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Air Racing: Hutchinson, Kansas Start, GTO(™) Finish and Race Team 8 is Great
The City of Hutchinson, Kansas is hosting the start festivities for the Marion Jayne Air Race and the Hutchinson 300 Air Race. Let me tell you a bit about this fabulous city that loves its airport. I first visited this central Kansas city in 1997 when it was a stop on our race. I was greeted with warm cookies from the Wells Aircraft FBO and a City of Hutchinson ceramic mug. There is an immediate feeling of welcome comfort here. Everything from the Arkansas River that started in the Rocky Mountains and passes through the city center and runs parallel to the vintage Avenue A boulevard of large Victorian homes to the how-the-race-to-space-unfolded Smithsonian quality exhibits shown in the stunning Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum. The Museum holds a mounted SR-71, the Apollo 13 Command module, an IMAX theater, Dr Goddard’s Lab, a café, shop and more.
If that isn’t enough to pique your interest, they have an excellent steak house in the airport terminal building, a water park in the hotel in which we’ll be staying and the new Salt Mine attraction is due to open soon. Shopper Alert – there is an antique district downtown and a unique Amish community about 20 minutes southeast of town. Those folks that come to our events will likely follow me in returning to Hutchinson again and again. We’ll talk about the intermediary stops on the 1800-mile Marion Jayne route in coming newsletters.
The finish for the Marion Jayne Air Race is at the Gateway to Oshkosh, GTO(TM) Convention and Fly-in operated by Jones Publishing – the folks who bring you the Cessna Owner Organization and Piper Owners Society monthly magazines. Their Convention and Fly-in has seminars, fun food gatherings, ground schools and very comfortable transportation to and from EAA’s AirVenture event at Oshkosh for the opening three days. When we lived in Illinois, we used to go to Oshkosh all the time. It was a great experience flying in but I still remember taxiing for 45 minutes to a parking space and then pulling the plane down the taxiway as we were the umpty-umpth plane in line for departure – that light Twin Comanche got heavy. The bus rides sound like we get all the fun without so much of the work. I’m all for that.
Our theme this year is "Air Racing: Where it’s all about the Pilots". Race Team ‘8 is great’ is competing again this year. Last year the Texas married folk of AnnElise and Bobby Bennett nearly took the top award in their rookie race efforts in their personally renovated 172. Now they are addicted. Bobby had been a pilot for years when he challenged AnnElise with “If you learn to fly, I’ll buy you an airplane”. She did and he did so the rest is happy flying history. It was AnnElise’s turn to excite Bobby with this whole idea of air racing. They are a relaxed fun couple on the ground and keen competitors in the air. They are looking forward to seeing their new friends from last year.
We hope that you'll join with us too and enjoy the fabulous camaraderie that develops with shared flying adventures. You can fly one, two or all three of our races: the exciting cross country 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race from Hutchinson, Kansas to Wisconsin, the Hutchinson 300-mile Air Race in Kansas and/or the Wisconsin 300-mile Air Race in Wisconsin. A cruise at your own speed division is also available. These fabulous flying events will be held July 16-23, 2006. Participants will receive custom trophies, cash, completion plaques, prizes and the priceless bragging rights.
Teams may compete in cruise or speed divisions in the 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race. Custom divisions (such as, turbo or all RVs) are possible for five or more teams. The events are open to all qualified pilots and planes. Flying will be done under Federal Aviation Regulations in daylight, VFR conditions of 1000’ and 3 miles or better. Race planes are individually handicapped which makes each event a test of flying skills. Our goals are to promote the sport of General Aviation and the events’ proceeds will benefit aviation endeavors. As always, participants have the opportunity to dedicate an aviation scholarship. Scholarships will be distributed evenly among men and women and awarded by drawings in Kansas and Wisconsin.
We are excited to bring you a projected route abounding in scenic splendor and clear of nearly all special use air space. The route begins in Hutchinson located in the middle of Kansas on the Arkansas River. You’ll follow the river valley towards the eastern plains of Colorado and then fly north in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains to the scenic Badlands and the edge of the Black Hills in South Dakota’s Rapid City where teams may remain overnight and see the fabulous evening Mt Rushmore presentation. Then it is off to Montana and the Missouri River. Turning east, you’ll follow the Missouri River a bit until it is joined by the Yellowstone River to create beautiful Lake Sakakawea. Still heading east, you’ll cross North Dakota and Minnesota just south of the boundary waters and then turn southeast and fly just over the tip of lake Superior and finish in mid-Wisconsin. As in the past, legs are about 300 sm and with an easy two-legs-a-day strategy, you’ll land in time for all th
e fun on the ground. The free entry kit is at www.us-airrace.org and has more details.
The renaissance-style 300-mile races are where pilotage and precise flying reign supreme as teams compete with only a compass and sectional charts for navigational aids across a mystery route. The Marion Jayne Air Race is where the full panel is used with weather and aircraft knowledge being added to the competitive equation. After 3 days and 1800 miles of cross country flying, teams will be honored awards. The results of the three national races will be combined to determine the winner of the stunning Marion Jayne Perpetual Trophy.
The U.S. Air Race, Inc. was founded by famed race pilot Marion Jayne. Jayne is the only U.S. pilot to have raced twice around the world. She placed second in the 1992 race and won the FAI Gold Medal in 1994. Marion has been honored as one of the century's 100 Aviation Heroes along with the Wrights, John Glenn, Eileen Collins and others at the 2003 Centennial Celebration. Her personal success, her two races around the world, her life before flying were cited as well as her entrepreneurial spirit in founding 4 air races - three of which are still run annually. The 2006 National Air Races honor her memory and contributions.
Our ‘Safe, Fair and Fun’ catch phrase was coined at the 1995 inaugural event and characterizes how we work together as organizers and participants to have successful flights. Our teams have flown over 480,145 miles with a perfect safety record. For first-time participants a special briefing is held and new teams are given an experienced event buddy to make their rookie experience goes smoothly. Come join us for the fun flying, the camaraderie, the cruising and/or the competition. You’ll have hangar flying stories for years to come!
Wishing you Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Pat
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer
President, U.S. Air Race, Inc.
National Air Races and Air Cruise
www.us-airrace.org
P.S. If you would prefer not to receive information about the U.S. Air Race events, please let me know.

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