ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) - Delta County Airport in Escanaba was a checkpoint for the 26th annual Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Cup Race on Sunday.
The airport was a waypoint to 85 pilots who flew over 400 nautical miles across the U.P. and parts of Wisconsin.
“Originally, it started as a homage to homebuilders of airplanes because airplanes started as homebuilt, right?” EAA Cup Race Judge Mark Foster said. “The Wright Brothers, homebuilders.”
He said planes are divided into categories depending on their type. Pilots race for the fastest times.
Foster said this year saw the largest number of participants.
He added that the fastest planes could finish the race in an hour, whereas the slowest could take two.
The judges account for the planes and ensure they don’t cut corners.
“We want to see every one of those airplanes go over every single turn point,” Foster said. “If somebody doesn’t show up at a turn point for some reason, we track them down, make sure they’re okay.”
Delta County Airport Manager Robert Ranstadler said safety is a priority.
“That often presents some hazards and some problems, especially over a populated area, so to mitigate any risk and to make it a safe and fun race as possible, the pilots are kind of racing against themselves, racing against the clock,” Ranstadler added.
He said it’s an honor for the airport to be a waypoint. As the airport’s new manager, he hoped to get the airport more involved with the community.
“Showing the community as a whole what the worth of the airport is,” Ranstadler said. “This is just one of the great examples of how the airport itself can bring more exposure to what we’re doing here in Delta County and Escanaba.”
Pilots finished the race in Wassau, Wisconsin, where it also began. Foster said winners receive trophies and bragging rights.
Learn more about the race here.
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