Kissimmee Gateway Airport’s (ISM) aviation business, SunState Aviation, will provide an airplane for the 2012 Air Race Classic (ARC). Flying for TeamUp, pilot Leah Dunn and co-pilot Joan Evert will use SunState’s plane to compete in the 2,681-mile, cross-country race, starting in Arizona and ending in Ohio.
“Joan and I are excited to raise funds for the Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida by competing in the ARC. We hope to create an interactive aviation exhibit where students have an exciting link between the classroom and the real world,” says Dunn. “We’re thrilled to be flying SunState’s plane. They take tremendous care of their aircraft, so we’re in a good position to have a fantastic race!”
Flying a Garmin G1000-equipped Cessna Skyhawk 172S, TeamUp will race against 55 other fixed-wing aircraft. The pilots are given four days, flying in daylight hours, to reach the end point. The goal of the race is to achieve a “perfect” cross-country flight by having each aircraft’s speed during the race exceed their previously recorded handicap speeds.
Beginning in 1929, the ARC has celebrated women pilots by showcasing talented female flyers and encouraging education in general aviation. Both Dunn and Evert are proud grandmothers, with Dunn having learned to fly after the age of 50.
“Joan and I both encourage women to never stop pushing themselves and always take on new challenges,” says Dunn.
SunState Aviation is an FAA part 141 approved flight school specializing in accelerated flight training for sport pilot, private pilot, instrument ratings, commercial, ATP, single-engine, multi-engine and helicopter flight training in new, technically advanced aircraft. For more information: SunStateAviation.com
People who read this article also read articles on airparks, airshow, airshows, avgas, aviation fuel, aviation news, aircraft owner, avionics, buy a plane, FAA, fly-in, flying, general aviation, learn to fly, pilots, Light-Sport Aircraft, LSA, and Sport Pilot.
