This must be Maryland's month for transcontinental competition. Last Friday, the Race Across America cyclists pedaled into Annapolis after a journey that began in Oceanside, California.
This Friday, a fleet of different vehicles will alight in Frederick after a multi-staged, 2,500 race that begins tomorrow in Fort Myers, Florida. The Women’s Air Race Classic, which began in 1929, was made famous by Amelia Earhart. This year, the race course brings her sisters in the celestial sorority to Maryland.
More than 50 teams (pilot and navigator) will be flying instrument-free, using their skills and finesse to manueuver among clouds and windstreams in an effort to clock the best times in the handicapped race.
In all, the race covers eleven states, with eight stops in four days. It is a celebration of the role women have played in aviation history, and is an opportunity for all involved in general aviation to be a part of the fun. This year’s race falls in the centennial of licensed women pilots and includes pilots ranging from college students to grandmothers. Some of the pioneers, like the World War II WASPs, will be a part of the festivities.
The Frederick Terminus of the Air Race Classic is organized by the Sugarloaf Chapter of "The Ninety-Nines," a women pilots association. It offers the opportunity for competitors and spectators to celebrate in style with the post-race “Meltdown Party,” in casual 1929-style.
On Saturday, there will be a special screening of “Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby,” a documentary about the first race.
There are a full weekend of activities, including the awards ceremony at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center. In all, it's the opportunity to meet a spirits group of competitors, learn more about this history of aviation, and enjoy a visit to Frederick.
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