RENO, Nev. (Sept. 14, 2019) — The STIHL National Championship Air Races continued on Saturday with exhilarating racing, incredible demonstrations, heart-thumping performances and heart-warming remembrances. Today was Herb Kelleher day and the legendary founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines was recognized for changing the course of aviation history by bringing affordable, friendly service to the airways.
Sue Gardner was also recognized as the 2019 Chairman’s Award recipient. Her tireless work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and continuous advocacy for safe aviation events throughout the United States made her a clear choice for this year’s award.
All six classes of aircraft took the course in various heats throughout the day, along with performances from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Jeff Pietz Aerobatics, HondaJet Flight Demo, STOL Drag Racing Demonstrations, the FA-18 Legacy Flight and the STIHL Lumberjack Show. The GRADD-NVBAA STEM Education Zone hosted hundreds of youth and attendees with education around aviation and technology, including 3D printing, drones and robotics. Fans explored the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI) outdoor exhibit of historical military aircraft and roamed the pits to take a closer look at the aircraft on display.
Saturday’s Race Results:
Unlimited Class Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.Unlimited.html
Jet Class Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.Jet.html
Sport Class Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.Sport.html
T6 Class Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.T6.html
Formula One Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.FormulaOne.html
Biplane Class Results: http://reports.airrace.org/2019/2019.Biplane.html
On Sunday, Sept. 15 all six classes of aircraft will participate in the final Gold Races.
The 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races is currently underway just 20 minutes north of downtown Reno. Attendees can witness the fastest motorsport in the world as six racing classes go head-to-head plus demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, static military displays and more. Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit 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 six 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 $91.7 million annually for the local economy. The event is now part of the Grunt Style Air Show Majors, a six-stop tour uniting the most prestigious air shows in the country. For more information on the 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer, be a vendor or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit AirRace.org.