Talk:Air racing

Schneider trophy?
What about the Schneider trophy race for seaplanes? European air races almost totally ignored here - although Americans certainly competed, and even won them from time to time!

This one really needs a rewrite by someone with a bit of historical background - this is actually a very important aspect of aviation history to get the typical "it was invented in America last week" treatment - the development of fighters in both WWI and WW2 was vitally influenced by international air racing in the years immediately before each conflict.

Soundofmusicals 12:09, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

Does anyone have any material on the connection between early air races and European government war efforts? I read a brochure on the Tilbury Flash which mentions large cash prizes to promote the sport.

Fireclaims 05:49, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

Links to more airplanes typically used in air racing would make a helpful and interesting new section.

Air racing was not as important in Europe as it was in the US. This had as much to do with the nature of European governments as American proclivities. The only major events were the Schneider Trophy and Gordon Bennett balloon races.Mark Lincoln 11:57, 4 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Air racing was likely even more important in Europe than in the US - there were for instance far more races held, particularly before WW2, however the emphasis wasn't on outright speed, but in other aspects, including piloting skill and many races were handicapped and many lower powered aircraft competed regularly. One good source is British Racing & Record-Breaking Aircraft by Peter Lewis - the appendices list dozens and dozens of races, few of which have pages of their own yet.NiD.29 (talk) 20:31, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

This article has serious deficiencies
If there are any editors who would like to talk about improving it, lets consider what needs to be done.

I see numerous problems. 1. the author knew next to nothing about the 'golden age" of air racing. 2. the author had no references 3. the article does not relate air racing to the development of aviation, particularly where it had the greatest impact, in the US.

I would like to try and fill in the blanks and supply references.

Any suggestions, complaints - anyone care?Mark Lincoln 18:54, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

I would like to work with the author. Clearly there is an interest or the article would not be here.Mark Lincoln 19:05, 6 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I can not believe that there is nothing on this sport during the 1930s. That was when the air racing was the biggest.  65.121.141.34 (talk) 20:50, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

What about deaths? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.141.63.31 (talk) 23:28, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

At least one of the links in the Notable Pilots section (Jon Sharp) appears to point to completely different Jon Sharp associated with Rugby and no mention of air racing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.12.37.51 (talk) 08:51, 15 November 2013 (UTC)

missing Zürich air races
Zürich air races, among the other deficiencies (I lack info on it as well). --Flightsoffancy (talk) 23:00, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

Cleveland air race of 1909?
While in the Western reserve Historical Society museum in Cleveland, Ohio I saw an air race banner that states the air races started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1909. I took apicture of the banner if anyone is interested.NollRobert (talk) 13:29, 14 September 2015 (UTC)


 * Probably an automobile race or a balloon race, or with the later air races held in Cleveland in the 1930s. I can't find anything on any airplane races in Cleveland in 1909 - the 1930s, yes, but not 1909.NiD.29 08:05, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

List of air races
Hi, I found this list that had been hidden in an HTML comment in the List of racing aircraft for the last four years, so I moved it here. I don't know what you guys might want to do with it, perhaps merge it into this article or create a standalone list article for it. &mdash; Cheers, Steelpillow (Talk) 12:46, 11 April 2016 (UTC)


 * Cirrus Air Derby
 * Bendix Trophy
 * British air racing championship
 * Challenge International de Tourisme 1929
 * Challenge International de Tourisme 1930
 * Challenge International de Tourisme 1932
 * Challenge International de Tourisme 1934
 * Coupe Armand Esders
 * Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe
 * Daily Mail aviation prizes
 * Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race
 * Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race (Commemorative event)
 * Deutsche Rundflug 1925
 * Dole Air Race
 * England to Australia flight
 * European Air Racing Championship
 * Formula One Air Racing
 * Formula V Air Racing
 * Giro Aereo d'Italia
 * Gordon Bennett Trophy
 * Greve Trophy
 * Heston-Cardiff race
 * Istres-Damascus-Paris Air Race
 * King's Cup Race
 * London to Christchurch air race
 * London to Manchester air race
 * MacRobertson Air Race
 * Manx Air Derby
 * National Air Races, Cleveland National Air Races
 * National Championship Midget Air Races
 * Ostpreussenflug
 * Phillips Trophy
 * Cenu prezidenta republiky
 * Pulitzer Trophy (1920-1925)
 * Red Bull Air Race World Championship
 * Reno Air Races
 * Saint-Malo race
 * Schlesinger African Air Race
 * Schneider Trophy
 * Texaco Trophy Race
 * Thompson Trophy
 * Welsh Air Derby
 * Women's Air Derby Powder Puff Derby
 * Zürich air races of 1937
 * Flight airspeed record

Missing Air Races
In 2004 the Tunica Air Races featured multiple racing classes including Unlimited and T-6. More races were planned in Tucson, Arizona. Reno was not happy with any competition, so RARA fought the races and pressured sponsors and airport officials and killed the growth of air racing. JeffcamAZ (talk) 22:21, 6 January 2024 (UTC)