McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport is our launch point on a race that celebrates the 90th anniversary of women’s air racing. It was started in 1941 as a military aviation training center and then given to the City of Jackson and Madison County after the war, like many other airfields across the U.S. Jackson is part of the Americana Music Triangle, is situated halfway between Memphis and Nashville, and claims some of Elvis Presley’s earliest roots with Carl Perkins. Rockabilly was born here.

1. LAGRANGE, GA (KLGC)

LaGrange-Callaway Airport is Stop #1 on the 2019 Air Race Classic. This will be the busiest stop on the race. LaGrange was named following a visit by French/American hero General Marquis de Lafayette when he remarked that the area reminded him of his French farm estate.

2. HATTIESBURG, MS (KHBG)

The Hattiesburg Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport opened in 1930. It’s home to the University of Southern Mississippi. Jimmy Buffet hails from Hattiesburg.

3. BRYANT, AR (KSUZ)

Saline County Regional Airport is located in central Arkansas just 15 minutes from Little Rock. Mining was central to this area well beyond WWII until the mines were depleted in 1990. Bryant is the “Geographical Center of Arkansas.”

4. LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (KLXT)

Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport celebrates two newly repaved runways, a new taxiway, and two new T hangar buildings. Racers will enjoy visiting this active aviation community. Lee’s Summit is located just 20 minutes from downtown Kansas City on the southeast side.

5. FAIRMONT, MN (KFRM)

Fairmont Municipal Airport is the gateway to “Southern Minnesota’s best kept secret” – the City of Lakes. As the racers fly into Fairmont, they will see a chain of five lakes to the west.

6. WAUSAU, WI (KAUW)

Wausau Downtown Airport is located on the shore of the Wisconsin River and Lake Wausau. This area was originally the home of the Ojibwe / Chippewa tribe. Fur trapping and lumbering were the earliest industries as European settlers pushed in from the East. Wausau will be a MUST STOP airport for racers to prepare to cross the border into Canada. Racers will finalize their eAPIS manifests leaving the U.S. and call CANPASS to alert Canadian Customs of their arrivals.

7. SAULT STE. MARIE, MI (KCIU, FLYBY ONLY) AND SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (CYAM, STOP)

Sister cities – “Soo” America and “Soo” Canada connect by the International Bridge over St. Mary’s River. For us, we will cross the border in the air – flying the timing line at Chippewa County International Airport (Sault Ste., Marie, Michigan) and then crossing the border and landing at Sault Ste. Marie Airport (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario).  Soo Ontario is our first Canadian ARC En Route Stop and is the gateway to our 2019 Canadian tour.

8. NORTH BAY, ON (CYYB)

After flying along the north shore of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, racers will look for North Bay, nestled between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, and plan their fly by at North Bay Jack Garland Airport.

9. BRANTFORD, ON (CYFD)

The flight to Brantford Municipal Airport will bring racers past Toronto and between the last two Great Lakes – Lakes Erie and Ontario.

TERMINUS – WELLAND, ON (CNQ3)

Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport was recently renamed to honor one of Canada’s legendary aviatrices. Dorothy Rungeling was the first Canadian woman to fly solo in a helicopter, the first Canadian woman to fly in an international air race – the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race (AWTAR, forerunner to our ARC), and one of the first Canadian Governors of the 99s. When we fly home to D.C, we’ll catch a glimpse of Niagara Falls.