Diana Stanger proudly showing off the Racing Aces’ trophy. Diana is the airport manager at Calhoun Air Center, Calhoun County Airport in Port Lavaca. She also owns and operates the fixed base operator in Victoria, Texas. She learned to fly in 1994 and has over 3700 hours of flight time in rotorcraft and fixed wing.
As we traveled home, southwest along the United States at 182 knots and an altitude of 10,000 feet, I could barely take in the series of events that had occurred the weeks prior.
I am proud to write the following, The Racing Aces, Dianna Stanger and Victoria Holt were announced the 36th Annual Air Race Classic (ARC) Champions on Sunday, June 24th.
The race concluded on Friday, June 23rd at the terminus in Clermont County Airport in Batavia, Ohio. The four-day race covered 2,862 statute-miles, eight states and nine stops. The female pilots competed in last year’s race placing middle of the pack. Two and a half years in the making both are elated to take home the championship title.
The experience for me was absolutely surreal and I wonder if any other life event will be able to top this one. I arrived in Arizona the Sunday prior to the start of the race, June 19th. Quickly catching up with the Aces we prepared for the evening’s banquet. Although anxiousness coursed through the room that evening, it was a nice refresher. Guest speakers included the head of the Rio Colorado Chapter of the Ninety-Nine’s, Lake Havasu’s city manager, airport manager and a female F-16 fighter pilot. It was extremely empowering to be a part of this very special group. Top Gun references were a dime a dozen and one of the very most important goals of the ARC thrived – camaraderie.
“It will be another great adventure in my life and a sentimental journey,” Holt expressed. “The start of the race will have a special meaning because Lake Havasu City was my childhood home and I have so many fond memories of family, friends, and days gone by.”
The following day, June 18th, we were all busy preparing for Tuesday’s ARC start. The Aces attended an update and weather briefing, no doubt we were all a buzz with excitement. I worked non-stop updating the website, social media and contacting news crews. I was delighted when I was invited to take photos of the race start, Monday evening I could barely sleep with anticipation.
The next morning we woke early and departed for Lake Havasu City Airport. I snapped photos left and right as the team settled into the plane and waited for the race start. We said our good-byes and airport manager, Steve Johnstone drove me to the start of runway 32. Teams departed from the airport promptly at 8:00 am (MST) in order of classic racer number. The planes taxied in groups of five towards the 8,000 foot runway. A total of forty-nine planes departed in approximately forty-five minutes. Airport manager, Steve Johnston commented, “This is the opportunity of a lifetime for us. We had a great turn out to see the pilots off!”
I captured over 1,700 photos of the planes taxiing and taking off, after the last plane departed, I stood in awe and a bit emotional. I had just witnessed over a hundred female pilots begin a competition of which Amelia Earhart was apart of over eighty years prior. I quickly set up in the business center of my hotel and tracked the team on the Spot Tracker, a GPS device which the team was carrying in the plane. The device drops cookies every ten minutes allowing anyone to view their journey online via Google Maps. The accuracy of the GPS unit was mesmerizing.
The team started out strong, flying five legs of the race in the first day and covering 1,482 statute-miles and over half the race route. They flew from Lake Havasu City Airport, Lake Havasu City, Arizona to Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, New Mexico; Hereford Municipal Airport, Hereford, Texas; Renner Field (Goodland Municipal Airport), Goodland, Kansas; Columbus Municipal Airport, Columbus, Nebraska; settling in Watertown Regional Airport, Watertown, South Dakota.
The day was long, but that evening we still could not sleep. The temperature that day reached 120 degrees in Arizona and it was a definite factor. Fatigue and heat exhaustion troubled some teams. The following day all teams were grounded due to eastern weather systems. The Aces took advantage of the time, recollected themselves and planned for the next day.
The pilots departed from South Dakota on the third day of the ARC covering 629 statute-miles. They flew to John F. Kennedy Memorial Airport, Ashland, Wisconsin; and Chippewa County International Airport, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It was a meaningful stop for Dianna as she grew up in Michigan.
