Entered Air Race Classic

         Mary and I entered this year's Air Race Classic. Pages and pages of forms need filing and reviewing to enter this race. Mary, the pilot, sent me information about herself, such as her aviation ratings, age, emergency contact, hometown newspaper, and the reason she chose to race. Same for me, the co-pilot. As for our aircraft and the forms I filled out for it, I visited the library at Dan Decker's hangar in order to find much of the information required. The engine and propeller serial numbers, certificate of airworthiness, and a short list of alterations made to the plane over the years make part of the documentation I have to take with me when I present myself with Mary and my plane in Iowa City, Iowa, in June. All the while, Jo at the entry administration has seemed kind, friendly, and patient with me as I filled out the forms, and Jim and Steve, my mechanics, took time from their jobs to assist me in shuffling through the arm-load of paperwork collected since 1969, the date of manufacture of my Cherokee P28A 180.
        Flying the race from Iowa, looping up to both Dakotas, veering into Wyoming, taking a deep breath in Texas, and then heading toward Oklahoma to the terminus in Alabama, we will require no fewer than twelve aviation maps, called "sectionals." Fortunately for those of us flying in this day and age, we may employ electronic gadgets such as the iPad that show all that territory without having to unfold yards of paper across the cockpit and into the back seat.

        Mary and I have a reason to race that surpasses any search for fun. Our mission: To bring awareness to women and to women in aviation, and to bring awareness to the newly-founded Girls in Flight Training (GIFT), an aviation camp purposefully structured for the benefit of girls and women of all ages and skills that Mary hopes will encourage its students to progress in aviation.
         Since Mary loves toucans and I love birds, we thought we could develop a logo that would reflect our spirit. The logo below reflects the philosophy of Mary's new school, too, the GIFT, by showing a large toucan representing the mentor, and a small toucan representing the student.

        Jo will serve as our Mother Bird. Every neophyte racer may request a mentor to guide her and her teammate throughout the race. Jo has helped me already by guiding me patiently through the labyrinthian process of completing the entry forms, and I welcome her warmly and gratefully her further assistance.
         On Friday, February 25th, 2011, Mama Bird Jo sent the note below:
         "There was a drawing today to select the team that would receive a Free ARC entry. You are the winners! Congratulations!"
         Good luck already! Let it roll.
         Count down begins: In fifteen days we fly up to the start.