Photo: Caroline Baldwin of Silver City and her daughter, Lydia Baldwin of Colorado, will once again fly the Air Race Classic. Joining them will be Caroline's granddaughter, Cara Baldwin.

Silver City, NM – Local pilot Caroline Baldwin will soar across the country in her team's small airplane as they compete in the 2014 Air Race Classic (ARC) this summer which begins June 16 in Concord, California, and spans over 2,338 nautical miles.

Racers will undergo briefings, flight planning, and fly¬-by study prior to take off. The race is an annual all-female pilot air race in which pilots race against their own best speed in the plane of their choice. There are, however, limitations: the aircraft must be "stock" small aircraft and have their handicap speed identified with a check pilot. They will zoom through ten intermediate stops in four days en route to New Cumberland, Pennsylvania in the quest for the fastest time. This is the tenth Air Race Classic for Caroline Baldwin, who races with family members as teammates.

"Team Baldwin Family Flyers is Caroline Baldwin, Lydia Baldwin & Cara Baldwin," according to http://baldwinfamilyflyers.blogspot.com "Yes - we are part of a family! And - we love to fly. Why do we participate in the Air Race Classic? Because we enjoy the challenge of racing, the adventure of cross-country flying, the friendships along the way and in between, and the time together. We will cross new territory, face new feats and laugh often."

The ARC carries on the long tradition of women's air racing that dates back to 1929. Air racing became popular in the 1920's, but women pilots were forbidden to race against the men in that era, so the ladies started their own. This year's ARC will have fifty teams and over one hundred female pilots compete for the championship title. Asked why she flies the ARC, Caroline said, "I race for the adventure and challenge, to learn more about flying and this wonderful country, and to enjoy the excitement and the camaraderie of the ARC community."

Visit http://www.airraceclassic.org/2014race.asp for more information on the race.