It's all over!!!!

Well the race is over and the blog was just overwhelming - we apologize. We had the best time. We had a team of 6 - not that we didn't fly our own race - we were just always together - it was so much fun. If you got to the air race classic site under the 2012 racers - team 5 and 25 had excellent blogs and you can catch up. We came in 18th out of 48 teams but the good news is we came home with more money than if we came in 8th or higher. We were a very loose flight of 3 yesterday and I was trying to work on strategy by making the controllers tell me where everyone was. I already have next years route in Foreflight. Thank you for your support.

This one's for our Kate!!! 195's at Goodland, KS

Too bumpy to take more than one picture - Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque NM

All the "Butterfly Aviation Racers" at Goodland

Race Day One

We climbed out of Lake Havasu to 9500' to clear the ridges then continued a bumpy ride to a higher altitude for better winds. Landing at Gallup, NM was enjoyable as we got to see the same faces at the FBO (we visited them on the way to Lake Havasu). Gallup was windy but NOTHING compared to Hereford, TX. And the fuel service at Gallup was wonderful. Launching into the wind was interesting and we soon climbed to 10,500' with tailwinds headed to Goodland, KS. Forget about Hereford's winds, Goodland was REALLY gusty and blowing but Mary was great and the Mooney performed well. After almost 6 hours of flying across 5 states for a total of 872 miles we called it a day at Goodland. The other PA teams (Classic #5 Alison Chalker & Linda Evans; Classic #25 Ethel Bailey & Barb Zeigler) plus Classic #12 (Lynn Caywood & Susan Beall) all met at the Holiday Inn and had pizza for dinner, compliments of Classic #5!! classic #12 left at the beginning of the timing (06:30 MDT / 12:30 UTC) but we all decided to get some rest. Now it's a waiting game for better weather.

A 75' tall easel with a Van Gogh painting in Goodland, KS

Photo on wall at the Hereford, TX FBO - a Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bomber

Another wonderful donation of original artwork signed by surviving WWII pilots!

Mary with her "Flight Barbies" donated to the 99's Endowment Fund

Gallup, NM - Our first leg

Monday - Last day to get everything in order before the Big Race.

Saturday was lovely, we enjoyed a ferry ride to California on the far side of the lake. There is a small Indian casino complete with a restaurant on the water and we all had a nice meal. We teamed up with Alison Chalker & Linda Evans (Classic #5), Ethel Bailey & Barb Ziegler (Classic #25), and Janice Welsh (Classic #48).

Virginia and Dennis Harmer met us after lunch and offered us a ride back to Havasu on their boat and all but Elaine left with them. She opted to stay and play the slots for a bit, and try to win some money to pay for avgas for their race plane.

Sunday started off with a mandatory briefing for all race contestants, then off to shop for incidentals for the race.

Dinner at the London Bridge Hotel was great, with a lot of high energy in the ballroom. we sat in awe as guest speaker Capt. Jennifer Wade, USAF spoke about her career as an F-16 jet pilot serving in Afghanistan. Just awesome, hearing first-hand the hurdles and barriers she had to overcome to be accepted as an equal on the flight deck. great job, Jennifer! She is not only a beautiful, classy lady but has such a wonderful outlook and sense of humor.



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Mary Wunder, Elaine Huf (Classic #15) and Tracey Loveness (Classic #41) at the Start Banquet

Here we are - All lined up and ready to Roll!

The English Village

London Bridge

Lake Havasu City - Taken from the ferry boat

One of several Lighthouses along the shoreline

Fun in Lake Havasu

We're Here!

Leaving Gallup NM in the early morning proved the best decision - climbing to 10,500' was easy and almost no bumps. Looking at the terrain below was like being on Mars. Where do these residents who live out here go to work? We figure they are all retired Feds who don't want to be found.

After landing (almost simultaneously with a VERY confuses male Bonanza driver) we met up with other racers and race officials who were really helpful and appreciative of the turnout. These women pilots are AMAZING! From all walks of life in all kinds of careers and families, they are truly facing the challenges of flight just to get here and be a part of this great race.
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Whew! Now to figure out how to land in these gusts.

Lake Havasu At Last!

Dalhart, TX to Gallup, NM - What day is this?

Waking up to IFR conditions was not on our agenda - however, it gave us time to figure out a better route to follow through the high terrain.

Once the low clouds and fog cleared out, it was the first smooth ride we had at 8,500 feet (we thought!). Climbing to 10,500' to clear the Manzano Mountains proved us wrong and we spoke too soon. Since we got a late start the day heated up by the time we reached Albuquerque and once again we bounced all over the place.

Luckily the 24kt. winds at Gallup were pretty much right down the runway but there were gusts all the way to touchdown and rollout.

Glad to be on the ground once more but no oil pressure showing while taxiing. Plenty of oil on the stick, but the decision was made to change the oil and filter. After the mechanic finished we were good to go but the wind gusts were stronger and we decided to stay put for the night.
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Those crop dusters just couldn't wait for the fog to lift at Dalhart, TX this morning.

Flying south of Albuquerque, NM at 10,500 feet.

Gallup seems to be the place to be today - tomorrow Lake Havasue!

Day 2 - Let's Rock 'n Roll!

Departing Springfield -Branson, MO in hazy conditions, we opted to fly to Dalhart, TX instead of heading to Hereford which was having some "weather issues." On the edge of a front, we got bounced around a bit under the clouds but once past the front we picked up a little tailwind.

Landing at Dalhart (DHT) was interesting - 20kts gusting to 26kts - but my trusty Captain Mary made a perfect landing with that sweet Mooney of hers.

Opting to remain overnight, we met up with another race team and shared the FBO's pickup to the hotel. Not disclosing any race strategies, "Plane Dames" and the "Michiana Redbirds" dined together at the local Tex-Mex restaurant. Race plane #48 team members Margaret Wint and Janice Welsh now hold our future in their hands, as they possess the keys to the CREW PICKUP!!!!

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T-6 AF AUX Training Area, Kegelman Field

Great Salt Plains Nat. Wildlife Refuge in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Westward Ho!!

Team PLANE DAMES left at 0805hrs in gloomy weather headed west to Lake Havasu, AZ with our first stop in Frankfort, KY. It was soft IFR up until 20 miles short of our destination, but the weather cleared and it was a visual approach into Capitol City.

Our next leg was a bit bumpy but clear skies, the only glitch was being rerouted around a hot MOA. Landing at Springfield-Branson in Missouri, we have called it a day!

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We Had To Whine A Bit Before Evansville Approach let us transit their airport (note the HUGE volume of traffic)

Crossing The Ohio River

We Have To Start Sometime!

Handicap Runs

Lin with her beautiful airplane

Side by side after the handicap runs were complete

Lin Caywood met me at Lancaster and we did each others handicap runs yesterday. We had such synchronicity  - landing minutes apart and before our agreed time of 7:30AM. That was the good news - the bad news is that we aren't sure that the data for classic 15 is good so we will see. Today I met Carolyn Van Newkirk at CXY and then I met Alison Chalker at DYL. Hopefully they are viable runs. All the handicap flights have been completed.   My plane is fueled ready to go.  Now to just finish packing.

Time is running out

Time is running out to get things done.  Arnie washed the airplane and helped me put the numbers on - what takes me a week takes him only minutes to accomplish.