What is the Iditarod Air Force?
What is the Iditarod Air Force?
The Iditarod Air Force is a team of 30 or so local bush pilots who fly from checkpoint to checkpoint—or dip down in between, should the call go out—supporting the sled teams like a flying pit crew. Their job starts two weeks before the race, hauling supplies into place.
What is the purpose of the Iditarod Air Force?
From a logistical viewpoint, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race is dependent upon the IAF, a group of volunteer pilots who freely give up their time, use their own planes, and share their years of experience. The IAF accomplishes MANY things: delivering supplies and goods to all of the checkpoints.
What is the name of the volunteer group of pilots who are involved with the Iditarod?
Iditarod Air Force The IAF
Iditarod Air Force The IAF, as it is known locally, is a team made up of 28 intrepid volunteer bush pilots that donate their planes, time, and experience for the month-long event every March.
Is the Iditarod trail marked?
After years of effort by Redington and the Alaska Congressional delegation, the Iditarod was designated as a National Historic Trail in 1978.
Who won the Iditarod the most times?
Record holders
| Musher | Year(s) | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Swenson | 1977-79-81-82-91 | Most Times Won (5) |
| Lance Mackey | 2007-08-09-10 | Most Consecutive Wins (4) |
| Mary Shields | 1974 | First Woman to Finish |
| Libby Riddles | 1985 | First Woman to Win |
What is a dropped dog?
Dropped dogs are dogs that are removed from the race for one reason or another. A dog that isn’t feeling well, has an injury, isn’t running well, is in season, or just doesn’t have the attitude to race, are ‘dropped’ at checkpoints along the Iditarod Trail. The musher’s team goes on without the dog.
Why is it called Iditarod?
James Kari, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska Native Language Center in 1979 stated: “The name Iditarod came from an Ingalik and Holikachuk word hidedhod for the Iditarod River. This name means distant or distant place.
What are 3 mandatory items mushers carry?
Each musher must carry mandatory items: a sleeping bag, an axe, a pair of snowshoes, eight booties for each dog etc.. The musher will be disqualified for cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs or for improper dog care. No drugs may be used by a musher or given to a dog.
Who were the oldest and youngest mushers to race the Iditarod?
Seavey and his son Dallas are now the oldest and youngest winning mushers in Iditarod history. Dallas Seavey was 25 when he won the race in 2012.
How many humans have died in the Iditarod?
Smoke, a 2-year-old from the team of musher Scott Smith, died of hypothermia on a plane after being dropped from the race, while Groovy was killed by a car after he escaped a handler.15,16It has been estimated that the Iditarod death rate is 2.9 fatalities for every 1,000 competitors; if the Boston Marathon suffered …
Has anyone died on the Iditarod?
No human has ever died in the Iditarod: This is a snow hook. In 1990, a musher was reported to have killed his sled dog with a snow hook during the Iditarod.
Is Iditarod cruel to dogs?
From vomiting and frostbitten dogs to exhaustion, illness, and injury so severe that dogs were removed from the trail, the 2020 Iditarod stayed the course in terms of cruelty. Dogs will suffer horribly as long as this despicable race continues, which is why PETA is calling for this year to be its last.