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.










Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Race Day

We were up at 5am this morning, had breakfast at 6am, weather briefing at 6:30 and were at the airport by 7am. Loaded up the airplane and were off at 8am. We had a good flight from Ft Myers to Waycross, GA, our first stop. We were met there by volunteers with sodas, water and barbeque sandwiches. Then we were off to our second stop in Tuscaloosa, AL. Tuscaloosa is a towered airport, so it took much longer to get out of there. There were planes coming in for their timing run, flying the pattern, and flying their timing runs to depart for the next stop. Our third stop for the day was Hot Springs, AR. By the time we left Tuscaloosa, it was hot, hot, and more hot. And humid on top of the hot. Lots of thermals and heat for two hours from Tuscaloosa to Hot Springs. By the time we got to Hot Springs, we decided we were finished for the day. It was 3:40 when we landed in Hot Springs and by the time we gathered our gear, found a hotel and got a ride, it was cocktail hour. Had a glass of wine and dinner. As I am writing this blog, we are ready to go to our room and get on our jammies for the night. Plan on getting out of Hot Springs early in the morning for the trip to Cameron, MO and points beyond. We will continue to keep everyone posted on our progress. Maintenance OK.
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4 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 22, 2010 at 9:37 PM

    Great first day ladies...way to go! Get a good night's sleep and fly like the wind tomorrow.

    Go Team Charley!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynda AveyJune 23, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    I sounds like, "So far, so good." Keep going and GOOD LUCK!
    Lyndie

    ReplyDelete
  3. SpadeFlushJune 23, 2010 at 2:23 PM

    Check out the new documentary film about Florence "Pancho" Barnes, who flew in the very first all women's transcontinental air race in 1929. The website is: http://www.LegendofPanchoBarnes.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. sportpilotJune 23, 2010 at 5:23 PM

    You looked very impressive at Waycross, Ga. with the only tail dragger in the race.

    ReplyDelete

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