The highly anticipated Air Race 1 event in San Angelo, Texas, will boast an exciting high class entry list when the fastest show in the skies takes off this October 30/31.

An international field of more than 15 pilots will take on the aviation extravaganza at Mathis Field, San Angelo Regional Airport, as they bid to win this year’s Air Race 1 title.

Ground-breaking race airplanes will duel it out at speeds of up to 250mph, in the only international air race in which competitors directly face off against each other at the same time.

Premier racing teams represented by world-class pilots will fly wingtip-to-wingtip in the fantastic backdrop that is San Angelo, with several contenders eyeing the overall glory of winning.

The headlining list of racers includes the hugely impressive Justin Meaders, who became the first and only paraplegic pilot to become an air racing pilot. After claiming rookie of the year honors in his debut season of competition, Meaders went on to win the 2018 IF1 Formula One Air Racing US National Championship in his custom designed self-built race plane.

Current United Airlines captain Steve Senegal is another who may fancy his chances, as the former president of the IF1 racing association holds the course record at Reno and boasts more than 18,000 flying hours.

Steve Temple and Philip Goforth are also two of the most experienced air racers in the formula one class with more than 30,000 flying hours between them, whilst Canadian Scott Holmes remains one of the youngest talents in the line-up, albeit with his own impressive aerobatic and racing CV.

There are a host of other challengers and contenders in the entry list too, which is why this stunning spectacle is set to welcome a bumper crowd to the San Angelo area, with advance tickets selling fast.

Aside from the headlining formula one air racing series there will be many more aeronautical activities and demonstrations presented by The Lions Club San Angelo.

Tickets start at a discounted $17 per day while there are weekend deals, great value offers on early bookings and concessions available for children. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.

Jeff Zaltman, CEO of Air Race 1, said:

“We are delighted that Air Race 1 at San Angelo has attracted a world-class and highly-competitive entry list and we would like to thank our partners, teams, pilots and their crews for their commitment in preparing for this demanding test of skill.

“Fans are set to enjoy a stunning aviation spectacle as this roster of highly accomplished pilots battle it out for this year’s title.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming a fantastic crowd to this event. San Angelo offers the perfect backdrop and we’re all excited for what is sure to be a weekend of unmissable action and entertainment.”

Air Race 1 at San Angelo is sanctioned by the sport’s US governing body, the International Formula One Air Racing Association (IF1), who are working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local authorities to ensure the event is run safely and in accordance with the sporting rules. The Formula Air Racing Association (FARA) and the Association des Pilotes d’Avions de Formules are also both sanctioning this event in San Angelo.

Air Race 1 is collaborating closely with local authorities to ensure the safety of all attendees and that the event will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines.

Live adrenaline-fuelled air racing will make its return this October as Air Race 1 heads to San Angelo, Texas for its first race since the global covid-19 pandemic began.

The West Texas city in the heart of ranching country and situated on the picturesque Concho River will host a series of races on Halloween weekend, from October 30^th to 31^st 2021. Top air racing teams will compete head to head in front of a live crowd at The San Angelo Regional Airport. The event will be one of the first sporting events open to spectators in the region since the covid-19 regulations limited live events, provided it will be safe to do so, signalling a return to live sports and entertainment in the region.

Air Race 1 is a globally-renowned air racing series based on the long-running sport known as formula one air racing. Pilots flying single-seater aircraft, purpose-built for racing, compete to be the first to cross the finish line, racing directly against each other at speeds of over 450kph around a tight 5km (3 miles) circuit, just 15m (50 feet) above the ground. Air Race 1, led by renowned air racing promoter Jeff Zaltman, has a proven history of international races dating back to 2014 including in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Air Race 1 CEO, Jeff Zaltman said, “For over a year sports fans have been starved of live action due to the pandemic and so we’re thrilled to be in a position to stage this event and herald the return of air racing. We will offer two days of edge-of-your-seat action and entertainment for all fans, while working hard to ensure the event adheres to all covid-19 safety guidelines in place at the time.”

“We’re grateful to the city of San Angelo for taking on this ambitious project. We will do our best to showcase the wonders of the city and the capabilities of the airport as we invite people from all over the world to lovely San Angelo.”

San Angelo’s location on the northern boundary of the Chihuahuan Desert and its many lakes and rivers lend itself to brilliant blue skies and a pleasant climate, perfect for air racing and outdoor events.

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter said, “We’re delighted to host Air Race 1 here in San Angelo and bring a unique and exciting sport to the valley after what has been a long and difficult period for many in our city. We know that Texans are big fans of motorsports and we are all eager for live events to return, where safety can be managed. This is part of a calculated step towards normality and reviving our sports and entertainment calendar for everyone to enjoy.”

