On Monday, June 27, the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University College of Aeronautics and Engineering community welcomed Team 52, the Flying Flashes, back from the 45th Annual Air Race Classic. ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµAir Race Classic 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.
¾«¶«Ó°Òµis different every year, and this year racers flew from Lakeland, Florida, to Terre Haute, Indiana, approximately 2,500 miles over a four-day time period.
¾«¶«Ó°ÒµFlying Flashes, Laura Wilson of New Richmond, Ohio, senior Aeronautics - Professional Pilot major, and Alex Johnson of Canton, Michigan, 2021 graduate of the Aeronautics - Professional Pilot program, returned to the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Airport (1G3) with not only one award - but with three first-place prizes.
¾«¶«Ó°ÒµFlying Flashes came home well-decorated with the .
Fastest Cessna. ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµFastest Cessna Award is presented to the highest-scoring team flying a Cessna airplane.
1st Place, Collegiate Challenge Trophy. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ1st Place Collegiate Challenge Trophy is awarded to the highest-scoring collegiate team.
1st Place, Overall. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ1st Place Overall award is presented to the highest-scoring team in the Air Race Classic. This award includes prizes of $6,000 plus medallions and awards for each team member.
Celebrating the Females of Flight
¾«¶«Ó°ÒµFlying Flashes, Laura and Alex, were celebrated with fellow female aviator Victoria Lorenzon, senior Aeronautics - Processional Pilot major, on Thursday, June 30, at 12:30 p.m. EDT at the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Airport (1G3). ¾«¶«Ó°Òµthree women were honored and recognized for their recent awards, achievements, and accolades, as well as continuing to promote the tradition of pioneering women in aviation.
¾«¶«Ó°ÒµFlying Flashes in the News