The Racing Aces departed from Chippewa County International Airport on the morning of the 22nd, the fourth day of the race, later than a handful of racers but the move was strategic and beneficial. These are instances where the race can get the best of the pilots, one second-guess and it could cause a significant difference in placement.
I waited impatiently, refreshing the Spot Tracker web page what seemed like a million times. I had flown to the terminus in Ohio the day prior and waited nervously, I called the fixed base operator in Michigan several times asking if Classic Racer #24 was on the departure list. Debbie, the receptionist was very kind (yes, we were now on a first name basis), she kept me updated on their status. Finally I saw the Spot Tracker begin to transmit signal and I packed up my equipment and headed to Clermont County Airport, home of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, the mecca of pilot supplies and accessories!
I arrived at Sporty’s Pilot Shop and before I even reached the front door I was greeted by a friendly gentleman, I explained my purpose and he escorted me mid-field of runway 4. It was the perfect location to capture the teams as they passed low over the field, circled to land, and taxied in. The airport has a sound system set up outside so that people are able to hear all of the radio calls echo loudly on the field. I also notice driving in that they have a viewing area at the end of the runway where people may watch the planes arrive and depart.
The pilots, Victoria Holt and Dianna Stanger, flew the last two legs in a matter of hours. I stood by the runway waiting, waiting – then I waited some more until finally I heard a familiar voice over the sound system. “Classic Racer #24, five miles out.” Dianna’s voice is very distinct on the radio; I prepared for their flyby quickly texting the crew back home informing them the time had come and updated the Ace’s Facebook page. Once the Aces crossed the finish line they were greeted by a friendly Sporty’s staff, the team checked into the terminus and only then did it finally sink in – the friendly staff member that had been so kind was in fact the president of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, Michael Wolf! I was delighted to hear the team say they saw me before anyone else! The spot proved to have been perfect!
Victoria Holt (L), Hal Shevers, founder of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and Dianna Stanger (R) celebrating the Racing Aces win.
We then waited for the banquet on Sunday to learn the final results of the 36th Annual ARC. The team was announced the champions on the evening of Sunday, June 25th and the first to win in a Cirrus SR 22 Special Edition.
On behalf of the Aces, I would like to thank everyone that has supported the team, followed up on Facebook and the website. The Racing Aces look forward to continuing to promote general aviation to girls of all ages. Most importantly, awarding scholarships in Calhoun County in 2013 with the proceeds from this year’s race. The team’s goal has snowballed into something much larger than any one of us could have anticipated as we have now teamed up with powerhouses across the nation which are also striving to make a difference in the general aviation community. The Aces promoted aviation all along the race route and made headlines in Arizona, South Dakota and Ohio.
The female pilots are proud to follow the footsteps of past competitors and aviatrixes such as Ruth Elder and Blanche Noyes. They helped pave the wave for the Aces and in turn, they hope to do the same for other female pilots.
During a telephone interview I was delighted to find an aspiring pilot. “I did not discover my interest in flying until I was in college, but once I did, I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I took one lesson and absolutely loved it,” said Hailey Maiden of the Temple Daily Telegram. “As for female pilots, I never realized how incredibly male-dominated of a profession it is and I can’t understand why. Some of the most inspiring stories have come from female pilots such as the Racing Aces, seeing what they can do definitely inspires me to be just as great. I think any woman who may be interested in flying to look to them as inspiration.” Victoria and Hailey have now become acquaintances, it’s wonderful to see that the Racing Ace’s mission is making a difference.
Dianna and Victoria would like to personally thank the 2012 sponsors; AvFuel, Byrne & Storm, P.C., Federman, Lally & Remis LLC, IBC Bank, Eurocopter, Flight Safety, Formosa and Ladd Gardner Insurance.
Words can’t describe how much this journey has meant to me – seeing my photos grace sites and publications such as Sporty’s Pilot Shop, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association have taken me to new heights. I am glad to be able to share this journey with the Dolphin Talk readers and hope that females out there are able to benefit from it. You are never too young or old to discover a passion for aviation – let your dreams take flight. If you wish to view the ARC photos, read an in-depth update on the Racing Ace’s journey visit http://theracingaces.com. Till next time, blue skies!
