AIR RACE X
AIR RACE X is a Tokyo-based aerial motorsport series that organizes remote-format racing where elite pilots fly standardized Zivko Edge 540 courses from home bases worldwide, with results determined by proprietary RDU telemetry and broadcast globally via YouTube and XR viewing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AIR RACE X does
AIR RACE X is a Tokyo-headquartered, private aerial motorsport organizer founded in 2023 by former Red Bull Air Race pilots Yoshihide Muroya, Matt Hall, and Pete McLeod, with operations administered through Pathfinder Inc. (株式会社パスファインダー) and a stated 1-10 employee base led by CEO and Race Director Desmond Barry. The company runs a next-generation air racing championship in which elite pilots fly identical Zivko Edge 540 aircraft (530 kg airframe, Lycoming engine, 12G structural limit, 426 km/h maximum velocity) through standardized three-dimensional courses at speeds up to 370 km/h into the start gate and forces up to 12G. The core product is the championship itself, executed across three race formats: Multi-Location Races (pilots fly from home bases worldwide on identical course configurations), Digital Rounds (XR-overlaid urban spectator experiences in Shibuya, Osaka, and Fukushima), and traditional Live Races.
The proprietary technology stack is built around the Remote Data Unit (RDU) carried on every race aircraft, which records position, speed, altitude, and G-forces at centimeter-level precision and serves as the basis for results and penalty decisions. Each run is gated by a single-use token issued by the AIR RACE X race system, with pilots given a 90-minute window to complete the run and upload data. A proprietary handicap algorithm equalizes results across geographic locations by compensating for altitude, temperature, and air density using official weather data, leaving wind as the only uncorrected variable. For spectators, AIR RACE X integrates with STYLY (Psychic VR Lab), a spatial-computing platform that overlays real flight data onto urban environments for viewing on smartphones or head-mounted displays. Course specifications include 15 gates and 5 reversal turns per race, with 3 high turns requiring climb-roll-and-dive maneuvers. The 2026 season runs four rounds (Races 1-4 scheduled June 28, July 19, August 16, and September 13), all streaming globally at 12:00 UTC on the official @AIRRACEX YouTube channel.
AIR RACE X monetizes the championship through four revenue streams: event sponsorship (Lexus is a multi-year anchor sponsor through the LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING team, alongside Yamaha, J. Front Retailing, Tokyu Land, and TV Asahi), host city fees (cities including Shibuya, Osaka, and Fukushima pay for urban event integration via dedicated inquiry forms), pilot NFTs and digital collectibles sold through a Web3 partnership with Sky Perfect JSAT (with a portion of proceeds returned to pilots), and live event revenue split across free venues (Miyashita Park, Shibuya Sakura Stage) and paid venues (SHIBUYA QWS). Customer segmentation is horizontal: B2C motorsport and aviation enthusiasts consume content via YouTube and in-person viewing; B2B corporate sponsors seek brand association with extreme sport and frontier technology; and municipal host cities pursue urban activation and tourism. The company also operates the AIR RACE X Pilot Academy at Fukushima Sky Park, a week-long training camp capped at 10G that develops incoming pilots into professional athletes.
AIR RACE X firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AIR RACE X
- Legal name
- AIR RACE X
- Website
- https://airracex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AIR RACE X is a Tokyo-based aerial motorsport series that organizes remote-format racing where elite pilots fly standardized Zivko Edge 540 courses from home bases worldwide, with results determined by proprietary RDU telemetry and broadcast globally via YouTube and XR viewing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AIR RACE X industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial motorsport
- NAICS
- Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aerial Adventure & Flight Schools (Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Paramotoring) (THAAAKAA)
Keywords
Where AIR RACE X is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
AIR RACE X business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Sponsorship: AIR RACE X seeks sponsors through an inquiry form on its website. The contact page includes options for sponsorship inquiries, host city partnerships, and media requests. Sponsorship appears to be a primary revenue stream for this motorsport series.
- Host City Fees: AIR RACE X partners with cities to host events, collecting fees for setting up racetracks and enabling public viewing experiences in urban locations. Contact form includes specific 'Host City' inquiry type.
