by Jordan Hanhilammi | Jan 23, 2025 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Earlier today we learned that one of our amazing scholarship recipients, Zeus Wesley, is now a private pilot!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation has to say about Zeus!
“Today, the skies bowed once again to the thunderous talent of Zeus Wesley, who has officially earned his private pilot license! Like the Greek god Zeus, known for commanding the heavens, Zeus Wesley has proven himself a master of the skies. His journey to this milestone has been nothing short of legendary, marked by determination, hard work, and of course the incredible support of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship. Balancing school, flight training, and personal life is no small feat, but Zeus tackled each challenge with the grace of a true Olympian. From mastering the written exam to skillfully flying the airplane, he has shown unwavering dedication to his craft. With every flight, Zeus has harnessed the power of the winds, earning his place among the aviation elite. A thunderous congratulations goes out to Zeus and his flight instructor, Shane Smith, whose expert guidance has been instrumental in shaping this exceptional pilot. As Zeus soars into this new chapter, the horizon holds endless possibilities for him. Let’s give a sky-high round of applause to this incredible achievement—Zeus Wesley, pilot of the heavens, is officially ready to rule the skies!”
Congratulations Zeus on this awesome accomplishment!
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Dec 6, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We are excited to share that one of our 2024 scholarship winners, Maks Barger recently earned his Private Pilot License!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation shared with us about Maks.
“Batter up! Maks Barger has stepped onto the field and knocked his checkride out of the park by earning his Private Pilot License! This aviation all-star has been putting in the work to climb the ranks. With the Reno Air Race Association scholarship backing him, Maks brought his A-game to every lesson, demonstrating focus and determination worthy of a true pro. Whether it was mastering steep turns or drilling in his ground knowledge, Maks approached each challenge like a seasoned player, making it clear he was destined for the majors of aviation. When Maks isn’t acing his flight training, you can find him playing baseball (could you tell?), grinding out his schoolwork, or enjoying a good burger. With all this said, no champion achieves greatness alone. Let’s give a huge shoutout to Maks’s instructor, Ryan Mill, for being the ultimate coach, guiding him through every inning of his training and ensuring he was ready to crush his checkride. Maks, you’ve proven that when you step up to the plate, it’s a guaranteed home run. Congratulations on this incredible achievement—you’ve earned it! Now, take a victory lap at pattern altitude, because the skies are your new ballpark.”
Congratulations, Maks!
by admin | Nov 29, 2024 | Air Race News, Media
In search of special gifts for the special people in your life? We got you!
Hoping to save some money on those special gifts as well? WE GOT YOU!
Our Merch Store is open and ready for you to shop an assortment of clothing, posters, pins and more! And that’s not all…
For a limited time, we are offering 40% OFF the entire collection! So take a look at all we have available, get the coupon code, and secure some incredible gifts for the holiday season at an amazing price!
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Nov 27, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Support is the backbone of everything we do.
Our fans and volunteers support us.
We support our community.
The racing teams support each other.
Our history supports our future.
While we are in the midst of an incredibly large-scale transition to a new location, the people at the helm are still the same caring and tireless team dedicated to making tomorrow a better day for our Air Racing community and the aviation world as a whole.
With that said, the goal for a better tomorrow does require financial resources to make it work. And because of that, we hope that this coming Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), you will consider giving to our organization.
You can rest assured that your hard-earned dollars will go directly to causes you can be proud of. Areas for donation include:
General Fund (our current area of greatest need)
STEM Education Programs
Flight Training Scholarships
Military families attending the Air Races
Thank you for your consideration in giving and in sharing our message. We are grateful every day to be cheered on by the greatest fans in the world. Please know that we don’t take your support for granted. It’s an essential part of building a better tomorrow.
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Nov 21, 2024 | Air Race News, Media
Roswell, N.M. – The National Championship Air Races (NCAR) has announced that Jon Hitchcock has joined its board of directors ahead of the inaugural event in Roswell, NM next year. A pillar of the Roswell community, Hitchcock’s appointment to the board will be integral as NCAR continues to expand its presence and establish itself in New Mexico. Hitchcock will be the first member from New Mexico to join the board and will help guide the organization’s vision for the 2025 air races in its new home of Roswell.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jon to the board as our first member from New Mexico as we continue to prepare for the first National Championship Air Races in Roswell in 2025,” said Fred Telling, chairman and chief executive officer for the National Championship Air Races. “We knew that we would need someone heavily involved and committed to the community for a successful transition to Roswell and that’s Jon. His knowledge of the area, its businesses and communities will be invaluable as we establish the air races in our wonderful new home.”
Hitchcock began his aviation journey in 1982, first earning his private pilot license followed by his instrument rating and went on to become Lieutenant Colonel of New Mexico’s Civil Air Patrol. As a certified public accountant, Hitchcock pursued a career in banking and finance and retired as the chief executive officer of New Mexico’s Pioneer Bank in 2017 where he continues to sit as chairman of the board. Hitchcock’s community involvement ranges from president of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra Foundation to overseeing the investments committee of the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Foundation. He is also a member of Roswell’s Rotary Club and New Mexico Amigos.
“I’m deeply honored to join the board and help make the inaugural National Championship Air Races in Roswell a success for the organization, its attendees and our community,” said Jon Hitchcock. “This is an exciting, new opportunity for Roswell, and we will make sure all involved are proud to be a part of such a historic event as the next chapter of air racing begins in New Mexico.”
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Oct 24, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Last Thursday one of our scholarship recipients, John Hamilton soloed!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation has to say about John below!
“John Hamilton has officially dominated the skies has he soloed at KRNO on rwy 17L in N752DW! This recipient of the prestigious Reno Air Race Association scholarship has been skillfully balancing school and flight training, and today, all his hard work paid off. His first solo was nothing short of spectacular, and we couldn’t be more excited for him. John’s love for aviation shines through every flight, and his dedication to improving is inspiring. With school on one hand and flight training on the other, he’s been navigating both like a pro, proving he’s got what it takes to soar to new heights. A huge thank you goes out to his instructor, Eric Harned, for guiding John on this incredible journey. It’s no small task to help someone spread their wings, but Eric’s support and teaching have truly made a difference. John, you’ve proven today that you’re ready to take on the skies solo, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. Congratulations! Private pilot is just on the horizon!”
Congratulations, John!
