Over 200 Women Pilots To Compete In International Cross-Country Airplane Race

The oldest race of its kind in the United States, the Air Race Classic (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.

The Air Race Classic, Inc. is announcing that it will run the first ARC Air Derby in its history in lieu of its traditional all-women, amateur, cross-country air race. Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and concern for the health of all involved, the ARC has modified its annual race into a one-day Derby format retaining many of the ARC traditions including its mission of education. The ARC Air Derby will be a flying proficiency event that will highlight ARC basics: all women participation, VFR flight with multiple legs, leg timing and awards. Participants will have their choice of the route, aircraft, team composition, and the day to fly within a range of two weeks.

The ARC Air Derby will provide an opportunity for women pilots around the world to challenge their piloting, flight planning and navigation skills and share their love of flying with other women pilots in a fun event that avoids large gatherings and supports recommended health safety protocols.

The ARC Air Derby is a VFR flight flown during daylight hours on a single day between June 12 and 26. The objectives are for each Team to design a route that conforms to the ARC Air Derby Rules, estimate the time it will take them to fly that route, and then fly it as close to their estimated time as possible. The ARC Air Derby will conclude with a virtual Awards Banquet where prizes will be awarded for the closest time estimates for each leg and the entire route. The 2021 ARC Air Derby is open to all light aircraft that can compete within the rules. Routes may be designed and flown in the U.S. as well as other countries. Registration is limited to 99 Teams.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the Teams with the smallest percentage of error between the estimated time and their actual time flown for the overall route and each leg.

Registration for the 2021 ARC Air Derby closed April 30, 2021 with 90 Teams registered from 8 countries and 36 U.S. States, including 17 Teams from 10 colleges or universities. Routes will be flown in 4 countries: U.S., Canada, The Bahamas, and New Zealand.

FMI: www.airraceclassic.org