Team ZIC Wins the 2025 Outback Air Race.

Team ZIC, captained by Aptura founder Scott Palmer, has won the 2025 Red Planet Software Outback Air Race.

A journey of precision

After 19 days and roughly 6,500 kilometres in the cockpit — Perth to the start line at Yulara and home again — Scott Palmer and co-pilot Adam Dean touched down in Perth as champions of Australia’s premier aviation time-trial race, ahead of 36 other teams across the 9-leg, 3,881km race course through some of the nation’s most remote terrain.

The race isn’t about speed. Scoring rewards precision — nominating your flight time in advance and crossing each waypoint to the second. Team ZIC posted near-perfect scores of 1,795/1,800 on two legs and finished in the top two on six of the nine.

From fifth to first

Team ZIC placed 5th in 2018, improved to 2nd in 2022, and now stands as 2025 champion. The race route ran from Yulara, NT, on 22 August through Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Katherine (RAAF Tindal), Kununurra, Broome, Onslow and Exmouth, before finishing in Carnarvon, WA, on 8 September.

Racing for a cause

The result we’re proudest of isn’t the trophy. This year’s Outback Air Race raised a record $1 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which provides healthcare to some of Australia’s most remote communities. Since 1996, the race has raised more than $5 million for the RFDS.

As Scott put it after the win: “To win this race is a huge honour — but the real win for us is being part of something that helps keep the Flying Doctor in the air. A huge acknowledgement is due to all the race teams’ incredible fundraising efforts and record-breaking results.”

Congratulations to all 37 teams who took part in the 2025 Outback Air Race and contributed to the record fundraising result for the RFDS.

Learn more

• Follow Team ZIC on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit the Outback Air Race website
• Read the official race press release
• Learn more about the Royal Flying Doctor Service