Five Classes Promise Excitement And Thrills For Inaugural Roswell Event!

The National Championship Air Races have revealed the official lineup of competitors for the 2025 debut event to take place in Roswell, New Mexico, on September 10-14.

Fred Telling, Chairman and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association, producers of NCAR said, “Unveiling our race field is one of the most exciting moments leading up to race week. This lineup showcases the incredible dedication, passion, and spirit of our race teams and we can’t wait to welcome fans from around the world to Roswell to witness history in the making.”

This year’s inaugural air race will be exciting with the lineup of the following classes:

• Jet Class
• T-6 Class
• Biplane Class
• STOL Class
• Formula 1 Class – a new addition and its first-time appearance at the event

The new Formula 1 Class will bring exciting aerial competition to Roswell as the namesake of one of the world’s fastest auto motorsports. And even though the Unlimited and Sport Classes have opted out for this year, they are committed to returning for next year’s competition.

The Formula 1 Class features many or mostly home-built aircraft that are all powered by the Continental O-200 engine – the same 100 hp engine in the Cessna 150. Many of the aircraft will exceed 250 mph. It offers a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of air racing and is thought of as a gateway into the sport by many of the competitors.

The Jet Class will be the fastest aircraft in the event and promoters label it the “fastest motor sport” with aircraft speeds exceeding 500 mph. Formerly limited to the Aerovodochody L-39 Albatros, the field has been opened to other types like the Provost, Iskra, L-29, and DeHavilland Vampire.

The T-6 Class features the well-known T-6 Texan, Canadian Harvard, and the Navy SNJ versions. The top racing speeds are in the 220-230 mph range and the style of this class places more emphasis on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower.

The STOL Drag Class is purely about who gets to the finish line and stops first. The racers fly on a designated track about 2,000 feet in each direction, then land on or after a chalk line. Precision and timing are the critical elements and aircraft must make a complete stop between successive runs or be disqualified.

The Biplane Class features small aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, Smith Miniplane, and Mong. Pilots get the opportunity to display their skills on a 3.18-mile course at speeds above 200 mph.

FMI:  airrace.org/