by admin | Dec 15, 2021 | Media
RENO, Nev. (Dec. 15, 2021) —The Reno Air Racing Association brought home a platinum Pinnacle Award in the Large Civilian Air Show category for its 2021 social media and influencer program. The award was given at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Convention last week in Las Vegas. The platinum level is the highest given in this category at the annual convention.
The 2021 STIHL National Championships returned this year after being sidelined by the pandemic in 2020. New this year the Reno Air Racing Association introduced an influencer marketing program inviting key influencers to experience the Air Races firsthand.
“We’ve long tried to catch the attention of a younger demographic and this new program has really expanded our audience, exposing this unique event to new eyes,” said Fred Telling, Chairman and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association. “It’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts by our peers at ICAS.”
Eighteen social media influencers with a net following of more than five million were invited to the races to help promote to their followers on various platforms. The concept was to bring in a wide variety of personalities and provide them with exciting experiences they could share with their audiences. By coordinating their efforts, the collective output was even more effective because influencers not only shared their own encounters but how they were enjoyed together. This unique use of their talents made the influencer marketing program at the STIHL National Championship Air Races a spectacular success that impressed the ICAS judges.
The organization’s Instagram account received nearly double the followers and impressions increased by nearly 700,000. The influencers posted 261 Instagram stories, 39 posts, five reels, five YouTube videos and 21 TikTok’s to their audiences.
“I can’t thank our team enough for their efforts in introducing this new program,” said Telling. “This year was a great success and we look forward to doing even more in 2022.”
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.
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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 National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
by admin | Dec 1, 2021 | Media, Scholarships
RENO, Nev. (December 1, 2021) – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced today that the application window for its inaugural Flight Training Scholarship (FTS) Program will open Dec. 1, 2021. Supported in part by a grant from the Ray Foundation, Inc., the program will provide up to ten scholarships initially to students aged 16–20.
Fred Telling, CEO of RARA, stated that this is one of several initiatives in progress that are designed to add year-round depth and scope to the excitement and tradition of the annual STIHL National Championship Air Races.
“We want to become more than just a once-per-year racing event. Our Flight Training Scholarships will follow on the success we have seen in our STEM Expositions during Race Week, and we can use that success to engage young people and provide a valuable, substantial education and training resource year-round that can lead to a career in aviation. In the 1970s a person could pay for flight training with just a summer job, but in this day and age the cost can be prohibitive. We hope this scholarship program can help some deserving students overcome that challenge.”
The scholarships will provide funding for a student to achieve their Private Pilot License (PPL). The recipients will be selected by a committee comprised of members from the RARA Board of Directors, and during their year-long journey toward gaining their flight certificates they will have the support and guidance of several volunteer mentors from the RARA organization and the surrounding community.
“Awarding the scholarship is just the first step. We also want to be very present in the student’s progress to help them attain their goal,” said Telling. “Having a mentor available to fill in the blanks when they have questions outside of formal instruction is very helpful in assuring their success.”
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2022. Each application received will be screened for completion, accuracy, and qualification. Qualified applicants will then be interviewed, and the final awards will be announced in April 2022. The scholarship program was officially announced during the STIHL National Championship Air Races opening ceremonies on Sept. 16, 2021.
The scholarship will be awarded in two parts; the first phase will fund the student up through their first solo flight, and the balance will be awarded once the solo and FAA written exam have been successfully completed. The student can then complete the requirements and final FAA check-ride to achieve their private pilot’s license.
Applicant information and documents are available at www.airrace.org.
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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 National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
by admin | Nov 28, 2021 | Media, Scholarships
RENO, Nev. (November 29, 2021) – With a successful 57th STIHL National Championship Air Races now in the books, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is turning its attention to extending its impact and preserving its legacy. COO Tony Logoteta shared that the organization is introducing a wider range of giving opportunities to help the not-for-profit deliver broader service to both aviation and the local community.
“Our return to racing this year got us well down the road to recovery,” he said. “We still have work to do, but we are shifting our focus from survival to sustainability. Adding education and training support to the lineup alongside our legacy donation options provides our supporters a wider variety of choices to consider when making their gifts.”
RARA’s Save the Races donation campaign in 2020 yielded a little over $460,000 to help overcome the ravages of the COVID pandemic. Supporters generously gave to the cause, and Logoteta is humbled by the support received during a difficult year.
“It’s important that those who helped us stay afloat during our time of need know how much we appreciate their efforts. We are committed to preserving the STIHL National Championship Air Races as well as expanding our impact by creating more opportunities for young people to engage and be inspired to pursue a career in aviation.”
Chairman and CEO Fred Telling announced RARA’s new Flight Training Scholarship during Race Week in September. “The last part of our mission statement is ‘we’re committed to delivering a safe, entertaining, and exhilarating experience for fans while also honoring our military, inspiring our youth, and strengthening our community, economy, and culture,’” he quoted. “By adding these scholarships, we’re creating another level of engagement to go beyond just inspiration and actually help young people realize their dreams.”
