Aces Complete in Sea to Sea Air Race
New Cumberland, PA (PRWEB) June 20, 2014 -- The Racing Aces completed a grueling 2,300-nautical mile cross country air race in their Cirrus SR-22 aircraft on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18th. The team partnered with Cirrus Aircraft™ this year to show their commitment to the education of women in aviation. All of the team’s proceeds gained during the 2014 Air Race Classic will be put towards a scholarship for one deserving future female pilot.
The crew experienced everything from near freezing conditions in Wyoming, following devastating tornadoes in Nebraska and the threat of even more powerful storms on the East Coast.
The team set off from California early Monday morning and made their first leg northbound to northern California where they flew by the first checkpoint on their way to Elko, NV. High elevations and mountain scenery spread out all around them before they fueled up and headed on to Wyoming where a gorgeous view of the Great Salt Lake met them before stopping for the night.
Favorable winds the next day meant an early morning start for the next leg to Nebraska, but the looming threat of ice in the mountains of western Wyoming meant a short delay. They dashed down for one leg of the race and stopped in Scottsbluff, NE to asses the next jaunt across the state. Monday's storm system had wrought two deadly tornadoes just north of the Norfolk waypoint, and the team wanted to be prepared in case of another afternoon flare up. With the skies deemed clear and the wind at their backs, they headed onward, making two legs and finishing their day's racing in Iowa City.
More storms loomed overnight across the great lakes and north of the course, so Wednesday's plans were laid out with care. Forecasts called for late day thunderstorms near the terminus, but Thursday's weather is questionable. The call was made and a sprint for the finish began with the ladies pushing the plane in the final three legs through Illinois, Ohio, and in New Cumberland, PA with nary a drop of rain on the sleek racing machine.
This year’s ARC had forty-eight teams and over one hundred female pilots compete for the championship title in the transcontinental air race. The winners will be announced at the Awards Banquet which will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014. Learn more about the race team at http://www.theracingaces.com.
Dianna Stanger, The Racing Aces, http://www.airraceclassic.org, +1 (361) 920-5111, [email protected]
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