Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s Flying Flashes earned three first place prizes at the 45th Annual Air Race Classic held in Lakeland, Florida, in June. The team is composed of Laura Wilson, senior aeronautics major, and Alex Johnson, ’21, Professional Pilot program alumna. Wilson and Johnson returned to the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Airport (1G3) with prizes including:
- Fastest Cessna - Presented to the highest scoring team flying a Cessna airplane
- 1st Place, Collegiate Challenge Trophy - Awarded to the highest scoring collegiate team
- 1st Place, Overall (Top 10 Category) - Presented to the highest scoring team in the Air Race Classic. Includes prizes of $6,000 as well as medallions and awards for each team member
The is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging and educating current and future women pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women's roles in aviation, and preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation.
The race route is different every year, and this year, racers flew from Lakeland, Florida, to Terre Haute, Indiana, covering approximately 2,500 miles during a four-day period.
The team and fellow female aviator Victoria Lorenzon, senior aeronautics and Professional Pilot major, were celebrated at the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Airport (1G3). The three women were honored and recognized for their recent awards and achievements, and for continuing to promote the tradition of pioneering women in aviation.