- Pilot NFT and Digital Items: Digital items and Pilot NFTs sold through partnerships with Web3 services like Skyperfectv Voting. A portion of digital item sales is returned to pilots as direct support.
- Live Event Revenue: Revenue generated from live race events, spectator venues, and viewing experiences. Some venues charge admission fees (e.g., SHIBUYA QWS viewing venue), while others are free (e.g., Miyashita Park, Shibuya Sakura Stage).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
AIR RACE X product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIR RACE X organizes and operates a global aerial motorsport championship in which elite pilots fly identical Zivko Edge 540 aircraft through standardized 3D racetracks at speeds up to 426 km/h and forces up to 12G, competing for time and precision. The series uses a multi-location race format where pilots fly from their home bases worldwide, with results determined by centimeter-precision flight data captured by proprietary Remote Data Units (RDUs), and pairs this with a Digital Round format that overlays real flight data onto urban environments via XR technology for spectator viewing. Revenue is generated from corporate sponsorships, host-city partnerships, paid public viewing venues, and a share of Pilot NFT sales.
Product overview
AIR RACE X is a next-generation aerial motorsport that operates as a unified championship combining Multi-Location Races and Live Races under unified competition standards. The core product is the AIR RACE X Championship itself, where eight elite pilots compete across multiple race formats including Multi-Location Race (where pilots fly from their home bases worldwide), Live Race (pilots compete at a single venue), and Digital Round (using XR/AR technology for urban spectating). Supporting technology includes the Remote Data Unit (RDU) for precise flight data measurement and the Handicap System for performance equalization. The Zivko Edge 540 aircraft is the standardized racing platform. Additional offerings include the UNLOCK companion show for viewer engagement and the AIR RACE X Pilot Academy for pilot development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AIR RACE X Championship The world's premier air racing championship in which eight elite pilots fly standardized Zivko Edge 540 aircraft through 3D precision courses at speeds up to 426 km/h and forces up to 12G, competing for time and precision. Points are awarded across multiple rounds with results determined by centimeter-precision flight data. The championship is sold to fans globally via YouTube broadcast, to spectators via physical public viewing venues, and to corporate sponsors and host cities via partnership agreements.
- AIR RACE X Pilot Academy Week-long rigorous training camp held at Fukushima Sky Park where pilots learn to maneuver in low-altitude, high-G environments (capped at 10G for safety training) and develop professional athlete skills including sponsorship acquisition. Offered to incoming pilots entering the championship.
- UNLOCK Companion Show Official companion show that explains the rules, scoring, and pilot roster of AIR RACE X to new viewers, distributed via the official YouTube channel. Aimed at mid-funnel audience education and fan engagement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Centimeter-level precision in position and time measurement
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AIR RACE X
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AIR RACE X technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
AIR RACE X partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Sky Perfect JSATminorSky Perfect JSAT provides the Web3 service 'Skyperfectv Voting' for the AIR RACE X 2024 prediction challenge. The platform allows fans to purchase Pilot NFTs and vote on race outcomes.
- LexuscoreLexus is a long-standing partner of Yoshihide Muroya through the LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING team. The partnership has extended to technical development of aircraft, applying automotive engineering insights to refine the relationship between pilot and machine.
- STYLYcoreSTYLY is a real metaverse platform provided by Psychic VR Lab that enables XR content creation linked to urban spaces. The platform visualizes race aircraft flying through city streets using AR technology for spectator experiences at venues worldwide.
- Pathfinder Inc.corePathfinder Inc. is the organizing committee member responsible for AIR RACE X operations. The company handles event organization, pilot management, and series administration.
- Strategic Partners Inc.coreStrategic Partners Inc. is an organizing committee member for AIR RACE X, contributing to the strategic direction and execution of the series.
- Shibuya Future DesignminorShibuya Future Design is an organizing committee member helping to integrate AIR RACE X events with urban spaces in Shibuya.
- TV AsahiminorTV Asahi serves as a media partner for AIR RACE X, providing broadcast coverage and media support for Japanese audiences.
- Shibuya QWSminorShibuya QWS serves as a paid public viewing venue for AIR RACE X Digital Round events, offering XR viewing experiences with head-mounted displays.