The application window for the flight scholarship program will open on December 1.
With Giving Tuesday kicking off year-end donations on November 30, RARA is encouraging people to consider making their year-end contributions to one of several options. Donors can contribute to: the area of greatest need, flight scholarships, STEM education, sending military members to the races, and the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, whose mission is to ensure aviation history is kept alive by encouraging the restoration and preservation of vintage aircraft to flying condition.
Telling is grateful for past donors and is optimistic about broadening RARA’s base. “We have been very successful with donations from many, many generous people over the years. By expanding our service scope and offering several alternatives, we hope even more people will find something in our selections that aligns with their desire to give.”
Donations can be made at www.airrace.org/donate.
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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 | Nov 23, 2021 | Media, Scholarships
RENO, Nev. (November 23, 2021) – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced today that initial reporting indicates a successful return of the STIHL National Championship Air Races in 2021 after being forced to shutter in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Board Chairman and CEO Fred Telling is optimistic about the results of the storied contest. “I am pleased to report that we had a successful 57th STIHL National Championship Air Races,” he said in a recent statement. “From the standpoint of safety, we had no incidents or accidents, and from the financial side we were able to cover our expenses and start to move beyond the ravages of the pandemic. Our outlook is positive, and we have identified a number of opportunities to improve our operations and help us generate revenue to build for 2022 and beyond.”
Telling reported that the organization is launching several initiatives in a campaign called Racing for the Future.
Building on one of the major elements that led to the success of its 2020 Save the Races donation campaign, Telling announced that first component of Racing for the Future will be RARA’s Flight Training Scholarship program. Assisted by a matching grant from the Ray Foundation, RARA has set aside funds that will support training for up to 10 students to complete their private pilot’s license.
“We are continuing our commitment to increase the value of the STIHL National Championship Air Races by utilizing its history and influence to jump-start aviation careers for young people,” he said. “We are building on the success of our STEM Education program to provide education and training support in aviation. In doing so, we hope to extend our connection to our community beyond our annual week of air racing in September.”
In another element of the Racing for the Future campaign, RARA will be releasing not only short recaps of its livestream content, but also introducing Reno Air Race Rewind, a series of online videos that recap the 2021 STIHL National Championship Air Races with added behind the scenes footage and interviews not seen on the livestream during the races. Each of the seven race classes will have three to five videos that show exciting footage from the races coupled with the new footage added to take fans behind the scenes with the aircraft and race teams.
Racing for the Future will also incorporate revised sponsorships that include year-round visibility and marketing opportunities for companies wishing to support RARA while gaining valuable visibility and brand presence from these new initiatives. Across all initiatives, social media and more real-time, direct communication with fans will play a major role in keeping the momentum up and content fresh.
Following the successful Save the Races donation campaign in 2020, RARA is shifting focus to preserving the future of the iconic event, encouraging expanded philanthropy by giving donors several new options. Telling hopes that by adding education and training support, people will find a donation selection that is consistent with their sense of what is important.
By adding education programs and creating year-round focus on the Air Races, Telling feels that RARA will be able to create a more diverse and engaged fan base, and when September finally arrives, many new faces will come to Reno to see it in person.
“We’re evolving by creating content that celebrates our history while engaging a broader audience year-round,” he said. “We’ll increase our relevance, which will help secure our future.”
The 58th STIHL National Championship Air Races are scheduled for September 14-18, 2022.
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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 | Nov 22, 2021 | Media
RENO, Nev. (November 22, 2021) – After more than 18 months of working closely with the teams at Microsoft and Asobo, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) celebrates the release of the Microsoft Flight Simulator: Reno Air Races expansion.
“We are thrilled that Reno Air Races is the first large expansion of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Microsoft’s commitment to realism and accuracy is quite impressive, and it shows in the final product,” said Tony Logoteta, COO of the Reno Air Racing Association. “We’re so thankful for the pilots and owners who contributed to make this possible. This partnership brings amazing benefits in the form of marketing and exposure to our organization, event partners and the Reno-Tahoe market.”
For more than a year and a half, Microsoft and RARA worked with race teams and aircraft owners who volunteered their time to help with the project.
“It’s been a great honor to work with all of these amazing pilots, to listen to their captivating stories, to have access to dozens of the world’s most famous racing aircraft and to bring the thrill and excitement of the fastest motorsport on earth to our simulation platform and to millions of flight simmers worldwide.” – Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
“It is incredible how accurately Microsoft Flight Simulator depicts the excitement of the real world Air Races and we are excited to reach a completely new audience and inspire millions of young people to explore the field of aviation and maybe one day race here in Reno,” said Logoteta.
The STIHL National Championship Air Races, aka Reno Air Races, is held annually every September just north of Reno. 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.
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 airrace.org.
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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 National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.
