STIHL National Championship Air Races Tickets on Sale Now

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 [email protected].

Look for more announcements about ticket sales, performers and more on AirRace.org or on the STIHL National Championship Air Races Facebook page.

Military Performers Announced for STIHL National Championship Air Races

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 58^th 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 [email protected].

Upcoming announcements for ticket sales, performers and more can be found on airrace.org or on the STIHL National Championship Air Races Facebook page.

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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.

Reno Air Racing Association Welcomes New Flight Operations Team

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 58^th 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 STIHL National Championship Air Races, visit AirRace.org.