News/Press Releases

The Air Race Classic, the annual all-women cross-country airplane race, is proud to announce that AOPA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, has renewed its support for the ARC as a sustaining sponsor for the next three years. AOPA is a full-throttle sponsor of the ARC, the highest level of sponsorship.

Under its renewed agreement with the Air Race Classic, AOPA will provide stepped-up support and coordination for ARC's pilot safety training and youth outreach programs until 2019.

"The Air Race Classic is committed to the safety and education of all our racers," said Lara Gaerte, ARC president. "I am excited to have AOPA's continuing support as we work together to improve opportunities in aviation for women and young people."

Said AOPA President Mark Baker, "All of us at AOPA are excited to continue our sponsorship of the Air Race Classic. This one-of-a-kind competition is a unique opportunity for female pilots to challenge their piloting skills and build a sense of community. We wish all the racers good luck."

As a continued sustaining sponsor, AOPA will support the ARC's mission of aviation education and safety by promoting the race at AOPA Fly-Ins around the country. AOPA will also provide special programming at the Start of this year's Race in Prescott, AZ, and/or at the Terminus in Daytona Beach, FL, and will explore coordinating the ARC's youth education programs at the Start and Terminus with AOPA's new AV8RS initiative for 13- through 18-year-olds.

In addition, AOPA will provide training and support materials for use in the pilot safety courses that all ARC racers must complete each year. This will ensure that ARC racers will have access to safety training materials provided by the most influential general aviation association in the world as they prepare for the four-day, 2,716-mile competition.

More than 100 women pilots every year compete in the Air Race Classic, which next year will be hosted at the Start and Terminus by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Teams of two or three will depart from Prescott on June 21, 2016, racing against their own best time as they fly a course that will take them to Albuquerque, NM; Midland, TX; Waco, TX; Arkadelphia, AR; Warrensburg, MO; Champaign/Urbana, IL; Murfreesboro, TN, and Americus, GA, before landing in Daytona Beach by the race arrival deadline June 24.

Education is a particular focus of next year's race, as every stop is at or near a renowned college or university aviation program.

ABOUT THE AIR RACE CLASSIC

Air Race Classic, Inc. is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a mission of encouraging and educating current and future women pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women's roles in aviation, and preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation.

For more information, see.http://www.airraceclassic.org. Follow Air Race Classic on Facebook. On Twitter: @2016ARC.

ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION

Since 1939, AOPA has protected the freedom to fly for thousands of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. AOPA is the world's largest aviation member association, with representatives based in Frederick, Md., Washington, D.C., Wichita, Kan., and seven regions across the United States. AOPA provides member services that range from advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services, flight planning products, safety programs and award-winning media. To learn more, visit http://www.aopa.org/.