Angie Slinguff . . . . . 2008 International Convention Committee 1.877.552.8926 . . . Michelle Bartleman. 694.2080 Aviation Museum Display Committee . . . Sandi Sumner. Publicity Gloria Kragness 243.1898 Airmarking . Lavelle Betz. Scrapbook 696.3580 . Audrey Cole. 696.3580 Fly-ins . Mio Johnson. 694.4574 Membership . . . Melanie Hancock . Flying Companion 243.5643 . . Louise Gettmann. Sunshine 1.877.552.8926 . . . Michelle Bartleman. 222.9977 Flypaper . Helen Jones . Scholarships COMMITTEES 622-3249 . . . . Barb Spriggs. Treasurer 1.877.552.8926 . . . Michelle Bartleman. 248.5530 Secretary . . . Clarissa Quinlan. 694.4571 Vice Chair . . . Melanie Hancock . Chair OFFICERS

271-3422

APRIL 2006 99s ONLINE opportunities and mentor connections. opportunities and scholarship includes newsupdates, The nationalsite National Website [email protected]. della Cioppa e-mail Caren andadditions, For Websiteupdates Chapter Web site missing areally good will be program. and understand from theschedule that I meeting April the attend able to be I won't dates. page two and make sure to save those calendar. Take a lookatthe calendar on the on already activities We several have gestions for fly-ins. sug- have ifyou ([email protected]) e-mail or (694-4571) phone by meknow let and on caps thinking your fly. Put to where Summer flyingthenleads tothoughts of summer flying. tificates andlicensesin preparation for of us are checking airplanes, medical cer- summer inAlaska.Italso means that many to leads sloppy up—a eventually mess that April finds us in the midst of spring break- FROM THECHAIR THE www.ninety-nines.org FLYPAPER www.ak99s.org

THE OFFICIALNEWSLETTEROFALASKA99s June—September (Summer) $ 5 $ (Summer) atak99s.org. the Flypaperonline You canalsoread andmailing, istocoverprinting The subscriptioncost $10 year) (Half $15 (Fullyear) June—September February—September October—September SUBSCRIPTION RATES theFlypaperarefreeformembers. Ads in 1-877-552-8926 [email protected]. byphone Bartleman contactMichelle Flypaper, please forthe orinformation an article,ad 2006. Ifyouhave April25, issueis May forthe deadline The submission FLYPAPER FACTS inMay! See you the I'mprogram! enjoy ings. you'll sure Guests are alwayswelcome atourmeet- Force DemonstrationTeam.U.S. Air the Thunderbirds, the with year rotation Samantha a isa toserve 2- semi-finalist based at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Weeks, one offourF-15 women pilots Our speaker for April is Captain Samantha WHO TIME WHERE WHEN WHAT EVERYONE ISWELCOME! : :0 .. 6:00P.M. : : ALASKA CHAPTER MEETING ALASKACHAPTER : WED.APR. 12 : : PEGGY’S CAFÉ DETAILS

Melanie

Page 2 THEFLYPAPER

ALASKA CHAPTER: April meeting The speaker for the April meeting will be Captain Samantha Weeks, one of four F15 women pilots based at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Samantha is a semi- finalist to serve a two-year stint with the renowned U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team, the Thunder- CALENDAR birds. She will speak about her career, ambitions and WED.APR.12 @ 6 P.M. experiences as a pilot in today’s military. Her talk is a Alaska chapter “must” for anyone interested in a flying career. Please monthly meeting invite friends and family. Everyone is welcome. (Peggy’s Cafe) See details left. DETAILS

WHAT: ALASKA CHAPTER 99S MONTHLY MEETING SAT.APR. 22 @ 8:30 A.M. WHEN: WED. APR. 12 Girl Scout Flying WHERE: PEGGY’S AIRPORT CAFE Companion seminar TIME: 6:00 P.M. (UAA Aviation Building) For more information see left. WHO: EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

