Air Race Classic
The Air Race Classic is the epicenter of women's air racing. Overall, pilots range in age from 17 to 90 years old and come from a wide variety of backgrounds including students, teachers, doctors, airline pilots, business owners, professionals and air traffic controllers. WMU is proud to participate in the historical race. In addition to the roles of WMU flight instructor, pilot/co-pilot, non-pilot racer, and alternate pilot, students can be involved with the weather team.
WMU Team Air Race Classic, Inc.
The Air Race Classic Team at Western Michigan University is composed of six inspired women pilots - Josey, Caroline, Varya, Lorelai, Evelyn and Ava. The Air Race Classic’s annual all women cross country race will take place June 23-26, 2026. This year’s race will highlight the aviation heritage and vibrant communities of Illinois, launching from East Alton, IL, continuing through 8 stops, then concluding in Mount Vernon, IL.
Air Race Classic Inc. has a goal to encourage and educate current and future women pilots while preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation. Our team’s goal is to perpetuate this mission throughout the WMU community. As young, aspiring female pilots, we look forward to participating in this exciting and historic experience. We work to include and encourage students to thrive in all stages of training, creating a competitive environment where female pilots can prosper at WMU, and to pursue collaboration with WAI, ALPA, and AHP to involve more students in our RSO.
Our race success history is decorated with a first-place finish in the 2018 Collegiate Division, a first-place finish in the 2021 Air Race Derby, and most recently a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Collegiate Division.
Upcoming fundraising events for 2026 include weekly coffee sales in the Flight Operations building, and t-shirt sales throughout the semester. Stay tuned for information on the luncheon and raffle.
2026 Team
Air Race Teams must fly VFR during daylight hours only and are given four days to make flybys at each en route timing point and then land at the terminus. The race route changes each year, approximately 2,400 statute miles in length with 8 or 9 timing points. Each airplane is assigned a handicap speed – and the goal is to have the actual ground speed be as far over the handicap speed as possible. The pilots are thus given the leeway to play the elements, holding out for better weather, winds, etc. The objective is to fly the "perfect" cross-country. In this type of race, the official standings cannot be released until the final entrant has crossed the finish line. Actually, the last arrival can be the winner.