News

May
18
City of Las Cruces Launches Historic Aviation Event and Community Fiesta

Thomas Lockwood May 18, 2025

For the past two years the City of Las Cruces has produced the Las Cruces Air & Space Expo each October to achieve proof of concept and a growing aviation event. The momentum achieved and new support from the State of New Mexico has led to a transition of event management and the launch of new branding for the SkyFiestaTM of Las Cruces. Las Cruces Mayor, Eric Enriquez, said “ Our City is proud to partner with New Mexico True to present the best of aerial demonstrations, air racing competition, engaging exhibits, and live entertainment at a new marquee annual event at the Las Cruces Airport. We welcome our local residents and visitors to join us in elevating the community and reaching out to the world to experience Southern New Mexico at the Sky Fiesta!” Sport Class Air Racing will bring an added dimension to the airshow. Air race fans will see ‘NASCAR in the sky’, with high-performance, kit-built airplanes safely flying around the pylons at speeds up to 400 mph. “We support entertaining our community, exciting our youth and building awareness of New Mexico aerospace opportunities,” the Mayor added. “We invite families, friends and international guests to the Las Cruces Airport this October 25, 2025 for some Real New Mexico and some Real Pilots, Real Planes going Real Fast.” New Mexico State Senator, Bill Soules, added “I have spent several years watching the progress at the Las Cruces airport and fully support the development of community events that build pride and engagement but also deliver economic benefits to the region. SkyFiesta is a unique opportunity to elevate the community and realize multi-million dollar local benefits over the coming decade. Our State plan is to grow exciting events like the SkyFiesta to serve the community and to encourage tourism to our Land of Enchantment.” He concluded “There is much work to be done to realize this opportunity and I already see the community rallying behind the progressive plans to seize the potential of SkyFiesta. ” SkyFiesta President Bill Beaton said “It is really important to engage local volunteers, businesses and future event leaders to create a growing and sustainable event that excites, engages, educates and entertains attendees in a unique New Mexico fusion of air racing, airshow, expositions and festival. Our May 17th Kick-off will be the beginning of the SkyFiesta journey. We are building an organization of local talent supplemented with subject matter experts to create a unique guest experience that can only be had in Las Cruces, NM. Expect to hear about nationally-acclaimed performers, air racers, educators and artists joining SkyFiesta over the coming weeks. ” For more information, to participate or to be a sponsor contact:Bill BeatonSkyFiesta of Las CrucesPh. [email protected] Janel CarneroSkyFiesta of Las CrucesPh. 707-290-1250

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Mar
4
Sport Class Air Racing Announces Rule Changes

Thomas Lockwood March 4, 2025

The Sport Class Air Racing Association is excited to announce a significant update to its rules for 2025 and into the future. The “Race Class of Innovation” retains it’s fundamental Experimental Aircraft foundation, but is markedly expanding it’s aircraft eligibility rules, and aligning eligibility with FAI Sporting Code for Aircraft Type, Powerplant Type, and Weight categories. Basic Sport Class aircraft eligibility is now defined as FAI Class C-1 Landplanes with an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate (Amateur Built, Exhibition, or Air Racing). All aircraft must be propeller-driven, but the former 1000 cubic inch internal combustion powerplant limitation has been removed. The new class rules now allow internal combustion, turboprop and electric powerplants in Sport Class aircraft, creating the path to true “Next Gen Air Racing”. The Class has added aircraft weight limitations, as a safety measure and to create new, competitive divisions. FAI Class C-1a-c aircraft (up to 1,750 kilograms or 3,858 pounds) is the basic limitation. However, FAI Class C-1d-e aircraft (up to 6,000 kilograms or 13,228 pounds) will now be welcomed, if raced in a separate division at Air Race events. This opens the door to exciting possibilities for larger, warbird-like aircraft racing in Sport Class. The concept of new divisions of aircraft will also now allow Sport Class to race in aircraft make/model-specific divisions, if locations, race course design, or spectator and market demand warrants such divisions. This means Air Race Fans could be treated to racing that features not only the historical wide variety of exciting Sport Class aircraft in a single heat, but also highly competitive race heats of aircraft types, such as RV’s, Long-EZ’s, Lancair Legacies, and others. Maintaining, and now expanding, the least restrictive aircraft eligibility rules of any air racing class has contributed to Sport Class’s growth over the years. By embracing a broader range of aircraft powerplants, and looking ahead to creating additional divisions, Sport Class Air Racing, will continue to grow the sport or Air Racing, foster innovation in performance and reliability, and will bring an exciting Air Race Fan experience to Air Race Events. For more details on the new rules and upcoming events, visit www.sportclass.com.

