History of Air Racing
The first event in air racing history was held in 1909. The race from France to England lasted a week and the most important plane makers and pilots of the era were participants. In the 1920’s, the United States instituted the National Air Races and the Women's Air Derby. The Cleveland Air Races were one of the most important events of the National Air Races and outlived the circuit by ten years, being held until 1949. In 1947, an All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race dubbed the "Powder Puff Derby" was established. It ran successfully until 1977.
Reno Air Races
In 1964 a Nevada rancher, pilot, and hydroplane-racing enthusiast organized the first Reno Air Races at a small dirt strip called Sky Ranch, located between Sparks, NV, and Pyramid Lake. The so-called National Championship Air Races soon moved to Reno Stead Airport and have been held there every September since 1966. The five-day event attracts attendance totaling about 200,000, and includes racing around courses marked out by tall pylons by six different classes of aircraft. It also features civil air show acts, military flight demonstrations, and a large static aircraft display.
The Red Bull Air Race
The Red Bull Air Race heat held at Kemble airfield, Gloucestershire. The aircraft fly singly, and have to pass between pairs of pylons. Recently, Red Bull has sponsored a series called the Red Bull Air Race in which competitors fly singly through a series of gates, between which they must perform a prescribed series of aerobatics maneuvers. Usually held over water near large cities, the series has attracted large crowds and brought substantial media interest in air racing for the first time in decades.

Racing Aircraft Classes and Types

Biplane
The Biplane Class are small, aerobatic aircraft that give pilots the opportunity to use their racing skills on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph.
Formula One
Formula One aircraft are raced and built by the pilots. They are a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of air racing.
Sport
The Sport Class highlights the new development of high performance kit-built aircraft. Eligible aircraft include model kit-built aircraft. Sport Class aircraft race on a 6.37-mile course at speeds reaching nearly 350 mph.
T-6
The T-6 Class features match racing between stock aircraft. The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the 5.06-mile course at Reno. T-6 class provides some of the most exciting racing at Reno, with an emphasis on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower.
Jet
The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 as an invitation-only class, racing at speeds in the 400+ mph range. Sponsorship and interest has developed to the point where the Class is open to participation by any qualified pilot and aircraft.
Unlimited
The Unlimited Class is open to any piston-driven aircraft with an empty weight greater than 4500 pounds. Aside from a very few "scratch-built" aircraft, the Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters. Aircraft speeds in the Unlimited Class reach 500 mph.

Famous Air Racers

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