Day 3

First order of the day was the handicap flight test - a new procedure to the race this year. Julia was scheduled for 9:00 am so we caught a ride to the airport about 7:30 to get the airplane ready. The requirements were very specific: full fuel, equivalent weight for co-pilot and test pilot (we were about the same), tie downs, 12 sectional charts, water bottles filled, and everything else out of the airplane. The flight test was conducted at 6,000' density altitude, aircraft trimmed and stabilized, and flight on the four cardinal headings for four or six minutes. Since there were so many airplanes doing the same thing, at one point the controller asked what they were doing and if there was a reason everyone had to be at the same altitude (4,900' MSL). He was having separation difficulty but allowed them to continue. We will probably find out our handicap on Monday.

There were lots of teams waiting in the terminal for flight tests, inspections, or to go through credentialing.

These ladies held team members lives in their hands. If your paperwork was not complete and up to FAA regulations, you would be disqualified. Ruby, who is now 92, had not yet received her laminated pilot certificate and only had her paper certificate. She was able to call the FAA, and they faxed a document that made her legal. Ruby is again the oldest, but Elaine is not far behind at 89. Both have had remarkable aviation careers.

At 2:00, we gathered back at the airport for a Girl Scout presentation and activities. We never knew what happened, but the Scouts didn't show up. Carolyn had asked various racers to talk about their aviation experiences, so she went ahead with the program. There are some VERY interesting women who participate in the Air Race. To pick out just three:

Becky Hempel is from Spicewood, Texas - one of the 14 pilots from Texas this year (four teams with another six teams having one member from Texas). Becky is currently a full time flight instructor while on furlough from FlexJet where she flew a Challenger 605 & various King Airs. She also works part time as a physician's assistant.

Christine is a graduate of and a current flight instructor for Southern Illinois University. She enlisted in the Air National Guard and will be going to Officer Training School in October. Christine also enjoys competitive handgun shooting. Her team is one of the nine college teams.

Another military pilot, a 16 year veteran, is Camille (Cami) from El Paso. She learned to fly as an Army helicopter pilot and then transitioned to aircraft. Usually, it's the other way around and Cami told funny stories about trying to bring an airplane to a hover when landing. She is now a King Air instructor at Fort Bliss. Her husband is also an Army officer.

Men from a local flying club, the Cub Club, volunteered to drive shuttles - Yukon's donated by Hertz for our use. When we didn't catch a ride with other racers, they were always available to take us back and forth - thankfully, since we had to be back at the airport for the third time for the Welcome BBQ 6:00. Just so you know, Floridians can actually BBQ quite well.

The mayor spoke and as a new pilot himself, he was quite entertaining.

Judy, pictured in the middle, is a director of the Air Race and participating in her 16th race. She and Ruby, also a director, finished second last year and have frequently been in the top ten. Sadly, this will be their last race. Judy is selling her airplane after this race, and she and her husband will be moving to a continuous care community. I would love to see them finish first this year.

Julia and I enjoyed visiting with the college teams; this is another Southern Illinois team - Katie and Ashley. One of our stops on the race will be to their home airport.




Race briefings start tomorrow at 10:00 am.