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Air Race News

National Championship Air Races to be site of unmanned aerial challenge

Reno, Nev. – With help from partner Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide, the STIHL National Championship Air Races will be home to the first-ever Small UAS Challenge during this September’s 51st event. The challenge, which is free to enter and takes place Sept. 12 – 14, will test a number of skills and demonstrate a variety of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The Small UAS Challenge is just the latest in a number of new and returning entertainment that is planned for this year’s Reno Air Races, which take place Sept. 10 – 14, joining previously announced acts like Melissa…

Air Race News

High-tech F-22 Raptor and top female aerobatic pilot headline 2014 National Championship Air Races entertainment lineup

On the heels of a record-setting Pylon Racing Seminar, the STIHL National Championship Air Races have released its full entertainment lineup for the 51st event to be held Sept. 10-14 at the Reno Stead Airfield. In addition to an expected full field of elite race pilots in the world’s fastest motorsport, military demonstration teams and several of the world’s top aviation performers will ‘race on’ to awe hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts and curious spectators. This year, in addition to the already announced F-22 Raptor, L-39 Patriot Jet Team and top female aerobat Melissa Pemberton, will be Breitling stunt…

Air Race News

Record Number of Planes Expected for Air Races Rookie School in June

RENO, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association announced this week that a record number of pilots and planes will take to the famed Reno Air Race course for the first time in 2014 during the 17th annual National Championship Air Races Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS), June 11-14. PRS, or ‘Rookie School,’ is the only chance for rookie pilots to qualify for the September race and offers an opportunity for all race pilots to test their aircraft and practice their racing skills. This year’s PRS, which is not open to the public, features more than 70 airplanes and 90 participants,…

Air Race News

Wildly-popular Patriots Jet Team returns to the STIHL National Championship Air Races this September

After a thrilling and captivating performance at the 50th National Championship Air Races in 2013, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced the L-39 Patriots Jet Team is the latest of a number of highly-acclaimed acts to take to northern Nevada’s star-studded skies at the 2014 event. The Patriots Jet Team joins the awe-inspiring F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and groundbreaking aerobatic pilot Melissa Pemberton as the aviation entertainment headliners for this year’s revamped event, which will include concerts and a more festival-like atmosphere. “The Patriots Jet Team represents the skill, courage and precision that are associated with the top military…

Air Race News

Youngest-ever female member of U.S. Aerobatic Team to make her Reno debut in 2014

One of the world’s top female pilots will be gracing the northern Nevada skies for the first time as this year’s National Championship Air Races ‘race on’ Sept. 10-14. Melissa Pemberton, a world-renowned aerobat and the youngest-ever female member of the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team, will bring her Edge540 Aircraft and her exhilarating stunt routine to the Reno-Stead Airfield this September. Pemberton joins the F-22 Raptor Demonstration team as performers that have been announced for the event’s 51st year. “The STIHL National Championship Air Races has a 50-year legacy of attracting the very top racers and entertainers from all…

Air Race News

F-22 Raptor to make return appearance at 51st National Championship Air Races

A sign of its steadfast commitment to bringing the very best aviators, performers and demonstration teams to the historic National Championship Air Races, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced the awesome and ultra-high-tech F-22 Raptor as one of the event headliners in 2014. Just a year after having its performance cancelled for the historic 50th event due to the federal government sequestration, the wildly popular F-22 Raptor will be making just its third Reno Air Race appearance when it performs Sept. 10 – 14 at the Reno-Stead Airfield. “Truly, the F-22 Raptor is one of the most impressive fighter…

Air Race News

An open letter to our fans, our volunteers, our pilots and our community

To our fans, our pilots, our volunteers and our community, After such an amazing 50th event this past September, we couldn’t be more excited to look ahead towards the next 50 years of the STIHL National Championship Air Races. Last year was an overwhelming and poignant success with fans from all over the world joining us to revel in this historic aviation celebration. As the last air racing event of its kind, the Reno Air Racing Association is committed to preserving and growing this great event and developing the next generation of Air Race fans. Undoubtedly, the last few years…