The Hayward Air Rally is celebrating its 51st anniversary in 2015 with a one day Air Rally to Bend, Oregon.
Over the 50 year history of the Hayward Air Rally, originally known as the Hayward-Las Vegas Air Race, the event has been a single day of flying and competition. The exception was the 2014 50th anniversary flight to Oshkosh, which took three days.
The Hayward Air Rally gives aviators a chance to test their flight planning, navigational skills, pilotage skills and have a fun day flying.
The rally is a 500-mile VFR cross-country challenge that is flown in two legs. This year the ultimate destination is Bend, Oregon. The two legs are HWD (Hayward, Calif.,) to RDD (Redding, Calif.) and then RDD (Redding, Calif.) to BDN (Bend, Ore).
The Hayward Air Rally is not a speed event or a race. Scoring is determined by fuel management, time management and navigational skills.
This year’s Hayward Air Rally will be held June 11-13. All types of aircraft types are accepted, including Light Sport Aircraft.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhXQqi6ixd8&w=420&h=315]
On June 11, pilots and their aircraft will check in at the Hayward Airport between noon and 4 p.m. Aircraft are then fueled and impounded. After the aircraft are impounded and the pilot and crew check in, they will be given a Rally Course POH, which contains a detailed description of the Rally route and the procedures to follow while participating on the Rally course.
With the Rally Course POH in hand, pilots and crews will then begin to plan their route, including fuel and time. The pilot may plan to fly any route so long as she or he finds the check points in order as described in the Rally Course POH.
A mandatory flight briefing is also held at 4 p.m. on Thursday. All participants must attend. Each aircraft will have a GPS tracking device on board.
June 12 is the day of the Rally. Along with refreshments, there is a weather briefing at 7:15 a.m. At 8 a.m. pilots and crews have their pictures taken in front of each participating aircraft. Aircraft begin taking off one by one between 8:30 and 10 a.m., weather permitting. There is usually one minute between departing aircraft. The Rally Course POH has detailed instructions on departure from Hayward.
The first leg of the Rally course ends at RDD, where fuel usage is measured by a calibrated fuel truck and a lunch break can be had if desired. Timing for the first leg is done over a fixed spot as described in the Rally Course POH a few miles before RDD. The second leg finishes the Rally at BDN where fuel usage is again measured by a calibrated fuel truck. Timing for the second leg is done over a fixed spot as described in the Rally Course POH a few miles before BDN.
June 13 is the Hayward Air Rally banquet. Pilots, crews and guests are welcomed to an evening of food, trophies, awards and door prizes.
For most, Sunday is the trip home, although some stay to enjoy the Bend area.
Rally proceeds this year go to fund three EAA Air Academy Scholarships. The scholarships are available to qualified applicants in the areas of Hayward airport, Redding airport and Bend Airport.
First time entrants receive a discount of $100 off of the full entry fee. There is also a $50 early entry discount offered. Click here for more information and to download an entry form.