Registration for the 3rd Annual ARC Air Derby Underway

The 2023 ARC Air Derby is open to light aircraft under 12,500 pounds, including light sport, experimental, multiengine, and turbocharged. [Courtesy: ARC]

If air racing is on your aviation bucket list, you still have time to sign up for the third annual ARC Air Derby organized by Air Race Classic Inc., the same group that puts on the yearly all-women amateur cross-country air race. Unlike the all-women contest, the air derby is open to men as well.

"Either the pilot or copilot must still be a certificated female pilot or student pilot, but men may participate in either role or as an additional teammate," ARC said.

Registration for the one-day event closes September 26.

Coed Derby

The coed derby got its start in 2021 and has proven to be very popular. The 2023 ARC Air Derby is open to light aircraft under 12,500 pounds, including light sport, experimental, multiengine, and turbocharged, provided they have the range to complete the minimum leg lengths.

Each airplane must have a current annual or condition inspection and current registration. Additionally, each airplane flown in the derby must also have current liability insurance coverage.

Derby “fly” dates will be Friday, September 29, through Monday, October 9.

A Virtual Awards Banquet will be held Friday, October 13, at 7 p.m. EDT.

Air Race Classic History

The traditional Air Race Classic traces its roots to the 1929 Women's Air Derby in which 19 women pilots flew from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland. Among the participants were some of the famous names in aviation, such as Amelia Earhart (finished third), Florence "Pancho" Barnes, Ruth Elder, Ruth Nichols, Phoebe Omlie (second), Louise Thaden (first), and Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout.

The Air Race Classic, as we know it now, is its 47th year and is open to female pilots of all ages.

air derby Air Race Classic ARC Women in Aviation

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.