AZ Team Took 10th Place Overall

Two Embry-Riddle flight teams turned in impressive performances in the 34th annual women's Air Race Classic, a 2,483-mile race that began June 22 in Fort Myers, FL, and ended June 25 in Frederick, MD, including stops at airports in several cities throughout the central United States.

Out of a field of 51 teams, the team from Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus took sixth place in the collegiate division, and came in 10th overall.  The team was composed of pilots Kim Turrell and Kristen McTee. Turrell is a flight instructor and McTee received the Outstanding Graduate Award during Spring 2010 graduation for achievements in her Aeronautical Science Professional Pilot program.

"They flew their hearts out," said Prescott team coach Ryan Albrecht. "I found it amazing how much respect the other teams had for them. They really represented our school well."

The team from Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus finished eighth in the collegiate division and 29th overall. Pilots Kim Ewing and Hannah Northern, team coach Carolina Lenz-Anderson, and weather adviser Debbie Schaum constituted the team. Although the Daytona Beach team did not win a medal this year, both girls were good sports in their congratulation wishes for the Prescott team.

"We would like to congratulate our sister school ERAU Prescott for placing 10th overall. While we were rivals in the race, we had a great time with them this last week and of course are happy to see our university do well," said Hannah Northern in her Air Race blog. Both teams flew Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft from Embry-Riddle's fleet, equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit.

The Prescott team was supported by Dr. and Mrs. John P. Johnson, Universal Helicopters, Legend Aviation, Cessna, Garmin, West Wind Aviation, Tri-City Mobile Wash, Macayo's Restaurant, Jeppesen, and the Embry-Riddle Women-in-Aviation Club and Diversity Committee and numerous community partners.

The Daytona Beach team was sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John P. Johnson, Dr. Richard Heist, Cessna, Aeroshell, Army Aviation Magazine, WxWorx, Clarity Aloft, Aviation Supplies & Academics, and many members of the Embry-Riddle community.

"Both the Prescott and Daytona Beach team's represent the realization of four young lady pilots who had a dream, and acted upon it. Kim Turrell and Kristen McTee, breaking into the top ten against 51 other teams is a testament to their skill as pilots, their mature judgment, and their competitive spirit. These are all the things Embry Riddle Aeronautical University stands for. We are very proud of them.  Go Eagles!!"

In the Air Race Classic, each aircraft is judged against its own handicapped cruising speed, and the teams must follow the route as closely as possible while improving their average speed. This format focuses on piloting skills and decision-making instead of the speed of the aircraft.

The competition continues the tradition of women's transcontinental air racing that began 80 years ago.

FMI: www.airraceclassic.org, www.embryriddle.edu