by Jordan Hanhilammi | Aug 23, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We are excited to report that on Friday, we learned another 2024 Scholarship Squadron recipient became a private pilot! Congratulations to Kiera Grange on this amazing accomplishment!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Kiera.
“She’s beauty, she’s grace, but more importantly, she’s aced her private pilot checkride today! That’s right everyone, the scholarship queen, blondie supreme, and fabulous Kiera Grange is a certified private pilot (oh god help us)! While Kiera Grange seems gentle on the exterior, this woman is secretly a beast (but like in the good way).
From being a recipient of many scholarships including the highly esteemed Reno Air Race Association scholarship, working… I don’t know how many jobs anymore, keeping active by casually racing triathlons…, and flying to her hearts content, Kiera Grange is one miracle of a human. You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Hey, I’ve seen that other fella in the picture before.’ Kiera, being the busy body she is, had to run swiftly off to work this morning and opted for a picture with local DPE extraordinaire, Dave Tranquilla. Look at those smiles! Turns out examiners don’t have fangs like we thought (Just kidding).
Let’s give the illustrious Kiera Grange a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment! And we can’t forget Kiera’s lifeline and flight instructor, Nathan Morin, for guiding her along the way towards success! Great work you two! Keep up the amazing work!”
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Aug 13, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Did you hear the news??
Another one of our fantastic scholarship winners soloed yesterday! Congratulations to Avery Redmon!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Avery below!
“If there’s a student who faces challenges head on, perseveres regardless of the stakes, and has a knack for turning obstacles into opportunities, it’s none other than the wonderful, Avery Redmon. From being an honored recipient of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship, proudly serving in the Army National Guard, working diligently at school, and juggling the commitments of flight training, Avery has been working hard, and today that grit and determination has finally paid off. That’s right everyone, Avery Redmon took to the skies early this morning and soloed N670CS at KSPZ on runway 24! As if Avery wasn’t cool enough, she’s officially added another impressive accomplishment to her already astounding list of achievements. When Avery isn’t impressing us left and right, you can find her exploring the outdoors, spending time with her lovely friends and family, and showing off her skills as a competitive shooter. Let’s give Avery a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment. We’re so proud to see how far she’s come in her training, but in all honesty, it’s hardly surprising… she’s pretty awesome. Also, huge congratulations to Avery’s flight instructor, Alex Spencer, who has guided Avery every step of the way to this incredible goal. Awesome job you two! No time to relax just yet, that checkride is on the horizon!”
by Jordan Hanhilammi | Aug 2, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
We have an update about 2024 scholarship winner Tristan Bautista! Yesterday, he officially earned his private pilot license!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Tristan below.
“Despite the smoky skies attempting to cloud his success, Tristan Bautista’s determination shone through like a beacon today as he successfully earned his private pilot license! This incredible aviator is quite the go-getter. From studying hard at UNR and working towards a degree in engineering, serving his country proudly in the Nevada Air National Guard, and being an esteemed recipient of the incredible Reno Air Race Association scholarship, Tristan is hardly a stranger to setting a goal and getting the job done! And what better skill to add onto this already remarkable list than private pilot! As you may remember, Tristan is striving to be a *highwayyy to the danger zone*… military pilot, and from what we’ve seen today, it’ll be no surprise when he eventually gets that coveted pilot slot. Tristan, you’ve endured the winter months, juggled check ride dates, and beat the smoke. We’re so incredibly proud of you and we can’t wait to see you take the aviation world by storm. Let’s give Tristan, and his Top Gun (he wishes) flight instructor, Alex Spencer, a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment. Here’s to clear skies and smooth flights ahead for both of you!”
Congrats Tristan! We can’t wait to see you continue to soar!
by admin | Jul 2, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is thrilled to announce the 2024 recipient class for its Flight Training Scholarship (FTS) program. The 13 recipients are from Reno and the surrounding area and will be awarded up to $10,000 towards earning flight training certificates. Now in its 3rd year, the program is flourishing and has emerged as a key element in supporting RARA’s vision to “Establish the Reno Air Racing Association as the pinnacle of inspiration, education and exhilaration for people of all ages”. RARA’s commitment to support local youth and ignite a passion for aviation has grown substantially since 2015 when it introduced its STEM Discovery Zone at the National Championship Air Races, and now with the expanding FTS program. To learn more about the Flight Training Scholarship program, events and more, visit www.airrace.org.
“Our organization’s mission has always been to deliver amazing, entertaining events that honor our military and support STEM and aviation education in our community,” said Fred Telling, RARA CEO. “These scholarships make good on the promise to foster the love of aviation and build its workforce through the outstanding talented recipients we have selected. We’re thankful for the generous contributions of the Ray Foundation, the Si Robin Foundation, the Ellsworth Hovey Getchel Foundation and many other donors that are helping turn dreams of flight into reality.”
