When it comes to general aviation, there is no place like Alaska. And when it comes to sled dog racing, there is nothing like the Iditarod. Combine those two and you have one of the most unique operations in all of aviation: the Iditarod Air Force.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a nearly 1,000-mile-long endeavor that takes the most competitive teams a little more than one week to complete from Anchorage to Nome. Because of the remote nature of the race, it relies almost completely on general aviation air support. The Iditarod Air Force is an all-volunteer group of more than 20 pilots and their airplanes plus support crew who coordinate and fly a variety of supplies, veterinarians, and race officials to and from the 20-plus mandatory checkpoints along the race.