thumb|right|Official program for the National Air Races of 1929 in [[Cleveland]]

The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and showcase for this.

History

In 1920, publisher Ralph Pulitzer sponsored the Pulitzer Trophy Race and the Pulitzer Speed Trophy for military airplanes at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, in an effort to publicize aviation and his newspaper. The races eventually moved to Cleveland, in 1929, where they were known as the Cleveland National Air Races. They drew the best flyers of the time, including James Doolittle, Wiley Post, Tex Rankin, Frank Hawks, Jimmy Wedell, Roscoe Turner, and others from the pioneer age of aviation. These air races helped to inspire Donald Blakeslee as a young boy. Other races included in the U.S. National Air Races were the Mitchell Trophy Race, the Town & Country Club Race for civilians, the Kansas City Rotary Club Trophy "for all three military services," and the Glenn Curtiss Trophy Race for "biplanes with engines having less than ." During World War II the races were on hiatus.

After being on hiatus during the U.S. participation in World War II, the post-war races featured newer surplus military planes that greatly outclassed the planes from the pre-war era. In 1949 Bill Odom lost control of his P-51 "Beguine" and crashed into a Cleveland-area home, killing himself and two people. The races went on hiatus again.

The annual event resumed in 1964 as the Reno National Championship Air Races, taking place in mid-September.

  • 1921 Omaha, Nebraska, 3 November, Bert Acosta, 176.75 mph over a 30.7 mile triangle course

See also

  • Gordon Bennett Trophy (aeroplanes)
  • Dole Air Race
  • Halle Trophy Race
  • Schneider Trophy

References

  • Flight Centennial: National Air Race
  • Pulitzer Trophy
  • Movie of 1932 National Air Race, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Society of Air Racing Historians site
  • R.H.R Atcherly 1932 Cleveland Air Races Photographs, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University
  • Cleveland Air Races Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University
  • Official directory : National Air Races | Museum of Flight Digital Collections
  • Press and radio manual : 1938 National Air Races, Cleveland, Sept. 3,4,5 | Museum of Flight Digital Collections