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Air Racing: Marion Jayne Thanksgiving and 2007 National Air Races
Each of us has several families. We have the family that we were born into and the families we acquire throughout life. Folks receiving this email are part of the aviation family and perhaps the air race family. Yesterday as I watched the Mayor of New York talk about the absolute joy of flying during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it reminded me of how Mom, Marion Jayne, spent her Thanksgivings. My first memory of Thanksgiving was traveling. We were dressed in our good clothes as the family traveled to Grandma’s house where Mom’s sister, her family and other relatives gathered. A few years later the gatherings moved alternately to our house or Mom’s sister house which was just around the corner.
The third iteration involved traveling again. As we children married, Thanksgiving revolved around job schedules and in-laws. It was harder to gather as a family but Mom had a solution for that. At times we had Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday in two different cities. Mom always set the table the night before, labeled the serving pieces with the planned contents and set her alarm clock. She’d get up early, put the turkey in the oven and off she went to the airport. She’d fly to wherever one of her children and their spouse were, pick them up and fly home. The family gathered and gave thanks for all manner of blessings – including the flying travel that enabled us to gather as a family.
As I savor yesterday’s memories and leftovers, I look forward to making more great traveling memories in 2007. Before we leave 2006 let me once again say thank you to all of those who made the 2006 National Air Races possible: the Race Boards, the many volunteers, the wonderful sponsors at http://www.us-airrace.org/sponsors.html and especially our Top Gun sponsors of Arthur T. Mott Realty, City of Hutchinson Kansas Airport Authority and Jones Publishing.
Shortly the web site will be updated for the 2007 National Air Races by U.S. Air Race, Inc. where all pilots and their friends can enjoy “Air Racing: Compete to fly the Perfect Cross Country”. Save July 15-20, 2007 for fabulous flying. The entry kit will be available January 1. We will dovetail our schedule to join the Jones Publishing GTO™ (Gateway to Oshkosh) Convention. We are fortunate to have both Jones Publishing and Arthur T. Mott Realty returning as Top Gun sponsors. The City of Wichita Airport Authority is also a 2007 Top Gun sponsor. The Wichita 300 will be flown Monday July 15. The premiere 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race will travel east across the Ozarks, over the scenic Ohio river valley, north along the east shores of Lake Michigan, into the Upper Peninsula and then south to Wisconsin. The third National Air Race will be the Wisconsin 300 on Friday July 20.
I hope that your Thanksgiving holidays were and are filled with marvelous memories and pleasant plans for the future that include flying the perfect cross country in one or more of the National Air Races.
The bookend 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 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 507,607 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

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