Matthew Menza prepares for debut at National Championship Air Races in Roswell
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 2:30 PM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026
MotorsportsRetired Navy pilot Matthew Menza is set to compete in the Jet Class at the National Championship Air Races held September 16-20 at the Roswell Air Center in New Mexico. Menza will pilot his 1979 Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros, nicknamed “The Patriot,” around an 11-mile course featuring 50-foot pylons. As a newcomer to air racing, he intends to complete ground school and certification flights before qualifying for the event. His aircraft, which remains in stock condition, is expected to contend in the Silver or Bronze field against modified jets. The race involves flying in close proximity to other aircraft at speeds up to 600 mph, requiring pilots to navigate wake turbulence at low altitudes. Menza’s pit crew, led by his wife, Tara Menza, will manage maintenance and refueling operations throughout the competition.
- •The National Championship Air Races run from September 16 to September 20.
- •Matthew Menza will pilot a stock L-39C Albatros jet in the Jet Class.
- •The race course is 11 miles long with jets flying at speeds up to 600 mph.
- •Pilots must complete certification flights before qualifying for the Gold, Silver, or Bronze fields.
- •The competition requires flying in formation and managing wake turbulence at 50 feet above the ground.
- 2:30 PMYahoo Sports — Longmont pilot prepares to race jet 50 feet above New Mexico desert
"Matthew Menza is most comfortable in the air. A retired Navy pilot with more than 8,000 flight hours, Menza has flown more than 60 types of aircraft. Later this month, he will test that experience in an entirely new way: racing a jet roughly 50 feet above the New Mexico desert while managing G-forces, turbulent air and several other aircraft traveling around the same course. Menza is preparing ...
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