Our Chapter has history in air races. The first all women’s transcontinental air derby started in Santa Monica, and the twenty women racers went on to form the Ninety-Nines organization. Our LA/Palms Chapter also hosted the Palms to Pines Air Race from 1969-2009, the longest running all-women’s air derby (40 consecutive years). As the new generation of LA 99s, we wanted to rekindle this tradition!

Since many of us have never competed in or planned an air race before, we made our October Fly-In a timed event that would warm us up to air racing. This practice air race was more of a quick, cross-country sprint than a several day derby, and it was a good test-run to discover the ins and outs of organizing a race. We hope to make this the first of many baby air races, as well as renew the larger Palms to Pines.

Our Air Race Committee Chair, Arhynn Descy, decided on a great route for the race – Santa Monica to Santa Maria with a full-stop landing, then a quick jog over to Bakersfield for the finish. Because it makes a bit of a triangle, we decided to whimsically name it the “Little Triangle Fly-In”.

Four Teams competed in the friendly flight: Janie Thomas with co-pilot, Farida Amar, and 49.5er, Justin Thomas, in the Thomas’s Mooney. Then, there was Benedikta Unter Ecker and co-pilot Nora Feddal in Dita’s Mooney, with Vanessa Gibson as passenger. In a sport cruiser, there was Eve Lopez with co-pilot, Alicia Maher. And, flying a Piper Cherokee was Arhynn Descy and Kate Scott, who traded off as PIC/co-pilot.

The group met at the Santa Monica Airport Observation Deck, brimming with excitement for our big day! Each plane received a bag with waters, snack bars, and a clipboard to tally their own in-flight times.

The clouds cleared enough for each team to head to their respective planes to start their engines. Kate and Arhynn were first off the ground, dodging clouds and flying low (4,500′) to avoid headwinds higher up. Soon, the two Mooneys were overheard on the radio, both requesting 6,500′. Eve and Alicia’s light sport struggled to find a clearing through the clouds and had to fly very low until almost Santa Barbara before they could climb.

By the time the Cherokee was on approach to Santa Maria, the Mooneys surpassed them and the three landed in succession – Janie’s Mooney first, Dita second, and Kate’s Cherokee third. Santa Maria Tower finally understood our game when three women in succession requested a taxi back, and flight following to Bakersfield. The Controller asked the third plane, “And do YOU want Flight Following as well?”

 

No delay for Janie and Dita, off to Bakersfield. Arhynn and Kate decided to switch spots with Arhynn flying left seat to Bakersfield. Just as they were leaving Santa Maria airspace, they overheard Eve on the radio, inbound for Santa Maria, putting them at ease to hear the final plane had made it past the clouds!

 

Once in Bakersfield, the planes parked at Atlantic Aviation and the Bakersfield Chapter of the 99s were waiting to greet us! Our Bakersfield sisters planned a lunch for us at the nearby Mexican restaurant, Si Señor. They were so wonderful to caravan us across the street to the restaurant and hear about our little morning adventure. We filled up on chips and guacamole, as Nora calculated final totals from each plane. The agreed handicaps for each plane was based on a rudimentary performance number for top speed of plane, not taking into account weight for extra passengers or full fuel tanks, etc. Nora noted that the Light Sport may very well win it all!

Kate thanked Bakersfield 99s for hosting us, reminded everyone that this practice race was just for fun and everyone who participated in it was a winner, Arhynn thanked her committee and participants, then turned it over to Nora for the results. Arhynn and Kate won first place with the Cherokee, Benedikta, Nora and Vanessa came in 2nd, and the other Mooney with Janie, Farida and Justin was 3rd. Eve and Alicia were fourth with their cute team name of “Not Fast, Just Furious”.

After lunch, Bakersfield 99s had a treat for us – they arranged a tour of the Bakersfield ATC Tower and TRACON! We split into two groups and spent some time learning about how our planes look on the radar screens of the people who are watching out for us. It was definitely a learning experience for us to see things from their point of view and I hope it helps better our communications with them in the future.

Farida joined Arhynn and Kate on the return. Each plane made the journey to Santa Monica as the sun was setting on such a wonderful day. Most planes arrived back in Santa Monica between 6-7. With a number of difficulties from their canopy to their transponder to their fuel gauge, Eve and Alicia landed safely just after the sky was getting dark. What a successful day! We learned a lot about air races, working as an air crew, Bakersfield, and the workings of ATC! We can’t wait to plan the next, real race to be even bigger and better!

Very Special Thanks to:

Dea, Janice, Donna, Elaine, and the Bakersfield 99s for hosting us, coordinating arrival and lunch, transporting us to the restaurant, and arranging a tour of Meadows Field Tower/TRACON! We would love to return the favor one day. 

Arhynn Descy, our Air Race Committee Chair, who thought up this practice race, decided on the route, took the lead, organized a committee, ordered the medals, coordinated with Bakersfield, and flew quickly to WIN! Nora Feddal, who has previously competed in Palms to Pines, was our resident expert on air races, had documentation on handicaps, and calculated the totals for the mock-race. Connie Schurr, who was unable to attend the event, but was involved in the planning of the event and designed the beautiful, custom medal graphics. Janie Thomas, Kate Scott and Benedikta Unter Ecker, the other members of our air race committee who assisted Arhynn with planning. 

Farida Amar, our Marketing Committee Chair, for photographing much of the day so we can have more content for marketing materials.

Justin Thomas, our favorite 49.5er/Fly-In Volunteer who introduced himself as being in attendance against his will. Yea, we know it’s a rough life to spend your day flying around with a bunch of ladies.