Two Liberty University School of Aeronautics female student-pilot teams, the Liberty Belles, will compete in the historic all-female Air Race Classic June 20-22. Image: Chase Gyles/Contributed

The Liberty University School of Aeronautics will send two student-pilot teams to compete in the historic all-female Air Race Classic June 20-22. The Liberty Belles leave early this Thursday, June 15, from Lynchburg. The 2,685-mile route begins in Grand Forks, N.D., and ends in Homestead, Fla., near Miami.

This is the 46th year for the race that celebrates women in aviation. It was inspired by the Women’s Air Derby that started in 1929 and featured Amelia Earhart among its competitors. The race has featured female pilots as young as 17 and as old as 94 from a wide variety of backgrounds. The Liberty teams will be among 19 teams representing collegiate programs. A total of 44 teams are registered for the event.

For more information on the race, visit www.airraceclassic.org/race-information.htm.

This is also in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.