The Oldest Airplane Race of Its Kind Is Ready for Takeoff

Launching on June 21 from Lakeland, Florida (KLAL), the racers will fly across 12 states and will have four days to best their own airplane’s performance.

Sara Withrow

Friday, June 10, 2022 at 06:21 PM ET

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Aviation author Sarah Byrn Rickman tells the story of the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race from 1947-77 in a new book. Pictured are participants in the 1960 event. [Credit: Air Race Classic]

Key Takeaways:

The 45th annual Air Race Classic (ARC), a 2,400-mile cross-country race for 115 women pilots across 12 states, began on June 21 in Lakeland, Florida, and concludes on June 24 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
This year's race features 94-year-old Marie Carastro, the oldest competitor in the race's history, flying alongside her daughter and granddaughter as a multi-generational team.
The ARC is a handicap race where teams compete against their own best time, fostering skill development, confidence, extended cross-country flying experience, and camaraderie among women pilots.
Returning to its full long-distance format after pandemic disruptions, the race is also exploring the future inclusion of experimental and turbocharged aircraft, with non-competing teams gathering performance data this year.

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A total of 115 women pilots will take off on the flight of a lifetime when the flag drops at 8 a.m. (ET) on June 21, marking the start of the 45th annual Air Race Classic (ARC).

Among them will be Marie Carastro, 94, the oldest competitor in the race’s 93-year history. Marie will be joined by her teammates, grand-daughter Danielle Carastro, who at age 16 was the youngest ARC participant (2016 race), and daughter Susan Carastro (Danielle’s aunt). Their team is one of two with multi-generational members of the same family competing in this year’s race, says Donna Harris, director of finance and vice president of the Air Race Classic Board.