There will be a fundraiser — in the form of a “Hangar Dance” — for the Middle Tennessee State University 2023 Air Race Classic team, and the public is invited to help the team get airborne.

The fundraising event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 19, in the Donald McDonald Hangar at the MTSU Aerospace Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, 1940 Memorial Blvd. 

Supporters can enjoy live music, line dancing, a silent auction and more activities to help MTSU Department of Aerospace professional pilot majors Farilyn Hurt, Alyssa Smith and Briana McDonald, who will be competing in next month’s Air Race Classic.

The June 17-21 race begins in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and ends in Homestead, Florida, covering 2.400 miles in four days. The route does not take it through Murfreesboro this year.

“We are accepting donations, which will go toward travel expenses, lodging and more for our flight crew team during the race,” McDonald said.

Silent auction items include airplane rides, local restaurant gift cards and more. Cliffs Smokin BBQ food truck will provide food options.

MTSU last competed in the Air Race Classic, an all-female transcontinental flying competition, in 2018.

Support for the team also can be handled through a special website if you can’t attend the fundraiser.

MTSU Air Race Classic ground crew members include Rachel Frankenberger, Casey Davis, Hailey Harrison, Katie Thayer and Denisa Pravotiakova.

The Air Race Classic website contains more details about the event, which began in 1929.

For more information about the Professional Pilot Program at MTSU, visit www.mtsu.edu/programs/pro-pilot.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)