US Pilot Melissa Burns Secures Spot in AIR RACE X 2026 Series, to Join Extreme Boot Camp in Japan

US pilot Melissa Burns, the second female pilot in the series following Emma McDonald, and Canada’s Micheal Tryggvason, known for his highly precise flying skills, have been selected among the eight elite pilots from five continents for the 2026 series.

To adapt to the intense competitive environment, pilots will join a week-long rigorous camp held at Fukushima Sky Park, the base of world champion Yoshihide Muroya.

The competition is based on actual flight data. Piloting skills under extreme conditions of low-altitude and up to 10G will be scientifically analyzed and evaluated.

Beyond flight, pilots will learn to survive as “professional athletes,” gaining essential sponsorship acquisition skills to sustain their careers in this high-cost motorsport.

AIR RACE X has officially finalized its grid of eight elite pilots from five continents for the upcoming 2026 series. Breaking into this top-tier motorsport from North America are Melissa Burns (USA) and Micheal Tryggvason (Canada). Burns, an American pilot with advanced flying ability, represents a new generation of female competitors, becoming the second female pilot in the series following Emma McDonald. Burns joins the roster bringing her highly precise flying skills, ready to prove her mettle against the world’s best.

AIR RACE X is an aerial motorsport racing series in which pilots fly high-performance aircraft through a technical racetrack designed to push the limits of precision, speed, and control while competing for the fastest time.

Flying at speeds of up to 400 km/h and experiencing forces of up to 12G, pilots compete at the highest level of aerial performance, where precision flying and split-second decisions determine the winners. Points are awarded based on race rankings, and the season champion is crowned by the total points accumulated across the series.

This season features four races held in locations around the world. The arrival of two rising new challengers sets the stage for a dramatic shift in the competitive landscape as they take on the established champions.

Across the four rounds, every point will matter. A fierce battle for the crown of the skies is about to begin.

To prepare for the demanding season, the new pilots will head to Japan for the first-ever AIR RACE X Pilot Academy. The rigorous camp will take place at Fukushima Sky Park, a world-class training environment that produced a world champion. Over the course of a week, pilots will participate in intense camp to safely maneuver in the low-altitude, high-G environments (capped at 10G for this camp) required of race pilots. Furthermore, they will undergo business training to secure sponsorships, developing as true professionals both in the sky and on the ground.

“Fukushima has an exceptionally wonderful flight environment, among the best in the world. The first international AIR RACE X Pilot Academy marks an important milestone in the history of aerial motorsport. Very few pilots reach this world-class level of aviation sports, and we look forward to seeing them begin that journey here in Fukushima.”