Flights to be halted for three hours at Reagan National during Freedom 250 Grand Prix
by Brad Matthews · The Washington TimesFlights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will stop for three hours on Aug. 23 to keep the skies clear ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that flights will be paused at Reagan National from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. because of the IndyCar Series race being held around the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol. The FAA also noted that the times could change.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said earlier this summer that there would be flight adjustments at Reagan National, which it administers, around events organized by Freedom 250 because of planned flyovers and aerial displays.
The FAA did not specify the activity that will require the use of the airspace on the day of the race.
As currently scheduled, the pause on flights at Reagan National will end just minutes into the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which is slated to start at about 1:10 p.m. and end about 3:40 p.m., according to the official event website.
The event is the first auto race to ever be held on D.C.’s streets.
The 1.7-mile track starts on Third Street Southwest just across from the U.S. Capitol, followed by a turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest and three turns in quick succession onto Ninth Street Northwest, Constitution Avenue Northwest and Seventh Street Northwest around the National Archives.
After another straight section, the track has a turn onto Independence Avenue Southwest and two final turns onto Maryland Avenue Southwest and back onto Third Street Southwest.
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Event organizers announced this month that the race will include 147 laps, up from the usual 125 laps, to bring the total amount of miles driven to 250 miles in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
The race will include an additional pit stop in a separate lane on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest past the first turn, event organizers said.
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