Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Hosts 2^nd Annual Onward & Upward Virtual Race in Support of the Museum

October 1 – October 31, 2021

PENSACOLA, FLA. (Oct. 4, 2021) – The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation is hosting their second annual Onward & Upward virtual race experience this fall. Open to participants nationwide, the Onward & Upward Virtual Race registration portal opened on October 1. The virtual race will take place between October 1 and October 31. The race is open to participants of all ages. Participants can register online for the 1 mile, 5K or 10K distance for a $35 registration fee. All participants will receive a 4.5” spinning Blue Angels 75th Anniversary race medal spotlighting some of the team’s historic aircraft.

The National Naval Aviation Museum has several historic Blue Angel jets on display including four former Blue Angel A-4 Skyhawks hanging from the seven-story steel atrium. One of the Museum’s outdoor aircraft pads displays an F/A-18A Hornet. The Blue Angels flew their first show in the F/A-18 Hornet in 1987 and it is the longest-serving aircraft in their history. This season the squadron celebrates their 75th anniversary with new aircraft, debuting the squadron’s more powerful Super Hornets.

Part of every registration supports the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation which helps preserve the National Naval Aviation Museum’s rare and unique collection of aircraft and exhibits. The virtual race includes a spinning 4.5” Blue Angels 75th Anniversary race medal, digital race bib and a charitable donation to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

“We were thrilled with the success of the 2020 Onward & Upward virtual race and the impressive participation from over 500 racers from around the world,” said retired Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “We’re excited to celebrate 75 years of our Blue Angels and aviation excellence.”

The virtual race is to support Naval Aviation history and to honor our nation’s heroes including servicemen and servicewomen. The Foundation is encouraging participants nationwide to use #OnwardUpward and @navalaviationmuseum on social media to share photos, running courses and stories of participation as well as those being honored.

A virtual race allows participants to choose the distance, time and place to complete the race. To register for the Onward and Upward Virtual Race, visit https://navalaviationfoundation.org/virtualrace/ or contact the Museum Foundation for more information at namfoffice@navalaviationmuseum.org.

Media Note: For more information about the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, contact Malerie Cates at (850) 585-2770 or mcates@navalaviationmuseum.org.

About the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation

The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation is the nonprofit, 501(c)(3), sole benefactor to the National Naval Aviation Museum—and the fuel that allows the museum to take flight. The Foundation is responsible for funding all museum operation, expansion and activity. The Foundation works diligently to raise funding through gifts and memberships. All funding, aside from Foundation staffing and operational costs, goes to the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the museum, including museum expansion, aircraft preservation, conservation and maintenance, development of new exhibits and support of day to day functions—including custodial services, marketing, operation of the Museum’s various attractions (such as our Naval Aviation Memorial Giant Screen Theater, flight simulators, Blue Angels 4D Experience and Flight Deck gift shop), as well as the production of major events at the Museum. The Foundation also supports the advancement of STEM education through the National Flight Academy, a cutting edge, aviation-themed learning experience.