Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) hosted Sport Class Air Racing Association’s (Sport Class) independent Pylon Race Training Camp May 8-11, 2024.
Source: City of Las Cruces
Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) hosted Sport Class Air Racing Association’s (Sport Class) independent Pylon Race Training Camp May 8-11, 2024. Nearly 30 air race teams from America and Europe as well as officials and a large cast of volunteers supported an inaugural FAA-accredited training event organized by the Sport Air Racing Council (SARC) – an FAA-accredited Air Race Organization. A busy training schedule encompassed: ground schools, formation flights, and two full days practicing on the three pylon racecourses.
“The buzz at our airport was inspiring and the professional operations of both Sport organizations proved to us we want air racing to anchor our Las Cruces Air & Space Expo this October 17-20, 2024,” LRU Director, Andy Hume said.
Las Cruces Air & Space Expo is a marquee community event with a balance of exhibits, vendors, displays, and airshow that engages local citizens and reaches out to the world. Sport Class Air Racing will bring ‘NASCAR in the sky’, with high-performance, kit-built airplanes safely flying around the pylons at speeds up to 425 mph.
SARC President Bill Beaton said, “It is really important to keep our race pilots proficient and to advance the next generation of air racing at new venues. This training event, which executed over 60 sorties safely, extended the currency of race licenses for participating pilots and achieved FAA approval of three pylon racecourses that can serve any speed range.”
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 are willing to share such a well-suited airport. We are proud to bring our 25-year air racing history, expertise, insights and energy to the LCASE event team.”
For information, contact Andy Hume at (575) 541-2471 or by email at ahume@lascruces.gov.
