2003 Air Race Classic 'flight log'
by Amanda Gruden and Michelle Glisan
June 22, 2003
DANVILLE, Va. -- Today we spent 12 hours going from airport to airport, logged 7.6 hours, flew through nine states, and four legs of the race.
We started in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan with a wake up call at 5 a.m. and departed the airport at 6:30 a m. We flew to Peru, Ill., where Michelle's family flew in to greet us. After a short visit we were off to Dayton Ohio.
The airport at Dayton was extremely busy, but with a 30-minute turn around we were off to Altoona, Pa. During that leg, we were busy looking for aircraft and rising terrain. The Altoona airport is located between two mountains in a valley. We were debating whether to fly over the field and go on to Danville, but we decided to stop and take on more fuel. The crew on the ground was very welcoming with goodie bags. A man from the Experimental Aircraft Association took our picture and asked for our autographs. Apparently we're famous!
We had a quick stop in Altoona and then were off to Danville, taking advantage of the tail winds today. Tomorrow the winds won't be as strong. We had a nice flight to Virginia over the Appalachians and through the Shenandoah Valley. What a great view. We made it to Danville safe and sound and ready for a break. We will sleep well tonight.
We have just one more leg remaining tomorrow, a fly-by at Kitty Hawk and the finish line at Manteo, N.C.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu