With sass and class, women fly the 2021 Air Race Classic Air Derby

There was something new for women air racers this year: An Air Derby.

While the Air Race Classic traditionally holds a four-day cross-country race, that was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, race officials, concerned about a resurgence of COVID-19, opted to hold a one-day Air Derby. It proved popular with the racers, with more than 200 made up into 84 teams competing between June 12 and 26, 2021, in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and New Zealand.

With team names like 1stAvi8, Brazucas, No BS Fly Girls, Valley Valkyries, ARC Angels, Cloud Surfers, Cheetah Champs, Aerodynamic Aviatrices, Miss ‘Behavin, Liberty Belles, Chick Clique, Kiwi Express, and my personal favorite — Estrogen Chemtrails — the pilots ranged in age from 17 to 72 with attitude to spare.

The Air Race Classic began in 1929 as the Women’s Air Derby with 20 women pilots, including Amelia Earhart, who flew from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. After World War II, the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race was commonly called the Powder Puff Derby. The race stopped in 1977 and then started up again in 2002 as the Air Race Classic.

Not wanting to cancel the race again in 2021, Air Race Classic officials came up with the idea of the Air Derby, which would allow racers to compete close to home.

After pre-registering for the race, the teams got to work, planning a VFR flight flown during daylight hours on a single day between June 12 and 26 that began and ended at the same airport. The route had to include at least five legs with a minimum of 65 nautical miles per leg.

The pilots then had to estimate the time it would take to fly that route, and then fly it as close to their estimated time as possible.

The flights were tracked using ForeFlight or a GPS tracking device, such as Bad Elf. Point scoring was based on following safety rules, obeying ATC, and having “the smallest percentage error between the estimated time submitted before the route was flown and the actual time flown,” according to race officials.

Another major difference between the four-day Women’s Air Race Classic and the one-day Air Derby was that light-sport, experimental, turbo-charged, and rotorcraft under 12,500 pounds could be flown in the Derby, provided the aircraft could fly the range for each leg. In the annual Women’s Air Race Classic, aircraft are restricted to normally aspirated, piston-powered fixed-wing aircraft.

Collegiate teams made up a good portion of the racers, with teams from Auburn University, College Air Richelieu , Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, Indiana State University, Jacksonville University, Kent State, LeTourneau University, Lewis University, Northwest Michigan College, Ohio State University, Purdue University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of North Dakota, Westminster College, and Western Michigan University.

The winning teams were announced during a virtual Awards Banquet on June 27:

First Place

A $1,000 cash prize went to Emma Hughes (CFII), Emily Hause (CFII), and Regine Rose Acosta (CFI) (Team #49) from Western Michigan University, who raced in a 2006 Cirrus SR20 G2.

This was Emily Hause’s first air race.

“I am the first person in my family to pursue aviation as my career, and I accredit that, in part, to attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh frequently growing up, as Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is near my hometown,” she noted.

Second Place

A $900 cash prize went to Stephanie Wells and June Stewart (Team #92, Flatiron Flygirls), who raced in a 2005 Van’s Aircraft RV-7.

Wells spent 18 years as a pilot in the Air Force. “Between 1986 and 2003, I was a NASA pilot, training astronauts and helping them stay current,” she said. “After several years as an FAA inspector in GA operations, I retired to travel.”

Stewart served four years in the US Air Force under Strategic Air Command and then Space Command.

“My dad took me up as a little girl in his Aeronca Champ,” she related. “I couldn’t see out the window, so Dad had to frequently bank the plane so I could see. It was magical! My interest was there but was always told, ‘Girls don’t fly.’ I finally asked, ‘Why not?’ I started training at 61, earning my private pilot license at 64!” 

Third Place

An $800 cash prize went to Gabi Thorp and Louise Vickerman (Team #82, Sin City Sisters), who raced in a 2008 REMOS Aircraft GX. Gabi is a realtor and retired career USAF and Air National Guard Pilot.

“I subscribe to the theory that the best defense for an aging brain is new challenge,” she said.

Louise Vickerman is a principal harpist with the Utah Symphony. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, she earned her private pilot certificate in 2008 and her commercial, multi-engine, and instrument ratings in 2014. At 60, she hiked to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

“Travel and adventure are my passion,” she noted.

Fourth Place

A $700 cash prize went to the mother-daughter team of Mary Bryant and Clair Bryant (Team #7, Brava! Brava!) of St. Petersburg, Florida, who raced in a 1998 Piper Archer III.

“I’m honored this year to be flying the race with my daughter, 17-year-old new student pilot, Claire Bryant,” said Mary, a CFI who specializes in PA46 training. “Wynn Bryant, my 19-year-old daughter, served as our ground coordinator.”

Fifth Place

A $600 cash prize went to Lara Gaerte (ATP) and Donna Harris (Team #2, Unlimited Attitude), who raced in a 1991 Waco/Classic YMF-5.

Gaerte, who is also president of the Air Race Classic, said, “I am a mom, FBO owner/manager, Master CFI, DPE, and corporate pilot. I have been making my living in aviation since 2000, when I was laid off from a safe but boring cubicle job. Although scary at the time, it was an opportunity to try aviation full time. I’ve never looked back.”

Harris, who is vice president of the Air Race Classic, reported that she races “to learn more about flying and test my personal minimums and boundaries. I love talking to the racers and volunteers and hearing their stories. I also want to pay tribute to my father-in-law, who flew B-29s during World War II. I soloed on his birthday and received my instrument rating on the first anniversary of his death.”

Cash prizes were also awarded to the remaining teams in the top 10, as well as first, second, and third-place awards for each of the five legs flown, as well to the highest-scoring team not in the top 10. Additionally, Team #24, Lauren Scott and Glynis Olgado, the Vegas Derby Divas, won the $100 Safety Award. They flew on June 16 in tribute to Bessie Coleman, the first African American to earn a pilot’s certificate 100 years ago.

The 2022 Air Race Classic will start in Lakeland, Florida, and run from June 21 to 24 as a traditional four-day, 2,400-mile cross-country race.