Gretchen Jahn Will, Of Course, Fly A Mooney

The Air Race Classic, the world's only all-women transcontinental air race, draws pilots from a variety of professions. The 2005 race is no exception as it includes a marine helicopter pilot and a flight surgeon with the Navy. But there is only one CEO of an airplane corporation at the starting line this year -– Mooney Airplane Company's Gretchen Jahn.

Jahn isn't a novice when it comes to flying. An avid pilot for more than 20 years, she has flown in 13 Air Race Classics. A member of the 99s, she races in several special events each year, is a member of the Colorado Pilots Association and serves as treasurer for the Air Race Classic board. Jahn joined the Mooney team in the fall of 2004, bringing with her an extensive background in manufacturing, IT leadership and aviation.

"Gretchen pilots Mooney with a steady hand, much like the one she uses in the left seat of her new Ovation2 GX," said David Copeland, Mooney vice president of sales and marketing.

Jahn will fly her Ovation2 GX with copilot Ruby Sheldon, an 87-year-old aviatrix from Phoenix, AZ. Sheldon is a familiar face at the Air Race Classics as this year's race marks her 20th anniversary in the competition. She may be small, only 87 pounds, but this spitfire has made history. She holds the first helicopter instrument instructor certificate issued by the FAA. She's logged more than 15,000 total hours and has flown Huey Helicopters, Douglas DC-3s, Grumman OV-1Bs, Mohawks, and spent many hours in Mooneys. Sheldon has flown in four other races with Jahn, including the 2002 Air Race Classic.

The Air Race Classic, scheduled June 21-24, begins at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., and will cover more than 2,000 nautical miles before pilots circle back to the finish line in Lafayette. Stops include LaCrosse WI, Beatrice NE, Bartlesville OK, Shreveport LA, Walnut Ridge AR, Tullahoma TN, and Ohio University in Athens.

"The Mooney family wishes the best of luck to Gretchen, Ruby and the rest of the racers," said Copeland. "It's inspiring to watch them put themselves and their aircraft to the test."

FMI: www.otcfn.com/mnyg