2025 Roswell National Championship Air Races Update Thread

[GRNDP51]

Roswell National Championship Air Races *October 10-14, 2025*

A couple notes so far -

The course has been designed and approved by the FAA. It will be released publicly via Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 on November 19th. This will be our first look to see how the courses are laid out, but I've done some digging and have found a general idea of where the courses will actually sit at the airfield.

The Roswell Daily Recorder has been posting some pretty informative articles about planning for 2025. The three articles below tell some important details - mainly regarding the grandstands seating just shy of what Reno holds, and more importantly, noting that the grandstands will be parallel to RWY 17/35. Spectators will be looking west to courses unobstructed by any of the derelict jets on the field. Very happy to see this. There is also a very skinny 3,600' by 100' "staging ramp" being constructed in the triangle area between RWY 17/35, Taxiway C, and closed RWY 12/30. Not sure what this entails yet as it's too skinny to put the stands on. Also have to factor in where the STOL Drag course will sit.

Still some things up for question we'll know soon enough - where the pits/static static will be, if a lot of the ramp space will be used for fly-in activity and GA parking for attendees, where RV parking/staging would be, etc. Looks like the tower will be offset behind where the stands are, and we will potentially have a mayday runway behind the crowd as well.

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Much more to come!

[Matt58]

Thanks for the info!!! Much appreciated!

[N22252]

Thanks for posting this update! I was really hoping RARA would have some good new this weekend regarding the new venue.

I know they have to take things as they come, but it has seemed like the only news for months has been about the air show, but there must be a lot going on at the same time to make Roswell happen.

[GRNDP51]

Thanks gents. Been out of the mix waiting for the dust to settle, but it's time to get back in the game.

Dates should be announced tomorrow on the livestream.

Also heard that the new course doesn't have a speed limit anymore, it's just that good

[Race5]

With the Reno Airshow coming to a close, the focus will turn towards the 2025 Roswell NCAR pretty quickly. RARA will be announcing the dates this weekend. I'll keep this first post updated with all the info we gather.

A couple notes so far -

The course has been designed and approved by the FAA. It will be released publicly via Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 on November 19th. This will be our first look to see how the courses are laid out, but I've done some digging and have found a general idea of where the courses will actually sit at the airfield.

The Roswell Daily Recorder has been posting some pretty informative articles about planning for 2025. The three articles below tell some important details - mainly regarding the grandstands seating just shy of what Reno holds, and more importantly, noting that the grandstands will be parallel to RWY 17/35. Spectators will be looking west to courses unobstructed by any of the derelict jets on the field. Very happy to see this. There is also a very skinny 3,600' by 100' "staging ramp" being constructed in the triangle area between RWY 17/35, Taxiway C, and closed RWY 12/30. Not sure what this entails yet as it's too skinny to put the stands on. Also have to factor in where the STOL Drag course will sit.

Still some things up for question we'll know soon enough - where the pits/static static will be, if a lot of the ramp space will be used for fly-in activity and GA parking for attendees, where RV parking/staging would be, etc. Looks like the tower will be offset behind where the stands are, and we will potentially have a mayday runway behind the crowd as well.

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Much more to come!

That entire triangle area will have to be paved. The narrow staging lanes will be the tow lanes from the pits to the hot ramp.

[kennsmithf2g]

Dates released September 10-14, 2025

[N22252]

Dates released September 10-14, 2025

Less than a year....Lots to put together in a short time... but I'm excited.

For those who attended the air show this weekend, was there any talk of who's racing in Roswell next year? Has the biplane class sorted itself out?

[Race5]

The shaded area will contain all of the seating, pits, static displays and vendors.

[Race5]

Less than a year....Lots to put together in a short time... but I'm excited.

For those who attended the air show this weekend, was there any talk of who's racing in Roswell next year? Has the biplane class sorted itself out?

VERY few pilots / crews were there. The ones I talked to said something between, "maybe", and "nope, we're done". Reasons ranged from "It's a good time to call it quits, concerned about safety (specifically the lack of an alternate runway under the course), distance from home base, and the much discussed lack of housing, facilities, other things to do in the area etc.

I think we'll see a full, or close to full field for Sport and jets. Smaller than usual F1. Thin Unlimited. No biplanes (class still has not been re-established as of yet). Not sure about T6 I'm not really tied in with that class or anyone in it.

[supercub]

I read one of the articles above about the millions of dollars for a contract for building grandstands. I'm surprise they're building grandstands and not using portable units till they make sure the trantsition to Rosewell will be a success..............which I certainly hope so, but have some reservations. The crowds at the Reno Airshow this past weekend looked smaller then I expected too. I wasn't able to go, but watched the live stream. Anyone on here go?

[N22252]

The grandstand project kinda surprised me as well as it appears there is other, high priority airport improvement to be done to support the racing classes. I kinda wonder what it would take to move the existing stuff from Reno. The reserve grandstand is quite the fixture, but maybe it will stay in Reno for future air shows?

The Roswell article mentions seating for 9600, which I'm guessing is smaller than Reno had? As others have mentioned, a bigger challenge is the lack of much lodging within a 3 hour drive.

[Bigger Al]

I read one of the articles above about the millions of dollars for a contract for building grandstands. I'm surprise they're building grandstands and not using portable units till they make sure the trantsition to Rosewell will be a success..............which I certainly hope so, but have some reservations. The crowds at the Reno Airshow this past weekend looked smaller then I expected too. I wasn't able to go, but watched the live stream. Anyone on here go?

I went on Saturday with my SIL and grandsons. There was a decent crowd in the General Admission section, but it was thin in the grandstands. RARA tried hard to sell those tickets, but not a lot of people bit on that, at least on Saturday. I watched some of the livestream yesterday and the stands looked mostly empty as well.
The airshow was very good, the pacing was about right, and the acts were interesting. Perfect weather didn't hurt either.

[Race5]

The grandstand project kinda surprised me as well as it appears there is other, high priority airport improvement to be done to support the racing classes. I kinda wonder what it would take to move the existing stuff from Reno. The reserve grandstand is quite the fixture, but maybe it will stay in Reno for future air shows?

The Roswell article mentions seating for 9600, which I'm guessing is smaller than Reno had? As others have mentioned, a bigger challenge is the lack of much lodging within a 3 hour drive.

The stands are staying at Reno. I think we will see airshows continue there, which is a major slap in the face. Probably not next year, but I think there will be one in 2026.

[Race5]

The grandstand project kinda surprised me as well as it appears there is other, high priority airport improvement to be done to support the racing classes. I kinda wonder what it would take to move the existing stuff from Reno. The reserve grandstand is quite the fixture, but maybe it will stay in Reno for future air shows?

The Roswell article mentions seating for 9600, which I'm guessing is smaller than Reno had? As others have mentioned, a bigger challenge is the lack of much lodging within a 3 hour drive.

The stands in Roswell will hold roughly the same amount of people that the main stands in Reno hold. There just won't be the additional temporary grandstands like there were in Reno.

[Race5]

Another thing to consider is they picked dates that are in direct conflict with the NM State Fair which is far and away the largest event in the state. The races will be directly competing for attendees and rental equipment etc needed to operate.