Air Race Classic 2023 registration open

This year’s event takes place June 20 through June 23. The starting point is Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the terminus is Homestead, Florida.

The Air Race Classic is a women's cross-country race that takes place in daylight VFR conditions. It traces its roots to the 1929 National Women’s Air Derby, flown by Amelia Earhart, Florence “Pancho” Barnes, Louise Thaden, and others, from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio.

The University of North Dakota is hosting the start of the course, with stops in Mankato, Minnesota; Ottumwa, Iowa; Kearney, Nebraska; Ponca City, Oklahoma; Sulphur Springs, Texas; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Pell City, Alabama; and Cross City, Florida, before reaching the terminus at Homestead. Each airplane receives a unique handicap, so teams of up to three pilots are racing against their own best time. This allows slower airplanes to compete equally with faster aircraft. Teams use weather, winds, and other strategies to beat their handicap by the greatest margin.

The Air Race Classic accepts up to 60 teams of pilots. The deadline to register is March 31. For more information or to register, see the website.