Thursday, March 30, 2017

Final 2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races Episode Airs this Sunday, April 2nd

NCAR_Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2017
              

Final 2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races Episode Airs this Sunday, April 2nd
on NBC Sports Network

Reno, Nev. – The final one-hour episode featuring the 2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races will air this Sunday, April 2nd at 12:30pm PT/3:30pm ET on NBC Sports Network. A preview can be viewed here.

“It has been a wonderful experience for us and for our fans to be taken back to race week in March and April,” Mike Crowell, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “We want to thank our partners who worked so hard with us to get these three, one-hour episodes on NBC Sports Network. I encourage everyone to tune in to the final show this Sunday at 12:30pm pacific time.”

To view previous episodes, visit RARA’s YouTube channel.


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About the Reno Air Racing Association:
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), a 501(c)(3), holds the National Championship Air Races every September just north of Reno. The Reno Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. The 2016 event generated more than $91.7 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.airrace.org.

Friday, March 24, 2017

2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races Episode 2 Airs TOMORROW



2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races Episode 2 Airs TOMORROW
on NBC Sports Network

Reno, Nev. – The second of three, one-hour episodes featuring the 2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races will air tomorrow, Saturday, March 25th at 3pm PT/6pm ET on NBC Sports Network. A preview can be viewed here.

“We are so excited for the second, one-hour episode of last year’s Air Races tomorrow,” Mike Crowell, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “Partnering with STIHL to help get these episodes on the air has been fantastic and we encourage everyone to tune in tomorrow at 3 pm pacific time.”

The first one-hour episode, which aired March 11th, can be viewed here. The final of the three, one-hour episodes is scheduled to air nationally on NBC Sports Network on April 2nd at 12:30pm PT/3:30pm ET.



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

2016 STIHL National Championship Air Races NBC Sports Network




Air race fans - the Youtube version of NBC Sports Network show on the Races is up now! Find it below! 











RARA Announces Design Contest for 54th National Championship Air Races

NCAR_Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2017
              

RARA Announces Design Contest for 54th National Championship Air Races

Reno, Nev. – Calling all racing fans and artists! The Reno Air Racing Association today launched a design contest for the official poster and t-shirts of the 54th National Championship Air Races.

“The Reno Air Racing Association is looking for fresh and new designs that represent the spirit of air racing to place on our collectible posters for the 54th National Championship Air Races,” Mike Crowell President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “Entries should center on the idea of racing – which is what we are all about. We look forward to seeing the ideas our fans have.”

The contest will run in two parts – the first begins today. Interested fans and artists should submit sketches or written treatment of their ideas to RARA by April 14th. Five finalists will be chosen from all entries based on their submission and will be notified by RARA staff. The five finalists will then be asked to flesh out their designs completely for final judging and submit their final design by June 5th.

In addition to being able to create a collectible souvenir for years to come, the first place winner will be awarded $500 cash along with two VIP season passes. The second place winner will be awarded $250 cash along with two general admission and pit season passes. Third through fifth place winners will receive a ticket package of two general admission and pit season passes each.

Full contest rules can be found below.


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About the Reno Air Racing Association:
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), a 501(c)(3), holds the National Championship Air Races every September just north of Reno. The Reno Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. The 2016 event generated more than $91.7 million for the region’s economy. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. For more information on the National Championship Air Races, to obtain media credentials, volunteer or purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.airrace.org.

Media Contact:
Mary-Sarah Kinner
The Glenn Group


2017 National Championship Air Races Poster Design Contest Rules

The Reno Air Race Association is looking for fresh and new designs that represent the spirit of air racing to place on our official poster and t-shirts for the 54th National Championship Air Races. In addition to being able to create a collectible souvenir for years to come, first place winner will be awarded $500 cash along with two VIP season passes. The second place winner will be awarded $250 cash along with two general admission and pit season passes. Third through fifth place winners will receive a ticket package of two general admission and pit season passes each.

What to create:
- Entries should center on the idea of racing. The design should execute on the theme, using a rich color palette.
- Sketches or written treatment of how the poster would come to life.
- If a design utilizes a copyrighted photograph as inspiration, a release from the copyright holder must be included with the submission.
- A minimum of one current or former racing plane must be included in the design.

Entry:
- The contest is not open to RARA employees or vendors.
- Entries must be emailed to dbigby@airrace.org
- The email must include the entrant's name, phone number, no more than one attachment, the name of the work and an explicit agreement to the contest terms.
- More than one entry may be submitted.
- The contest begins 3/15.
- All entries must be submitted by 5pm PDT 4/14/17.
- Submission will only be accepted via email.

