Reno Stead Airport is a large public and military general aviation airport located in the North Valleys area‚ 10 nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Reno‚ in Washoe County‚ Nevada‚ United States․ A former military installation until 1966‚ when it was known as Stead Air Force Base‚ in honor of 1st Lt․ Croston Stead who died there during a training exercise in 1949․ The airport is owned by the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority․ The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 20112015 categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport․ The Reno Air Races‚ officially known as the National Championship Air Races‚ are a multi-day event tailored to the aviation community that took place each September at the Reno Stead Airport a few miles north of Reno‚ Nevada․ The Reno Air Racing Association plans to resume racing at a new venue in Roswell‚ 2025․ Air racing is billed as ＂the world's fastest motor sport＂ and Reno was one of the few remaining venues․