Registration is open for the 44 Air Race Classic (ARC), the annual all-women cross-country airplane race. More than 100 women pilots are expected to compete in this year's ARC, which begins Tuesday, June 23 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and ends June 26 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The oldest race of its kind in the United States, the ARC traces its roots to the 1929 Women's Air Derby, in which Amelia Earhart and 19 other daring female pilots raced from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. That contest, aka the Powder Puff Derby, marked the beginning of women's airplane racing in the United States. Today, the ARC is the epicenter of women's air racing, the ultimate test of piloting skill and aviation decision-making for female pilots of all ages and from all walks of life.
“Preparations are in full swing for our 44th race,” said Air Race Classic President Lara Gaerte. “The ARC Board of Directors and volunteers look forward to welcoming back familiar racers and meeting new competitors at this year’s Start.”
This year’s course will cover 2,646 miles, from the northern plains, where the University of North Dakota is hosting the ARC Start, southwest toward the Bighorn and Rocky mountains; then southeast across the Great Plains, north into Illinois, southeast into Tennessee and finally back northwest to Terre Haute, in the heart of the Midwest's Wabash Valley.
Up to 60 teams of two or three pilots will have four days to complete the course, flying normally aspirated, piston-powered airplanes in visual flight conditions during daylight hours. Pilots and copilots must have at least 100 hours as pilot-in-command in order to qualify for the race; one of them must have at least 500 hours as pilot-in-command or a current instrument rating. If they wish, the pilot and copilot may bring along a teammate, who must hold at least a student pilot certificate.
The race will begin at 8 a.m. June 23 at Grand Forks International Airport, with teams departing the runway one after another, 30 seconds apart. From there, the field will spread out as faster planes move to the head of the pack. At each stop, teams will execute high-speed flybys over a timing line as they race against the clock. Faster planes may cover the course in only two days; slower teams may not arrive at the Terminus, Terre Haute Regional Airport, until moments before the arrival deadline at 5 p.m. June 26.
Because each plane receives a unique handicap, teams are racing against their own best time. This creates a level playing field, so slower planes can compete against faster aircraft on an equal basis. Teams strategize to play the elements, holding out for better weather or seeking more favorable winds, to beat their handicap by the greatest margin. Official standings aren't determined until after the last team has crossed the finish line — the last arrival at the Terminus may, in fact, be the winner.