To be considered for a scholarship, recipients had to be between the ages of 16 and 20, maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, have successfully completed the FAA Private Pilot written exam, and be a resident of Reno or its surrounding areas. Each recipient will be awarded up to $10,000 to help them complete their training. This year’s winners include:
- Gavin Ashby (Chris Rushing Memorial Scholarship)
- Kiera Grange (Si Robin Scholarship)
- Avery Redmon (Getchel Scholarship)
- Maksymillian Barger
- Tristan Bautista
- Antonio Berto
- Alex Florez
- Jared Garrido
- Evan Grey
- John Hamilton
- Benjamin Weaver
- Zachary Wells
- Zeus Wesley
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received that has allowed us to award and now even expand our offering of these scholarships,” said Greg Gibson, Reno Air Racing Association scholarship coordinator. “It’s especially meaningful that the Si Robin Foundation would name one of their scholarships in honor of our dear friend and NCAR champion, Chris Rushing. All our recipients have a bright future ahead of them and we are honored to be a part of supporting their journey in aviation.”
Gibson noted that scholarships named in honor are new this year and are welcome additions that further the depth and meaning of the program.
Since the initial launch of the scholarship program in 2022, the program has continued to grow. Over $300,000 in funding has been awarded to help students complete the necessary training to obtain their private pilot’s license. While the air races prepare for a move to New Mexico in 2025, RARA plans to continue the scholarship program, uninterrupted, and is actively procuring funding for its next round of recipients in 2025. For those interested in donating, naming a scholarship, or learning more about RARA’s education efforts, visit the Flight Training Scholarship page here, or contact Greg Gibson at [email protected].
by admin | May 23, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) proudly announces that Roswell, NM will be the new home of the world-renowned National Championship Air Races (NCAR). Following a lengthy selection process by RARA, and after demonstrating its commitment to carry forward this one-of-a-kind event, Roswell has been chosen to host the return of the air races in 2025. The event will continue to feature seven classes of racing, static displays, military demonstrations and more, welcoming fans back to the stands as the world’s fastest motorsport takes to the skies once again.
“We’re thrilled to bring our honored tradition of racing to Roswell and are confident that they have both the enthusiasm and resources to expand the future of our races for many generations to come,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the Reno Air Racing Association. “While Roswell was chosen, we are truly grateful for the overwhelming support, dedication and enthusiasm shown by all the communities who submitted their bids to host our event. It was incredibly difficult to select a final location as each venue had their own unique strengths and challenges. At the end of the day, we are thankful and deeply appreciative of the teams in Pueblo and Casper who invested their time and efforts in the process.”
This decision marks a significant milestone in the event’s history, as Roswell provides an opportunity to bring national championship air racing to a new part of the country while starting the next chapter for the organization. As the new home of NCAR, Roswell provides air race participants and enthusiasts an opportunity to see the event in a new light with a newly designed course and opportunities for new attractions, specific to the location. Additionally, Roswell’s airfield will set the stage for the next generation of highfliers to compete in an innovative and exciting environment.
“To know that Roswell will be the future home of the National Championship Air Races is a privilege and honor,” said Mike Espiritu, president and CEO for the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation. “The event landing in Roswell is a testament to the collaboration and support of the region who have worked for the past year to make this dream a reality. We are confident that we can help the event grow and expand for many years to come.”
In April of 2023, RARA initiated an official request for proposals, receiving an impressive 38 inquiries from prospective locations across the country. Following this, eleven cities participated in bidders’ conferences, with six submitting comprehensive proposals. After a series of site visits conducted at each location by RARA, factors such as the ability of venues to host large crowds, handle hundreds of aircraft and support the large racecourse needed for the event were taken into consideration. With these and many other factors in mind – Casper, Pueblo and Roswell were chosen as the top three finalists.
The National Championship Air Races will take place at the Roswell Air Center (ROW), a former military base for the Army and Air Force. Today, ROW is one of the largest centers for the commercial aviation industries of the Southwest. In addition to attending the air races, attendees can also enjoy a day at the Mescalero Sand Dunes, visit the Walker Aviation Museum, head to the Spring River Zoo or Carlsbad Caverns and much more. Roswell’s annual UFO Festival is held every summer where attendees from all over can experience something truly out of this world.
While preparations continue for the 2024 Reno Air Show and the 60th anniversary celebration in October, the organization is looking forward to planning the return of the National Championship Air Races in their new home in Roswell in September 2025.
by admin | May 14, 2024 | Air Race News, Media, Scholarships
Since the Demo Team schedules were announced in December, we have been hyping up how excited we are that the US Navy Blue Angels AND the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are both
coming to town.
What we have not properly hyped is just how special that is. Not only is it rare to have two premier jet teams flying at the same show, but the 2024 Reno Air Show will be the only show in North America this year with both the Blue Angels and the Snowbirds!
That’s right, this is a truly unique air show experience, throughout the country and beyond. And with the USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team in the mix, this is shaping up to be a historical event, worthy of our 60th Celebration in Reno.
So don’t miss your chance to experience all of this excitement, October 4-6 at Reno Stead Airport!