The Air Race 1 San Angelo event is sanctioned by the sport’s governing body, the International Formula One Air Racing Association (IF1), who are working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure the event is in accordance with the rules and regulations set out by the respective authorities.

IF1 President Bob Holmes said: “IF1 has been air racing for over 75 years and we are excited to showcase our aircraft and pilots in San Angelo in October. We look forward to engaging with racing fans and sharing our passion for the sport we love.”

Recently we met up with Kent Jackson, Lionel Mougel and Scott Holmes to talk all things aviation. Regarded as some of the best pilots in Air Race 1 they seemed like the perfect people to ask about what the future holds for Air Race 1 and what they think of Air Race E and what this could mean for the next generation of air racing.

What’s one thing nobody would ever guess about Air Race 1? What surprises people new to the sport?

Kent Jackson: I think people would be surprised by the friendliness of the racers, although we are competing we all share a passion for aviation and as such creates a great camaraderie behind the scenes with everyone. Overall, it’s a great atmosphere to be in.

What’s the most challenging thing for a pilot about Air Race 1?

Lionel Mougel: Keeping safe while travelling at amazing speeds. The planes travel at around 200kph and with other planes racing at the same time your reactions and decision making must be on point to keep yourself, other racers and the public safe throughout the event.

How did you become a pilot (involved in aviation) and get into Air Race 1?

Scott Holmes: I learned to fly through my time in the Canadian Air Cadet program when I was a teenager, from that point I was hooked and realised this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my career. From there I wanted to move on to the next best thing and so I moved into aerobatics and eventually Air Race 1.

What is your favourite plane you have ever piloted (worked on)?

Kent Jackson: I would have to say my plane obviously. Me and the rest of the team spent so long working to perfect the design and create the best plane we could. Seeing the result and having so much success with it has made it an amazing experience.

What tips would you give for people wanting to get into Air Race 1?

Lionel Mougel: Come and get involved, we are always keen to speak to people about aviation, if you are ever at an event the hangar doors are normally open and we love speaking to passionate fans. CLICK HERE to go to the Air Race 1 Contact Information (https://airrace1.com/contact-us/).

What are you most looking forward to about Air Race E?

Scott Holmes: I think the advancements that are being made will be like air racing in the 30s. The technology in this sport is making leaps and bounds and it hopefully will bring new fans to the sport which would be fantastic.

Where do you think Air Race E will be in 5 years’ time and where would you like to see it go?

Kent Jackson: I would love to see an international circuit of races like what Air Race 1 has been able to achieve in the last few years, I think that Air Race E could be even bigger than Air Race 1 due to it being the first aviation race of its kind.

The first Air Race E race is aimed for 2020, how do you think it will differ from Air Race 1 racing?

Scott Holmes: Obviously there will be no refuelling after the races. But the big change will be in the post-race maintenance tasks we complete after each race. Instead of checking mechanical components we will be doing things like checking battery cells and electric components for signs of overheating.

If you have any questions or want to know more about Air Race E, you can visit the official website here.

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Jeff Zaltman, Air Race 1 CEO

The announcement that Red Bull Air Race will not continue beyond the 2019 season is sad news not only for the pilots, teams and fans that put so much effort into that iconic series, but the wider aviation community as a whole.

Air racing can be a demanding and logistically challenging sport and one that requires a lot of time and dedication from everyone involved. Red Bull Air Race set the standard for air racing development and provided a platform for highly skilled pilots to compete in a professional competition to put on an impressive spectacle for its global fans. We wish Red Bull Air Race and the race teams all the best for the remaining three races.

Air Race 1 events will remain a regular fixture of the air racing calendar and is still the only international air race series where pilots fly wing tip-to-wing tip in what is known as formula one air racing. We are due to announce the next Air Race 1 event and other exciting news soon, as we continue to grow towards our long-term strategy of becoming a mainstream sport.

In addition, we have just announced the formal bidding process for venues interested in hosting the world’s first ever electric air race, Air Race E, next year. This will be the first in a series of international electric air racing events aimed at accelerating and promoting the development of cleaner, faster and more technologically-advanced electric engines.

We’re delighted to have Airbus as the Official Founding Partner of the new Air Race E series and we are actively seeking the involvement of other industry partners to collaborate on all aspects of making this series a success.

We welcome interest from anyone looking to get involved in Air Race 1 or Air Race E and we hope that pilots, teams and fans of Red Bull Air Race will continue to support our series as we commit to ensuring the sport of air racing continues to thrive for many years to come.

For more information on Air Race E go to https://airracee.com/