Race Fans On High

Races have been around to show how well man can showcase his competitiveness and cunning. It has been noted that these activities have been limitless. All throughout time man has conquered the land masses and the waters of the world. It is only fitting that he starts a high climb or more appropriately a high flight to success within the cold and treacherous frontiers of the air. Know your way into air racing and find satisfaction as you yourself can become a follower of this sporting spectacle. Race fans it’s time to gear up and face a different kind of wave.

Air racing is basically a sport wherein small aircrafts are showcased and maneuvered en route to a winning place. Let’s take a look at the rich history of the sport. On the fateful date of the 23rd of May 1909 the first aircrafts raced their way to the event called the Prix de Lagatinerie. This event took place on the Port-Aviation airport in the south part of Paris, France. There were four entrants but only two pilots were able to take flight but no one actually was able to cover the whole distance of the course. Leon Delagrange, the person who was able to fly five out of the ten 1.2-kilometer laps was announced as the winning pilot.

The said event was then followed by minor counterparts during the Grand Week of the Champagne held at Reims, France on August 22-29, 1909. This marked the initial phase of what came to be known as an international air race extravaganza which was to be done annually in different areas of the globe. It was a remarkable day for air racing as it was not only attended by the renowned plane makers and pilots during that period but it was also graced by the presence of many celebrities and royalty. Glenn Curtiss won the bragging rights for the coveted Gordon Bennett Trophy who edged out fellow competitor Louis Bleriot by an exciting run gapped only by five seconds. Curtiss then came to be identified as the Champion Air Racer of the World.

It was between the years of 1913 and 1931 that the Schneider Trophy seaplane race took the stage and paved the way for technological advancement in the design and mechanism of aircrafts specifically in the areas of engine design and aerodynamics. At the onset of 1934, the hype brought by air racing took a global route from England to Australia via the MacRobertson Air Race. Scott and Campbell Black flew to the finish line with their very own Havilland Comet. The US founded the National Air Meets in 1921 which would be later recognized as the National Air Races in 1924. Five years later, the Women’s Air Derby arrived at the scene of the air racing circuits.

Bill Stead who was identified in his contributions as a hydroplane racing champion spearheaded the first Reno Air Races held in 1964 at the Sky Ranch which was located midway between Sparks, Nevada and Pyramid Lake. This was a five-day event that featured various festivities such as air shows, military flight exhibitions, and a display boasting of a large static model aircraft. The main attraction for such event is the racing between six classes of aircrafts from Formula One, Sport Biplane, AT-6, Jet, Sport, and Unlimited.

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is a unique innovation in air racing wherein participants are demanded to fly their way into various sets of air gates while doing predetermined moves in between. This air racing event has brought media attention for the first time since the birth of the said sport.

The enjoyment that race fans can get is really unlimited. It doesn’t matter what sort of obstacle or adversity is at hand because races will thrive on dirt, water, and yes the skies.