Springfield, Ohio, has been chosen as the host city for the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race, marking the 100-year revival of the historic aviation competition.
Slated for October 10-13, 2025, the event aims to spotlight advancements in electric flight and showcase Ohio’s position as a leader in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Organised by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute (AAMI) in partnership with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the race will feature a cross-country competition for electric aircraft, including eCTOL, eSTOL, and eVTOL designs.
Springfield was selected through a competitive process that saw Salinas and Stockton, California, as the other two finalists. Dan Sloat, Executive Producer of the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race and Founder of the Advanced Air Mobility Institute highlighted the rigorous evaluation process.
“Our Steering Committee produced an RFP calling for cities and airports with air show experience to submit competitive bids. By early February, we had narrowed the field to the top three finalists and conducted panel interviews. It was a close decision, with second place finishing less than four points behind Springfield out of a possible 100,” Sloat told Zag Daily.
The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport will serve as the event hub, leveraging its dedicated airspace and research facilities.
The site’s proximity to key AAM players, including Joby Aviation’s eVTOL manufacturing facility in Dayton, is expected to boost industry participation.
“Joby will be manufacturing their eVTOLs in the nearby town of Dayton where the Wright Brothers once hailed,” Sloat explained.
“Naturally, we hope the close proximity to Springfield encourages them to participate in the event weekend in whichever ways they prefer. At the very least, I’m sure attendees would love to see an S-4 demo flight and even more so to compete in this historic race!”
Sloat also hopes the event will attract a broad audience beyond aviation experts. “We’re really excited about showcasing the progress in AAM to a much wider audience than this sector is typically able to attract. This is our primary public awareness campaign,” he said.