- J. Front Retailing Inc.minorJ. Front Retailing Inc. is a partnership sponsor contributing to AIR RACE X events, with Shibuya Sakura Stage serving as a free viewing venue.
- Tokyu Land CorporationminorTokyu Land Corporation is a partnership sponsor for AIR RACE X, supporting urban venue integration for race events.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AIR RACE X competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Gravity Industries: A jet-suit flight company producing aerial racing/exhibition events with technology-driven spectator experiences — adjacent niche within extreme aerial sport that targets similar sponsorship, event, and media-rights opportunities as AIR RACE X.
- SailGP: A technology-enabled global sailing league with identical boats, data-driven officiating, and a centralized media operation — operates on the same 'league model' chassis AIR RACE X is building, adapted from a sailing format rather than air racing.
Broad incumbents
- Formula E: A global, technology-forward single-seater championship built around electric powertrains and city-street venues — a comparable blueprint for a new-format motorsport league that monetizes through city partnerships, OEM sponsorships, and broadcast rights.
- Red Bull: The dominant extreme-sports and motorsport IP owner/operator with global media, sponsorship, and event infrastructure — sets the ceiling and incumbent standard AIR RACE X must compete against for sponsors, athletes, and viewer attention in extreme aerial sports.
- Extreme E: An off-road electric SUV racing series built around environmental narrative, remote locations, and sponsor-friendly storytelling — shares AIR RACE X's event-as-IP, sponsorship-driven economics for an emerging-format motorsport league.
- World Rally Championship (WRC): An FIA-governed multi-round championship operating across multiple host countries per season with manufacturer and sponsor participation — comparable in championship structure, multi-venue calendar, and international pilot base to AIR RACE X's format.
Others
- Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): The international governing body for air sports including aerobatics and air racing — sets regulatory frameworks and hosts World Aerobatic Championships that compete for the same pilots, host-city partnerships, and broadcast windows AIR RACE X targets.
Direct peers
- Drone Racing League: DRL runs a global drone racing championship with technology-enabled officiating, league-style format, and broadcast-first distribution — the closest structural analog to AIR RACE X's multi-location, data-officiated, streaming-driven model.
- Red Bull Air Race: The direct predecessor series AIR RACE X evolved from, organized by Red Bull with elite aerobatic pilots on identical courses; AIR RACE X's co-founders (Muroya, Hall, McLeod) and many pilots competed in this championship before its 2019 discontinuation.
- Reno Air Races: The longest-running air racing event in the United States, featuring fixed-wing aircraft competing on pylons around a closed course — the most established traditional air racing format against which AIR RACE X positions its multi-location, XR-enabled alternative.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AIR RACE X social profiles
Digital presenceAIR RACE X financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AIR RACE X leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
AIR RACE X funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AIR RACE X M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AIR RACE X
What does AIR RACE X do?
AIR RACE X organizes and operates a global aerial motorsport championship in which elite pilots fly identical Zivko Edge 540 aircraft through standardized 3D racetracks at speeds up to 426 km/h and forces up to 12G, competing for time and precision. The series uses a multi-location race format where pilots fly from their home bases worldwide, with results determined by centimeter-precision flight data captured by proprietary Remote Data Units (RDUs), and pairs this with a Digital Round format that overlays real flight data onto urban environments via XR technology for spectator viewing. Revenue is generated from corporate sponsorships, host-city partnerships, paid public viewing venues, and a share of Pilot NFT sales.
Is AIR RACE X a public or private company?
AIR RACE X is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AIR RACE X founded?
AIR RACE X was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AIR RACE X based?
AIR RACE X is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does AIR RACE X make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are host City Fees, pilot NFT and Digital Items and live Event Revenue.
Who are AIR RACE X's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Gravity Industries and SailGP. Broad incumbents are Formula E, Red Bull, Extreme E and World Rally Championship (WRC). Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Drone Racing League, Red Bull Air Race and Reno Air Races.
Does AIR RACE X have an API?
No public API is recorded for AIR RACE X.
What industry is AIR RACE X in?
AIR RACE X's product category is Aerial motorsport. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAMAA, Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps), with a secondary code of THAAAKAA, Aerial Adventure & Flight Schools (Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Paramotoring). Its NAICS code is 481219 and its SIC code is 7948.