Sean Chaffin
Planes will soon be in the air as the National Championship Air Races and Air Show takes flight once again at the Roswell Air Center from Sept. 16-20.
This marks the second year the event has been held in Roswell and those in attendance can expect pilots battling it out on the high-speed course and a daily airshow, along with hands-on aviation, science and technology activities.
Attendance is expected to reach between 70,000 and 80,000 people after last year’s event drew participants from 48 states and six different countries. The races will include seven classes of competition this year, the full slate from when the races were previously held in Reno, Nevada until 2025. This increased the number of aircraft from 42 to 88.
The airport also saw some infrastructure changes this year in preparation for the event, including burying power lines and installing drainage piping. Air Center Director and Assistant City Manager Bobbi Thompson said that these permanent safety enhancements add to the airport beyond simply hosting the races.
Planning for the event has been months in the making, Thompson added.
Organizers noted that Roswell has been ideal for the event. Unlike Reno, there are no mountains and gullies to plan around. The airport offers flat, open space, which is great for aircraft speeding through the sky.
Thompson said the racing organization even noted that the airport was the safest course the competition had ever had. Now that the word is out about the success of the first event, she believes the 2026 Air Races will bring even more people to town.
“I think last year some people that would normally come held off because they said, ‘Well, I don’t know if that new site’s going to work,’” she says. “Then they heard from the race teams how well it worked and how great the people in Roswell are. Overwhelmingly, we kept hearing that the people in Roswell are so nice, and that word got around.”
City hopes for big economic impact
City officials say that the Air Races produced an estimated total economic impact of $29.9 million in 2025. That total is expected to increase by up to $15 million with benefits spread across Roswell, Artesia, Ruidoso, and the state via increased economic activity at hotels, restaurants, and retail.
Some of those funds also benefit local students. A STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program affiliated with the air races provides $50,000 in scholarships at Eastern New Mexico University Roswell for students seeking airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificates, FAA mechanic recognition to maintain, inspect, and repair civilian aircraft.
Another 15 pilot scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded as well. The city of Roswell also receives an annual fee from the event and a percentage of RV and automobile parking.
Thompson says the Air Races simply make for a great event for fans locally and around the country.
“It’s like so many things you do in life; it’s the people that you work with and the friends you make over the years,” she says. “We call it the September family and it truly is.”
New Mexico-based team set to compete
New Mexicans heading to the airport may want to keep an eye out for Team Zia Jet Racing. The Albuquerque-based racing team will bring two Aero L-29 Delfín jets to compete.
An L-29 is a military jet trainer modified to race at speeds reaching 400 mph, exemplifying the speeds some of the aircraft competing on site can reach. Team Zia races out of Double Eagle Airport and is excited to be part of the festivities.
“This is going to be the second biggest aviation event in the state of New Mexico, and we should be really proud that we have it,” team co-founder Scott Weaver told KOAT. “The pilots are, more importantly, more excited about being down there. The Thunderbirds will be down there this year. We have all seven classes of airplane racing. They love the facility, they love the terrain, they love the people of Roswell.”
This year’s volunteer corps is estimated to reach at least 600 and organizers. Thompson says those who get involved are in for a great experience.
“I think the people that volunteered last year are coming back this year with friends because they had a good time,” Thompson says. “And of course, if you volunteer, you get free tickets too.”
For more information and ticket information visit airrace.org.