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Oct
17
Sport Class Air Racing LCASE 2024 Livestream

Sport Class Air Racing Admin October 17, 2024

Pylon racing is back at the Las Cruces Air & Space Expo 2024! Sport class will be racing in 3 heats on Saturday and 3 finals (Bronze, Silver, Gold) on Sunday. Qualifying and all of the races will be live-streamed, and links will be available here: Qualifying October 18th: https://www.youtube.com/live/a5OuMirQwhE?feature=shared Saturday October 19th: https://www.youtube.com/live/-pUXeuippJY?feature=shared Sunday October 20th: https://www.youtube.com/live/j_hZz7UlsSk?feature=shared

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Sep
15
Sport Class “Next Generation Air Racing” Added to Las Cruces NM Air & Space Expo October 21, 2023

James Stringer September 15, 2023

The City of Las Cruces and its growing airport are proud to host the Air & Space Expo Saturday October 21, 2023 for its citizens and all aviation enthusiasts. This year will include a full afternoon of thrilling airshow acts, exhibits, static displays, military tributes and now a demonstration of the world’s fastest motorsport – – pylon air racing. The Las Cruces Airport will be the venue and our City will roll out the hospitality and aviation experiences for this annual event. The Sport Air Racing Council (“SARC”), a subsidiary of Sport Class Air Racing Association (“Sport Class”), recently earned FAA accreditation as an Air Race Organization and they will bring structured programs, safety protocols and experienced air race pilots – all honed over the past 25 years of Sport Class air racing experience. Las Cruces Mayor, Ken Miyagishima, said “We invite families, friends and international guests to southern New Mexico for our October aviation event that has big plans for the future. We are excited to bring Sport Class Air Racing to our event and to treat airshow and air race fans to ‘NASCAR in the sky’, with high-performance, kit-built airplanes safely flying around the pylons at speeds up to 325 mph.” “We support entertaining/exciting our youth and all attendees about local and State aerospace opportunities that flow from innovation, skilled pilots, and the applied aeronautics of air racing” he added. New Mexico State Senator, Bill Soules, added “Our State has a standing policy commitment to the AeroSpace sector and some of the world leaders in civilian space travel/business are based here. We have airport, space port and infrastructure investments that align with education programs, workforce development and economic development strategies needed to foster growth aviation and space businesses. Our plan is to grow exciting events like the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo to showcase current and future aerospace opportunities and to encourage tourism to our Land of Enchantment. As part of the plan, are pleased to support air racing at our well-established Las Cruces airport with a vision that a world-class event may be developed over time.” SARC President Bill Beaton said “We are pleased to be recognized by the FAA as an accredited Air Race Organization, which allows us to conduct single-class air racing event on an approved course at Las Cruces Airport”. He added, “it has been refreshing to work with enthusiastic community leaders that envision the sport of air racing as part of their aerospace context and for sharing a well-suited airport with an existing airshow/expo already planned. The demonstration air race will provide a proof of concept for future possibilities”. Come see Sport Class and other class racers pushing 400 mph and more, in what the Reno Air Race Association and Race Fans call “The World’s Fastest Motor Sport”, September 13-17, 2023 at the Reno National Championship Air Races, held at Reno Stead Airport. For more information, to participate or to be a sponsor contact: Bill Beaton Sport Air Racing Council Ph. 623-275-0413 [email protected] sportclass.com Andy Hume Las Cruces International Airport Ph. 575-496-6491 [email protected] www.lascruces.gov/1246/Airport See the Recent Kitplanes commentary: www.kitplanes.com/accredited-sport-air-racing/    

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Aug
29
Sport Class “Next Generation Air Racing” Takes Flight at Madras Oregon Airshow of the Cascades

James Stringer August 29, 2023

At the Central Oregon Airshow of the Cascades in Madras, Oregon this past weekend, the Sport Air Racing Council (“SARC”), a subsidiary of Sport Class Air Racing Association (“Sport Class”), earned FAA accreditation as an Air Race Organization (“ARO”). SARC President Bill Beaton said “we are pleased to be recognized by the FAA as an ARO, which allows us to conduct single-class air racing events on approved race courses at select new venues”. He added, “it is an important development in the sport of Air Racing, that supports a path of smaller races that generate knowledge of, and excitement about, the National Championship Air Races, historically hosted by the Reno Air Racing Association each September.” The Madras airport hosted its 23rd annual Airshow of the Cascades August 25-26th, which included a demonstration of air racing on a 4 mile course. Rick Allen, Airshow Director, shared the excitement and offered congratulations: “We are proud to be the Biggest Little Airshow, home airport of the Erickson Collection, and now the ‘Birthplace of Next Generation Air Racing’. Aviation enthusiasts and Airshow fans were treated to ‘NASCAR in the sky’, with high-performance, kit-built airplanes flying around the pylons, and we are keen to see more of it”. “Our Sport Race Class has dreamed big, and worked hard to expand and have more places to conduct air races safely, to share our sport with more Air Race and Airshow Fans, and to keep our race pilot proficiency high”, said Sport Class President Bob Mills. “We have over 60 qualified race pilots, 25 years of experience in pylon air racing programs, structured ARO capabilities, and now exciting new venues for race teams to show what they’ve got”, added Mills. The next opportunity to see Sport Class and other class racers pushing 400 mph and more, in what the Reno Air Race Association and Race Fans call “The World’s Fastest Motor Sport”, is September 13-18, 2023 at the Reno National Championship Air Races, held at Reno Stead Airport.    For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact: Bill Beaton Sport Air Racing Council Ph. 403-829-9722 [email protected] sportclass.com Rick Allen Airshow of the Cascades Ph. 541-815-4380 [email protected] airshowofthecascades.com Bob Mills Sport Class Air Racing Assoc. Ph. 775-544-3511 [email protected] sportclass.com

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