Purdue women air racers ready for Classic event
Co-pilot Chantel Steele, left, and pilot Allison Springer prepare their plane for the 2011 women-only cross-country Air Race Classic (Purdue University photo/Andrew Hancock)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University students Allison Springer and Chantel Steele will participate in the 34th annual Air Race Classic all women's transcontinental air race from June 21-24.
Weather permitting, the team will leave at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday (June 16) from the Purdue University Airport for the Iowa City starting line. The 2,722-mile race will make stops in Brookings, S.D.; Jamestown, N.D.; Spearfish, S.D.; Rawlins, Wyo.; Alliance, Neb.; Great Bend, Kan.; Borger, Texas; Norman, Okla., and El Dorado, Ark., before ending in Mobile, Ala.
More information about the team, the plane and the race are available at the team's website https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~airrace1/AirRaceTeam/ on which the pilots will blog their daily adventures.
The Air Race Classic traces its roots to the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, in which Amelia Earhart and 19 other female pilots flew from Santa Monica, Calif. to Cleveland. That contest marked the beginning of women’s air racing in the United States. A successor race, the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby), was formed in 1948. The Air Race Classic was established in 1976 and continues the tradition of women’s transcontinental air racing.
Springer is piloting in her first Air Race Classic after having served as co-pilot last year. Springer, a recent professional flight technology graduate minoring in organizational leadership and supervision, has flown 300 hours and is instrument rated on a commercial license.
"The race really sharpens your cross-country flying skills and is a team-building exercise --we simply couldn't compete without the ongoing assistance of our ground support team at Purdue," Springer said. "And though it is a competition, the camaraderie that develops between generations of women pilots is amazing."
Co-pilot Chantel Steele who is participating in her first Air Race Classic, also is instrument rated on a commercial license and has flown 270 hours.
"I'm racing to inspire other women to chase their dreams, even if it is not flying," Steele said. "The race also is an excellent opportunity to experience flying in different parts of the country in which you might never otherwise fly."
Both women aspire to be commercial pilots and said this experience can help them achieve that goal.
Two currently licensed women pilots comprise a team. Pilots range in age from 17- 90 and come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The race draws entrants from several countries such as Canada, Germany, New Zealand, England and Malaysia. Prizes for the 2011 race are valued at more than $16,000 and include medallions, cash awards and a trophy for the top collegiate team.
Throughout its history the race has touched down in 44 states and Canada and visited more than 250 cities. Financial support for the event comes from host cities, entry fees, sponsorship, and donations. Each stop is staffed by volunteers that include members of the Ninety-Nines (the women's pilot group started in part by Earhart), International Organization of Women Pilots, Zonta, the Civil Air Patrol, local flying clubs, employees of airport businesses, service clubs, and local citizens.
Writer: Jim Schenke, 765-237-7296, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Allison Springer, 602-882-4088, agspring@purdue.edu
Chantel Steele, steelece@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Broadcast-quality B-Roll, sound bites and package are available for download and use from ftp://news69.uns.purdue.edu/Public/AirRaceClassic2011/
For more information contact Jim Schenke, Purdue News Service, 765-237-7296 or jschenke@purdue.edu
Related websites:
Purdue Aviation Technology