Women aviators take off for annual air race
June 11, 2002
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Two Western Michigan University women took off at noon Tuesday, June 11, from W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek to head for the start of more than 2,100-mile race that began in the days of Amelia Earhart. The race--the 2002 Air Race Classic--will begin June 18 in Silver City, N.M., and conclude June 21 in Chesapeake/Portsmouth, Va.
This is the third consecutive year WMU aviators have entered the all-woman event that first was held in 1929 as the Women's Air Derby. Amelia Earhart was the first president of the 99s, the organization that began the race. The event is made up of two-person teams from around the nation. This year, 40 teams have registered to compete in the event.
The WMU team is composed of senior Michelle Glisan, an aviation
flight science major from Byron, Ill., and Michelle Homister,
a flight instructor in the College of Aviation and a 2001 graduate
of the University's aviation program who was a member of the
2001 Air Race Classic team. The pair will fly a sophisticated
Mooney Ovation aircraft in this year's race. The Kellogg Company
of Battle Creek is sponsoring the team, and additional support
has come from Aerox Aviation Oxygen Systems.
Entrants fly under visual flight rules during daylight hours
and all fly fixed wing aircraft. Since many types of planes are
used to compete in the race, each plane is given a handicap in
ground speed, and aviators earn points by surpassing that speed.
The WMU participants have enlisted the aid this year of a weather
specialist in Georgia who will be able to help them find the
best tailwinds over the course of the race. Before arriving in
New Mexico for the start of the race, Glisan and Homister will
fly the planned course in reverse to familiarize themselves with
the terrain to be covered.
Teams will race their planes from Silver City, N.M., to Las Vegas, N.M.; then on to Burlington, Colo.; Ponca City, Okla., Hot Springs, Ark;, Fayetteville, Tenn;, and Winnsboro, S.C.; before finishing in Chesapeake/Portsmouth, Va.
For a map of the race route, go to <www.faa.gov/NTAP/NTAP02MAY16/SP02019.HTM>. For more information about the 99s and the air race, go to<www.ninety-nines.org/arcwhy.html>.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu