and prudence allow, according to their website.
The world’s fastest motorsport is set to return to the Reno skies for the 58th time September 14-18, 2022. Advanced tickets are currently available for 2021 attendees who would like to renew. Sales to the general public for the 2022 STIHL National Championship Air Races will be available beginning March 14, 2022 and can be purchased online or by calling 912-470-5773 or emailing support@eventsprout.zendesk.com.
Upcoming announcements for ticket sales, performers and more can be found on airrace.org or on the STIHL National Championship Air Races Facebook page.
-###-
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races
The STIHL National Championship Air Races are held every September just north of Reno by the Reno Air Racing Association, a 501(c)(3). The event has become an institution for Northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world with seven racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civilian flight demonstrations. Independent economic impact studies show that the event generates as much as $100 million annually for the local economy. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
by admin | Mar 3, 2022 | Media
RENO, Nev. (March 3, 2022) – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has announced an all-new Flight Operations Team. The organization welcomes Owen Ashurst as Air Boss, Bill Beaton as Mini Boss and Tim Fitzgerald as Tower Chief. The Flight Operations team oversees all aspects of flight at the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
In October of 2021 former Director of Flight Operations, Tony “Bear” Grady, submitted his resignation to pursue 2022 political interests and the RARA Board quickly went to work mobilizing a Selection Committee which consisted of Board members Sue Gardner, Terry Matter and Todd Donahue.
“It was no small task taking over as Director of Flight Operations, particularly following the cancellation of our 2020 event and other challenges due to COVID, but he did so with determination and a steady hand to help us conduct a very successful event in 2021. We thank Bear for his service and wish him great success in this new chapter of his life,” said Tony Logoteta, RARA COO. “The Selection Committee conducted an extensive interview and evaluation process with potential candidates and we feel they’ve assembled a fantastic team.”
In conjunction with the search, Committee members also assessed and updated the Flight Operations Team structure. The new organizational structure has a clearer naming convention, chain of command and a strategic back-up/succession plan.
“The selection committee interviewed several terrific candidates, and we believe we’ve found a team that is highly qualified with an extensive background and familiarity with the Reno Air Racing Association,” said Sue Gardner, RARA Board Member.
Former Performer Boss, Owen Ashurst, is a longtime RARA volunteer. As Air Boss he will be responsible for all aviation related operations including racing and airshow.
With a love for aviation that was instilled in him from a very young age Ashurst spent three years in the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea and returned to pursue a degree in Air Traffic Control. While he spent thirty years in the corporate legal world, aviation was never far from his mind, he joined the Reno Air Races in 2003 as Pylon Judge. He quickly rose to Captain of Home Pylon and then Deputy Chief Pylon Judge. At the same time Ashurst also formed his own Air Boss company conducting airshows around the western U.S. It was with that experience that he was promoted to Performer Boss at Reno. He brings more than 20 years of experience to the STIHL National Championship Air Races and more than 10 years as an FAA recognized Air Boss.
“I’m honored and humbled to have been selected as Air Boss for Reno,” said Ashurst. “The team that is assembled around me is incredible and I’m excited about the future of the Reno Air Races.”
Bill Beaton, a self-described “serial volunteer” will serve as Mini Boss. Beaton is a passionate aviator who has been working with the Reno Air Racing Association since 2013, in addition to volunteering with the Calgary Flying Club, the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association.
At the STIHL National Championship Air Races he raced in the Sport Class, served as Sport Class Officer, Class Flight Scheduler, Formation Flight Lead, Assistant Air Boss, Venue Developer and Contest Committee Member. A professional accountant and certified management consultant by trade, Beaton brings more than 25 years of general aviation experience to his new role having held leadership positions with regulatory responsibility for air charter operations, aircraft maintenance and as CEO of Canada’s legacy flight training units.
“I’m excited to be joining the new Flight Operations Team and help safely manage this complex aviation event for the world to see,” said Beaton.
Forty-year air traffic control veteran, Tim Fitzgerald, joins the Flight Operations Team as Tower Chief. Fitzgerald began his path in aviation at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University but was led to air traffic control by a friend. He has since held numerous positions within the FAA working VFR Towers, a combined tower and radar facility as well as with military aircraft (A-10s) that were locally based, student pilots, and air carriers. In addition, he has worked radar approach and departure control. He spent much of his career at Chicago O’Hare Tower, the busiest tower in the FAA system. He worked his way through several positions including Controller, Supervisor, Plans and Procedures Specialist, Training Manager and Operations Manager.
Since his retirement in 2019 he has remained active in the aviation field serving as Air Boss at countless air shows. He continues to work temporary towers throughout the country including the Masters Golf Tournament, Tampa Super Bowl, AOPA conventions and the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
“The new Flight Operations Team brings more than fifty years of experience to Reno and almost a century of aviation-related experience in air traffic management, Air Boss expertise and aviation operations to the STIHL National Championship Air Races,” said Fred Telling, CEO and Chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association.
The 58th STIHL National Championship Air Races will return to Northern Nevada Sept. 14-18, 2022. More information about volunteering, donating, attending, scholarship information and more can be found at www.airrace.org.
-###-
About the STIHL National Championship Air Races
The STIHL National Championship Air Races are held every September just north of Reno by the Reno Air Racing Association, a 501(c)(3). The event has become an institution for Northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world with seven racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civilian flight demonstrations. Independent economic impact studies show that the event generates as much as $100 million annually for the local economy. For more information on the STIHL National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
