News/Press Releases

The Air Race Classic, the annual all-women cross-country airplane race, is proud to announce that Textron Aviation has signed on as a sustaining sponsor for three years. Textron Aviation is a full-throttle sponsor of the ARC, the highest level of sponsorship.

"Textron Aviation is a leader in general aviation and home to some of the most popular aircraft flying the Air Race Classic today," said Lara Gaerte, ARC president. "I am excited to have Textron Aviation as a partner in promoting women in aviation."

"Textron Aviation is thrilled to sponsor the 2016 Air Race Classic," said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. "We stand behind the ARC's mission to promote general aviation and educate future generations of women aviators, and it's our pleasure to help broadcast that message. Best of luck to this year's racers!"

Every year, more than 100 women pilots compete in the Air Race Classic, which this 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, FL 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 airraceclassic.org. Follow Air Race Classic on Facebook. On Twitter: @2016ARC.