Choosing a Winner:
- Five finalists will be chosen from all entries based on their submission of a sketch or written treatment based on the theme. The five finalists will be asked to flesh out their designs completely for final judging.
- A team of RARA employees and volunteers will choose from these finalists based on execution of the design theme and how well the design communicates the spirit of air racing.



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Freedom to Fly

Aviation is the greatest symbol of freedom we have. If you travel the world, you can tell how free a country is by how many small planes you see in the sky. – Rich Davidson.

These words spoken to me the other day – made me think.

I was lucky enough to travel to Cuba in 1999 on Educational Tour (with permission from the State Department). Sitting on the beach (very educational), two things struck me. No boats in view and no airplanes in the sky.

The last time there were no airplanes in the air over the USA was 9/11/01 and the few days afterwards when we were still grounded. Freedom was placed on hold.

Since that day, our Flying Freedoms have continued to diminish. Look back at what happened to Meigs Field in 2003. Look at what is happening at Santa Monica. Look at every small airport on the map – our Freedoms are being challenged. 




What do we do to save Aviation – General Aviation – those small planes that are an instrument and a sign of freedom around the world? How do we make it great again?

As many of you know, I am a student of early aviation. Back in the days, when barnstorming was a thing; everyday people were building airplanes and learning to fly; when the spirit of the sky drew us towards innovation.





Young Eagles – giving free rides to kids to get them involved in aviation. Great start – but of all the kids touched by that program, only a small portion became pilots. I know, from my local airport – of only 6 kids max, who we flew at one time or another, that have transitioned to actually earning their ticket.

Some say fences around the airports have hurt kids getting involved. I doubt this also. Kids used to “hang on the fence” to watch airplanes. And then they would wash airplanes for flying time. Remember that? But, that was before Flight Simulator. Previous generations didn’t have the internet, cell phones, tablets, gaming devices – they went to the airport instead. Parents sent them outside.

Another thing you rarely see is a young kid working really hard for what s/he wants. Want to become a pilot? It is a lot of hard work. Oh, maybe you’re not up for the challenge? Then, maybe you should sit this one out. My first Aerobatic Instructor used to say – “Other Sports Beckon” when someone didn’t have the mental toughness or the skills to fly. We’ve become soft. We believe in quick wins and not really working that hard anymore. Do you think the great pilots in the world were “naturals”? No, they worked, incredibly hard, to earn that skill.



Our mentality must change. Imagine an Aviation Version of the old Chevrolet Commercial – Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and a Private Pilot Certification.  It would be your License to Learn as well as your Freedom Authorization – inherently American.

We need to stop looking at pilots as spoiled rich folks and instead see them as Adventurers. People who, in many cases, gave everything they had for a chance to fly. Most of us save money in other areas of our life for avgas, maintenance fees and hangar rent.  We quit other sports and activities – so we can spend all our free time with like-minded people who long to touch the clouds. We do this because; we think that is what life is all about – Freedom, Flying.

We need a message of excitement and not despair. We need to focus on the pleasure of flying and not the doubt and hopelessness. We must believe what we preach – aviation is a freedom worth fighting for.

Want to make a difference?  
Go fly!  

Photos used with prior permission from Bruce Croft of http://www.twozerowest.com/ and from the Friends of Meigs Field. 



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Impressions of a Pilot

Flight is freedom in its purest form,
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within.
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of the day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me no pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I’d do it again.
For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know,
I was born to fly.


by Gary Claude Stoker

NBC Sports to Air First Episode of National Championship Air Races

NCAR_Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2017
              

NBC Sports to Air First Episode of National Championship Air Races

Reno, Nev. – The first one-hour episode featuring last year’s 53rd National Championship Air Races will air next Saturday, March 11th at 11am pacific time on NBC Sports Network – exactly 10 days from today. A short preview clip can be viewed below. 

“Last year we were excited to partner with STIHL and NBC Sports to air one show,” Mike Crowell, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “This year, because of continued support and sponsorship from STIHL, the Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, the National Championship Air Races will be featured in three, one-hour shows on the NBC Sports Network and we could not be more pleased. We look forward to joining our fans across the country and reliving race week all over again.”

Additional one-hour episodes, which will air nationally on NBC Sports Network, are scheduled for March 25th at 3pm PT/6pm ET and April 2nd at 12:30pm PT/3:30pm ET.