We are dedicating our Air Race in memory of Tex Goppert who we hope will watch over us so we DON'T DO ANYTHING DUMB.

Marty and Kay with "Charley"

Marty and Kay with "Charley"

History of the Air Race Classic

In 1929, nineteen women set out from Santa Monica, CA, in flimsy, propeller driven airplanes, with a mission to be the first to cover the cross-country course to Cleveland, OH. Dubbed "The Powder Puff Derby" by Will Rogers, the competition was honest, agressive and dangerous. The air race featured such notable women fliers as Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, and Pancho Barnes. One female pilot, Marvel Crosson, died during the air race. Louise Thaden won the race, with Gladys O'Donnell and Amelia Earhart coming in second and third. The women's air race fell by the wayside during the war years. The race was renamed the All Women Transcontinetal Air Race (AWTAR) Derby in the 1940's and is currently called the Air Race Classic. 2010 marks the 34th all women's transcontinental air race.







2010 Air Race Classic

The 2010 Air Race Classic starts at Page Field (KFMY), Fort Myers, FL and terminates at Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK), Frederick, MD. The race has enroute stops at Waycross, GA (KAYS); Tuscaloosa, AL (KTCL); Hot Springs, AR (KHOT); Cameron, MO (KEZZ); Carbondale-Murphysboro, IL (KMDH); Elkhart, IN (KEKM); and Parkersburg, WV (KPKB). The race route is 2483.01sm, begins June 22 and ends on June 25. There are 55 all women race teams in the 2010 Air Race Classic. Marty and Kay will competing in Marty's 1953 Cessna 180. We will be Classic 3.





The Racers

Marty Goppert - Marty is an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and a Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII), Multi and Single Engine Land with over 5,000 flight hours. She has flown as a commuter pilot and medical airlift pilot. She flew a Stearman barnstorming act for 13 years with the "Flying Circus" in Bealeton, VA. Marty currently flies a 1953 Cessna 180.







Kay Renfrow - Kay is a 400 hour Private Pilot, Single Engine Land. Kay resides on a residential airpark in Texas and flies a 1950 Cessna 140A.



Thank You

Race Advisor - Jim

Maintenance Advisor - Tom

Sponsor - Gorilla Airfield in Onondaga, Michigan

and a big Thank You to our ground crew at Heritage Airpark; Dan, Chuck, Cliff and Trevor. We would have never got it done without all of you.










Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day Two of the Air Race

We were pretty tired after landing in Hot Springs yesterday. The leg from Tuscaloosa to Hot Springs was pretty brutal. It was hot and humid, with lots of thermals. We checked into our hotel in Hot Springs and were in bed and asleep by 8:30 pm. Up again at 6:30 and out to the airport before 7:30 am. First leg was from Hot Springs, AR to Cameron, MO. The weather was still cool and comfortable for that leg. Then it was on from Cameron to Carbondale, IL. We had planned to call it a day in Carbondale, but checked with weather and it appeared that the weather to Elkhart, IN was going to be better in the afternoon than waiting until Wednesday morning. Had a great leg from Carbondale to Elkhart. We had a tailwind with a ground speed of up to 171 knots at times. So here we sit in Elkhart, IN. All three legs were pretty uneventful today. Weather was warm and not too many thermals or turbulence. Hopefully the weather will cooperate again tomorrow and we can make our last two legs, from Elkhart to Parkersburg, WV and then on to Frederick, MD. Maintenance OK.
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1 comment:

  1. sportpilotJune 23, 2010 at 7:05 PM

    You have the best plane in the race in my opinion. Love that Cessna 180.

    ReplyDelete

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