Women and wide-open skies

Published: June 18, 2007

The wide open skies of Oklahoma will be the takeoff point this week for the annual Women’s Air Race Classic, the nation’s premier speed contest for female pilots. On Tuesday morning, 49 planes will leave Wiley Post Airport; 2,400 miles and four days later, the pilots plan to land in New Brunswick, Canada.

The race has attracted the largest number of entries in recent years, said Liz Lundin, an officer of the local chapter of the Ninety-Nines, host organization for the event. She credits that to the central location, to the state’s heritage of aviation history, and to Oklahoma’s newest convention facilities, particularly in this centennial year.

The race was organized in 1929, Lundin said. Aviation was booming across America and women were determined to be part of the trend. Women wanted to push the envelope just as the pioneer male pilots were doing, but they weren’t allowed to compete in the same races. They organized their own, all-woman, transcontinental race and, with its success, formed associations for female pilots such as the Ninety-Nines.

In fact, said Carolyn Smith, a Ninety-Nines member, studies have found that aviators share personality traits of risk-taking and daredevilry, whatever their gender. Smith, who has flown in two of the races, said it’s planned for safety, and is characterized by a sense of camaraderie among the contestants, as well as competition.

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The 2,400-mile, four-day race stops overnight, and the fuel stops are arranged every 200 to 300 miles. Entrants must fly in daylight, with visual, not instrumental, navigation.

THE HISTORY

1929 The first transcontinental speed race for women was held in 1929. Called the Women’s Air Derby, it launched in Santa Monica, Calif., and landed in Cleveland, Ohio, with 20 contestants. The winner that year was Louise Thaden, who flew a Travel Air J-5. That historic plane is owned by the Ninety-Nines and on exhibit at the Omniplex.

The third-place pilot was Amelia Earhart.

1930s Aviation enthusiast and journalist Will Rogers made note of the amusing sight of pilots refreshing their makeup, and dubbed the event the Powder Puff Derby.

World War II

The race was grounded. It was revived later as the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race.

1977 The name was changed to after which it was succeeded by the Women’s Air Race Classic.

THE LAUNCH

Friday

Contestants were to arrive in Oklahoma City. Social events and plane inspections were held over the weekend, as their planes were “impounded” at Wiley Post Airport.

Sunday andMonday

Safety briefings.

Tuesday

Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Wiley Post, the 49 planes will start their engines all at once, then take off one minute apart in the order in which they registered, heading in a direction that depends on the wind and runway conditions. They will fly close to the ground, as they will throughout the race, since time can’t be wasted in climbing.

June 22

The planes are expected to cross the Canadian border on June 22.

PRIZES

Total $15,000.

THE RULES

Pilots

Each plane is required to carry a crew of two licensed pilots.

Aircraft

Contestants fly a variety of fixed-wing aircraft, from 145 to 570 horsepower. Each plane is handicapped, and so flies against itself, trying to best its own handicap rather than other planes.

Scoring

The race covers 2,400 statute miles and is a timed event, where scores are compiled daily for four days.

Flight plans

Entrants must fly in daylight, with visual, not instrument, navigation. They are particularly sensitive to winds and atmospheric conditions for speed advantages, but are cautioned not to fly in bad weather.

What they take

Some pilots strip down the seats, and pack light. take minimal toiletries and clothing, and pack to balance the plane.

This year, a Canadian destination has made packing more troublesome. In the past, contestants shipped their clothes ahead for post-race ceremonies and events. Current international security policies have made that cumbersome. This year, because of international security policies, they will have to go without anything they can’t carry in the plane.