The week kicked off with the results in from the all-women 49th Air Race Classic, the long-distance cross-country annual aerial adventure that has its origins in the Powder Puff Derby that was a highlight of 1920s aviation. With 45 teams consisting of 104 pilots (teams can be two or three pilots per airplane), the race took place from June 23 to 26, and followed a giant twisting loop from Alton, Illinois (KALN), to Mt. Vernon, Illinois (KMVN)—almost back to the start. Since 2023, the race winners have been sorted into a Competition Class and an Intercollegiate Class, recognizing the important participation of race teams from aviation programs in colleges across the country.
Congratulations to the winners in each category: Team 9, “Over The Moon!” piloted by Alicia Sikes and Nancy Rohr in a 1998 Mooney M20J for the Competition Class, and Team 24, “Liberty Belles I” piloted by Sarah Schumann, Moriah Langford, and Maddison Simkins, representing Liberty University in a 2024 Cessna 172S for the Intercollegiate Class. Next year’s race will run from Auburn, AL to Nampa, ID, flown from June 22-25, 2027, with stops in Auburn, AL (KAUO); Murfreesboro, TN (KMBT); Indianola, MS (KIDL); Claremore, OK (KGCM); Vernon, TX (F05); Tucumcari, NM (KTCC); St. Johns, AZ (KSJN); Page, AZ (KPGA); Mesquite, NV (67L); Yerington, NV (O43); Nampa, ID (KMAN).
‘Night Fright’ Flies Again
For the holiday weekend, we’re catching up on our historical aircraft—especially the Douglas DC-3/C-47 variants, and recently saw the great news that Night Fright, a C-47 that took part in the Normandy Invasion (D Day) in 1944, returned to flying status after several years of restoration. The C-47, serial number 42-100521 for the Douglas historians out there, had been parked and derelict in Arkansas, when it was rescued by current owner Charlie Walker and his family and shipped to the U.K. in 2012. Based in Coventry Airport (EGBE), the Night Fright team undertook the massive project of returning it not just to flying condition but also to an historically accurate representation of its configuration for the D-Day operations.
It’s since made two flights: one locally to ensure everything worked, on June 9, and then one to reposition the aircraft to a new base at Sywell Aerodrome (EGBK). Because Coventry, much to our dismay, closed down operations entirely on June 11. Gives the phrase “sending you to Coventry” a whole new, more ominous meaning.
I’m going to keep following the Night Fright project on their Instagram account, and support their ongoing efforts.
Spiffing Job, Jamie!
Also in the U.K. this week, I must include a shout out to Jamie Oliver, British cooking legend for the masses, who earned his pilot license. “At 50 I feel so invigorated to take on something so challenging,” said Oliver in an Instagram post. And in a further comment surely relatable to many of his fellow students, he said, “And although the exams were hard, I did it. I’m buzzing … I’m on cloud nine, inspired, so proud of myself and so grateful to have met so many wonderful people along the way. Now the learning really starts.” It does, indeed!
A New Aircraft Equinox for Elixir
Elixir Aircraft marked the first deliveries of its training-focused two-seater to the U.S. in May, and the company continues to grow its operations with partner Cirrus Aviation in Sarasota, Florida, and La Rochelle, France. On Thursday, the company had reason to celebrate: Elixir has been awarded EUR 45 million in funding to finance its upward trajectory. Behind the backing lies Bpifrance’s SPI Fund, aimed at industrial projects as part of the French government’s France 2030 Plan, which has spurred innovation in French aerospace across the country of late.
With the newfound money in its Aquitaine pocket, Elixir has the freedom to scale up its manufacturing of the current Elixir+ and also to announce its next phase of development, the Equinox. So far coy about details on the addition to the fleet—other than to say it will serve the “larger” needs of its flight school customers—Elixir promises to share a preview of the Equinox at EAA AirVenture in a couple of weeks. I’ll be there to report on what that means: Is it a 4-seat? A twin? A turbine?
Speaking of AirVenture, I think the early-bird pricing has finally expired, so if you haven’t made your plans, get right on that.
