Revived Air Competition with a Skilled F-22 Pilot's Unique Approach by the Air Force
In a nod to aviation history, the United States Air Force resurrected the Mitchell Trophy Air Race after an 89-year hiatus. This competition, initially conceived in 1922, was designed to prepare F-22 pilots and ground crews for future conflicts while fostering a spirit of camaraderie and competition.
Three squadrons from the 1st Fighter Wing, based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, sent two F-22 fighters each to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. This decade-long contest saw pilots venture through below-freezing temperatures and winds up to 30 mph to sign the guest register at the Selfridge Military Air Museum.
The museum, home to a roster of former presidents, high-ranking military officials, and aviation icons since 1987, played host to the pilots. Competing teams had to locate the museum on their own before running back to their jets and returning to Virginia, where the trophy awaited.
In its humble beginnings, the race followed a 20-mile course marked by pylons, with pilots completing five laps in open-cockpit biplanes. Initially named after 1st Lt. John Lendrum Mitchell Jr., a 1st Pursuit Group pilot who perished in a flying accident during World War I, the race was held 12 times between 1922 and 1936, with five editions at Selfridge.
The Air Force brought the Mitchell Trophy Air Race back to life this year in anticipation of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercises. ACE, a strategy aimed at dispersing Airmen to smaller air bases, complicates targeting for potential adversaries like Russia and China. By simulating the logistical challenges associated with ACE, the race helped prepare pilots and ground crews for future conflict scenarios.
The 27th, 71st, and 94th Fighter Squadrons, known respectively as the "Fightin Eagles," the "Ironmen," and the "Hat-in-the-Ring," contested for the trophy. Participants received their mission on the morning of the race on March 6, though it had been preceded by social media announcements in the weeks prior. The ground crews raced against the clock to launch and arm the jets, fostering collaboration and teamwork under realistic, stressful conditions.
The first pilot to sign the guest register was Capt. Marbro from the 27th Fighter Squadron, while Lt. Col. Devil, commander of the 94th Fighter Squadron, greeted 20 bystanders before returning to his jet. Despite the friendly competition, the 94th Fighter Squadron and the 94th Fighter Generation Squadron took home the trophy. The event, though not without a dash of excitement and camaraderie, served as a valuable training ground for the Air Force.
"We saw a level of excitement from Airmen that we don't normally see," said Joshua Lashley, the 1st Fighter Wing historian. "This competition fostered the development of new tactics that could make us faster and more lethal in future conflicts." This sentiment echoes the broader principle behind ACE training, namely the importance of adaptability, operational readiness, and teamwork in evolving warfare scenarios.
- The aircraft used in the Air Force's revived Mitchell Trophy Air Race are armed with weapons, preparing pilots and ground crews for future military conflicts.
- The Air Force's Space Force and Air Force pilots are not only involved in aviation sports but also in preparing for security challenges in space.
- The competition hosted by the Air Force, the Mitchell Trophy Air Race, is designed not only to foster camaraderie and competition among pilots but also to simulate the logistical challenges of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercises.
- The Air Force's strategy, Agile Combat Employment (ACE), aims to complicate targeting for potential adversaries such as Russia and China by dispersing Airmen to smaller air bases.
- The Mitchell Trophy Air Race, initially conceived 100 years ago, has resumed now to prepare pilots and ground crews for the challenges of modern warfare, including those in the space force.
