Pilot Referral Program Announced for EAA AirVenture Cup Race
To be eligible for the referral program, the referring pilot must be an active racer in the 2016 AirVenture Cup Race. The referred pilot must not have participated in the race for the two previous years (2014 and 2015), and both the referring and referred pilots must submit their application by June 15, 2016. All pilots participating in the referral program will be recognized during the awards dinner and ceremony on Sunday, July 24, in Oshkosh. The pilot who refers the most new racers will receive an autographed copy of the 2016 commemorative program. More information can be found online.
The 19th running of the AirVenture Cup Cross-Country Air Race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. CDT on July 24, and will follow the established route from Mitchell, South Dakota, to Wausau, Wisconsin. Several intermediate turning points create a course of more than 400 nautical miles. The race is open to a variety of pilots and aircraft, from sport pilots to astronauts, and J-3 Cubs to Turbine Legends.
The event begins on Friday, July 22, with pilots arriving from around the country to coincide with Media Day, providing media flights and interview opportunities. On Saturday, July 23, race participants in partnership with Mitchell Municipal Airport will host an airport open house and EAA Young Eagles Event, where kids between the ages of 8 and 17 can experience aviation firsthand through free airplane rides.
Race launch is scheduled for Sunday, July 24, at 9 a.m. The AirVenture Cup is a timed race, with participants competing against the clock. Aircraft and pilots are grouped into classes based on their experimental or production certification, engine size, induction type, and landing gear configuration to keep every aircraft competitive. Each class has first, second, and third place awards. All event activities are weather dependent.
To access a race application, learn more about the race or about becoming a sponsor or volunteer, visit the AirVenture Cup Race website.
