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Air racing is a type ofmotorsport that involvesairplanes or other types ofaircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a previously estimated time.

The first 'heavier-than-air' air race was held on 23 May1909 - thePrix de Lagatinerie, at the Port-Aviation airport south ofParis, France. Four pilots entered the race, two started, but nobody completed the full race distance; though this was not unexpected, as the rules specified that whoever travelled furthest would be the winner if no-one completed the race.Léon Delagrange, who covered slightly more than half of the ten 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi; 0.65 nmi) laps was declared the winner.^[1]

Some other minor events were held before theGrande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne in 22–29 August 1909 atReims, France. This was the first major international flying event, drawing the most important aircraft makers and pilots of the era, as well as celebrities and royalty. The premier event — the firstGordon Bennett Trophy competition — was won byGlenn Curtiss, who beat second-place finisherLouis Blériot by five seconds. Curtiss was named 'Champion Air Racer of the World'.

The first air race in the United States was the1910 Los Angeles International Air Meet at Dominguez Field, just south of Los Angeles, from 10 to 20 January1910. The event was organised by pilotsA. Roy Knabenshue and Charles Willard, who raised funding from railroad magnateHenry Huntington, and the Los Angeles Merchants and Manufacturers Association.William Randolph Hearst carried coverage of the event in hisLos Angeles Examiner, and hired a hot air balloon with a promotional parse touting his newspaper. The event attracted 43 entrants, of which 16 appeared. It was there that aviation pioneer and military pilotJimmy Doolittle, then thirteen, saw his first airplane.^[2]

In the years before theFirst World War, popular interest inaviation led to a large number of air races in Europe; including the1911 Circuit of Europe race, theDaily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race, and theAerial Derby.

In1913, the firstSchneider Trophy seaplane race was held. When the competition was resumed after the war, it was significant in advancingaeroplane design, particularly in the fields ofaerodynamics andengine design, and would show its results in the bestfighters of World War II.

On 19 October1919, theArmy Transcontinental Air Race began along a 2,700 mi (2,346 nmi; 4,345 km) route fromLong Island, New York toSan Francisco, California, and back, which would see widespread carnage; including seven fatalities (two en route to the race). Of the 48 aircraft that started, 33 would complete the double crossing of the continent.^[3]

In1921, the United States instituted the National Air Meets, which became theNational Air Races in1924. In1929, theWomen's Air Derby, nicknamed the 'Powder Puff Derby', became a part of the National Air Races circuit. The National Air Races lasted until1949. TheCleveland Air Races was another important event. In1947, an All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race, also dubbed thePowder Puff Derby was established, running until1977.

In1934, theMacRobertson Air Race from England to Australia took place, with the winningde Havilland Comet flown byC. W. A. Scott andTom Campbell Black.

In1964,Bill Stead, aNevada rancher, pilot, and unlimitedhydroplane racing champion, organised the firstReno Air Races at a small dirt strip called the Sky Ranch, located betweenSparks, Nevada, andPyramid Lake. The National Championship Air Races were soon moved to theReno Stead Airport, and have been held there every September since1966. The five-day event attracts around 200,000 people, and includes racing around courses marked out by pylons for six classes of aircraft: Unlimited,Formula One, Sport Biplane, AT-6, Sport, and Jet. It also features civil airshow acts, military flight demonstrations, and a large static aircraft display. Other promoters have run pylon racing events across the US and Canada, including races in Las Vegas, NV in1965, Lancaster, CA in 1965 and 1966,Mojave, California in 1970-71, and 1973–79; at Cape May, NJ in 1971, San Diego, CA in 1971, Miami, FL in 1973 and 1979,Moose Jaw,Saskatchewan in 1984;Hamilton Field, California, in 1988; at Dallas, TX in 1990, in Denver, CO in 1990 and 1992, in Kansas City in 1993, inPhoenix, Arizona in 1994 and 1995; and inTunica, Mississippi in 2005. Numerous other venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico have also hosted events featuring the smaller Formula One and Biplane classes.

In1970, American Formula One racing was exported to Europe (Great Britain, and then to France), where almost as many races have been held as in the U.S.A. Also in 1970, theCalifornia 1000 Air Race started at theMojave Airport with a 66 lap unlimited air race that featured aDouglas DC-7, with one aircraft completing the circuit.^[4][5]

In 2003,Red Bull created a series called theRed Bull Air Race World Championship, in which competitors flew individually between pairs of pylons, while performing prescribed manoeuvres. Usually held over water near large cities, the sport has attracted large crowds and renewed media interest in air racing. The inaugural season had stops in Austria and Hungary.^[6] In 2019, Red Bull decided not to continue the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.^[7]

Aero GP has multiple aircraft racing together pik around pylons, and is based in Europe where it has held an air race each year since2005.

In June of 2005 against all odds and extreme pressure from the Reno Air Race Association not to start another race, entrepreneur Jeff Landers, a Memphis native, organized the Tunica Air Races in Tunica, Mississippi with Unlimited, T-6, and Sport classes represented. After the successful and safe race in 2005 RARA fought any and all efforts for the growth of this motorsport and any effort for a 2006 race there and one in Tucson Arizona.^[8]

Powered paragliding orparamotor races have been organised by the Parabatix Sky Racers made up of the world's top paramotor pilots. The first occurring on 4 September2010 in an airfield inMontauban, Southern France. These are foot-launched ram-air wings powered by smalltwo-stroke engines, and allow for much smaller race venues such as city parks or beaches, where the audience can see the pilots up close as they carry out spectacular manoeuvres swooping close to the ground-pylons during the race.^[9]

In November 2021, the first remotely-pilotedeVTOLdrag race between twoAirspeeder craft took place. In2022, The remotely-piloted racing series (Airspeeder EXA Series) began in 2022 with Zephatali Walsh named as the inaugural season champion.^[10] The aircraft, built by Alauda Aeronautics, use electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology and are designed to be crewed by human pilots.^[11]

Restricting aircraft to a specific type or design creates a competition that focuses on pilot skill. Air racing events such as the Reno air races, incorporate multiple classes or aircraft. These may be defined by the race organiser, or by a sanctioned group. Some air races are limited to a single class.^[15] Classes used at the Reno races are as follows:

• Model aircraft#Competitions
• Drone racing

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