Tue Sep 16 / Aptura Team
Team ZIC Wins the 2025 Outback Air Race: Precision, Persistence, and Purpose
We're thrilled to announce that Team ZIC—led by Aptura founder Scott Palmer—has won the 2025 Red Planet Software Outback Air Race, completing a 6,500km journey across the Australian Outback while helping raise a record $1 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
At Aptura, we believe in precision, performance, and making a positive impact. These values drive everything we do. This month, we’ve seen these same values demonstrated in spectacular fashion, as Team ZIC, captained by Aptura founder Scott Palmer, claimed first place in the 2025 Red Planet Software Outback Air Race.
A Journey of Precision
After 19 days and 6,500 kilometres in the cockpit, Scott Palmer and co-pilot Adam Dean touched down in Perth as champions of Australia’s premier aviation time-trial race. They beat 36 other teams across a gruelling 15-day, 9 leg, 3,800km course through some of the nation’s most remote terrain.
This wasn’t about speed—it was about precision, timing, and positional accuracy. The kind of precision we value deeply at Aptura. Team ZIC’s performance speaks to this, with near-perfect scores of 1,795/1,800 on two legs and consistently top-two finishes on six of the nine race legs.
From Fifth to First
This victory represents the culmination of years of dedication. Team ZIC placed 5th in 2018, improved to 2nd in 2022, and now stand as 2025 champions. It’s a journey that mirrors what we see in technology—continuous improvement, learning from experience, and striving for excellence with each iteration.
The race route took them from Yulara, NT, on 22 August through Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Katherine (RAAF Tindal), Kununurra, Broome, Onslow, and Exmouth, before concluding in Carnarvon, WA, on 8 September. Each leg demanded concentration, precision navigation, and flawless execution—qualities that resonate with the work we do in technology consulting.
Racing for a Cause
While we’re immensely proud of the competitive achievement, the real victory lies in the race’s purpose. This year’s Outback Air Race raised a record-breaking $1 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)—an organisation that provides vital healthcare to some of Australia’s most remote communities.
Since 1996, the Outback Air Race has raised more than $5 million for the RFDS. Being part of an event that combines the spirit of adventure with tangible community impact aligns perfectly with Aptura’s commitment to making a difference beyond the technology sector.
As Scott reflected 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 participated in the 2025 Outback Air Race and contributed to this record-breaking fundraising achievement 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