News/Press Releases

Announcing the ARC Air Derby of 2023

The oldest race of its kind in the United States, the Air Race Classic, Inc. (ARC) traces its roots to the 1929 Women's Air Derby, in which Amelia Earhart and nineteen 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 is announcing the 3^rd Annual ARC Air Derby. The ARC traditionally sponsors an annual all-women, amateur, cross-country air race for pilots and airplanes that qualify under Air Race Classic Race Rules and Procedures. In 2021 the ARC added an opportunity to experience air racing to a wider audience. The ARC Air Derby is a one-day event retaining many of the ARC traditions and its mission of education. The event will be a flying proficiency event that will highlight ARC basics: VFR flight with multiple legs, leg timing at designated points, and awards. There is an exciting new twist, co-ed participation is allowed! In response to popular demand, we have opened the ARC Air Derby to male and female participants. Either the pilot or co-pilot must be a certificated female pilot or student pilot. Participants will have choice of the route, aircraft, team composition, and day to fly.

The ARC Air Derby will provide an opportunity for pilots around the world to challenge their piloting, flight planning and navigation skills and share their love of flying with other pilots in a fun event that promotes camaraderie and allows participants to share their skills with family and friends. Cash prizes will be awarded.

The ARC Air Derby is a VFR flight flown during daylight hours on a single day this Fall. 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 2023 ARC Air Derby is open to all light aircraft that can compete within these rules. Routes may be designed and flown in the U.S. as well as other countries. Registration is limited to 99 Teams.

Registration for the 2023 ARC Air Derby opens Saturday, July 15, 2023, and closes Tuesday September 26, 2023. The Derby event must be completed on any day between Friday, September 29, 2023, and Monday, October 9, 2023. For more information and rules, visit https://derby.airraceclassic.org/.