Advertisement
No thanks. These women will fly the plane.
Forty airplanes all flown by women went through the Winona Airport on Tuesday morning for the 29th annual Air Race Classic, a transcontinental journey.
"This is what you can do when you get bigger 'cause girls can do anything guys can do," Jennifer Schewe of Winona told her 2-year-old granddaughter, Francesca Schewe.
Jennifer Schewe takes her granddaughter to events like the air race so she can learn at an early age that there are endless opportunities for women.
Whether flying is in Francesca's future, Jennifer Schewe said it's still too early to tell but Francesca loves airplanes.
Winona was the first stop on the race route. The women took off early Tuesday morning from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and have until 5 p.m. Friday to finish back in West Lafayette. Their next stop was Beatrice, Neb.
Some women stopped at the airport to refuel while others kept on flying. Participants are competing against themselves; they are scored based on their handicap speed.
The race dates back to 1929. The women who raced said their participation keeps the tradition alive.
Ruby Sheldon, an 87-year-old co-pilot from Phoenix, flew in this year's race, marking at least the 20th time she's participated.
She got her pilot's license 50 years ago.
"I don't know why I should quit when I've got 20 going already," she said.
Sheldon has won several races. That's why Gretchen Jahn of Kerrville, Texas, wanted Sheldon on her team.
"I want to win," Jahn said.
Jahn, who is the chief executive officer of Mooney Airplane Co., flew in a new Mooney aircraft.
She got involved 14 air races ago. "This is addictive," she said.
Sheldon and Jahn were the first team to land at the Winona airport.
Judy Bolkema-Tokar, president of the air race board from Port Orange, Fla., flew in her 12th Air Race Classic on Tuesday.
She got her pilot's license 15 years ago after her husband died. She had always wanted to fly planes and the timing was right.
"It was cheaper than a psychiatrist," she said.
Looking over at Francesca, Bolkema-Tokar said the classic gives little girls the opportunity to see women can pilot planes.
She said only 6 percent of pilots in the country are women. She'd like to see that change.
Many of the spectators even the mayor were amazed at the seriousness of the event and of the women.
"It's kind of neat have all these ladies flying in here," said Mayor Jerry Miller. "When I drove out (to the airport), I had no idea. I thought, Man oh man, this is a big deal.'"