APR. 29-30 Spring Annual May Day Fly-in (Valdez, AK) Flying Companion Seminar For more information contact shows what Randy Maag 831-0275 or go online: We will again be offering a Flying Companion Semi- www.valdezalaska.org/ God can do nar for High School age girls and Girls Scouts. Date: events/flyIn/flyIn.html Saturday, April 22 at UAA from 8:30 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. Angie is looking for 99s to join in present- MAY 6-7 with a drab ing this seminar to these enthusiastic young women. Aviation Trade Contact Angie at 271-3422 during the day or 337- Show & Conference and dirty 0253 in evenings. (FedEx Hanger) For more information go to www.alaskaairmen.com world. 2008 International Convention The 2008 International Convention Committee meets SAT.MAY 13 the first Thursday of each month at Peggy’s Café. Eve- Spring Flying ~Virgil A. Kraft ryone is welcome. For more information contact An- Companion Seminar gie at 271-3422 during the day or 337-0253 evenings. (Mat-Su)

SUN.MAY 28 Kenai Aviation Air Fair and Fun Fly-n Breakfast The 6th Annual Kenai Peninsula Air Fair and Fun (Long Lake, Near McCarthy) Flight will be held on May 13. It starts with a fly-in breakfast at the Soldotna Airport at 8:00 a.m. fol- SAT.JUNE 3 lowed by a Poker Run to 8 different airports and then FAA Pancake Breakfast finishes with a BBQ from 1—3:00 p.m. at the Kenai and Short-field clinic Airport. (Palmer, AK)

Vendor tables cost $50 and there will be static dis- TUES.JUNE 20 plays at both airports. For more information contact Joint Alaska/Mat-Su Mary Bondurant at Kenai 283-7951 or Sharen Sleater Chapter Potluck Picnic at Soldotna Airport 262-4672. AUG 6-9, 2008 99s Women Pilots If you have an event you would like published in the calendar, International Conference please contact Michelle Loscher by e-mail at [email protected] (Anchorage, AK) or call 1.877.552.8926

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALASKA 99s Page 3

Ninety-Nine Dee Rice is a pilot for Two short flights Warbelos, in Fairbanks. in a Ping Pong ball

BY SANDI SUMNER www.sandisumner.com

When I was in Fairbanks for the Master Pilot Award Banquet where Pearl Laska Chamberlain was honored with this award, Ninety-Nine Dee Rice kidnapped me (though I was a willing volunteer) at 8:30 a.m. Dee is a pilot with Warbelos in Fairbanks and her story is in my book, yet I had never flown with her, so when she suggested I come along on "two short flights to- day", I jumped at the chance.

I was staying at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks, planning to laze around 8 inches so I could walk without trip- there all day until the banquet that ping. The crotch came down to my evening. I didn't even bother to bring a knees. I could barely move. winter coat! (Now you know I'm a true The truest blond if I'm in Fairbanks in March and Once I maneuvered past the cargo I'm coatless.) inside the airplane, I told Dee the only lengthening of way they'd get me out of the cockpit Before we hit the sky, Dee insisted on was to use the jaws of life and a crane! life is to live taking me to her place and making I was literally stuffed into the right while we live, scrumptious sourdough pancakes. seat beside Dee. wasting no By 11:00 a.m. we were in the office at We were airborne in a twin Navajo by Warbelos. I had solved my coat prob- 12:30 p.m. after Dee insisted on a time but using lem, having purchased a warm fleece photo of me fueling the airplane. (I jacket in the hotel gift shop, but my only spilled a drop or two). every hour for jeans, fleece top, street shoes and some lightweight yellow gloves likely gave Her first stop was in Tanana. She the highest me away as neophyte in the Fairbanks says, "I fly up river and down river." I ends. So be it aviation community. had to ask which river, since Alaska’s vastness is littered with rivers, frozen this day. Dee and the guys who work on the and covered with snow in the winter. ramp at Warbelos were pointing at me She laughed and said, "The Yukon, and laughing, especially because of of course!" On we flew into what Ellen C. H. Spurgeon the shoes I was wearing. The men Paneok always says is a ping pong rounded up a HUGE pair of Carhart ball. bib overalls and Dee borrowed some- one's oversize bunny boots. While the My headset mouthpiece was contorted guys helped me into the bib overalls and Dee insisted on repairing it with (over all my other clothes), Dee sat on her Leatherman tool while we contin- the floor rolling up the pant legs about ued in a whiteout. CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALASKA 99s Page 4 MINUTES: Alaska Chapter meeting March 8, 2006

1) INTRODUCTION ally came from the FAA – they are just know anyone who is working on a pri- waiting for the application so that they vate license or an advanced rating, • There were 17 people in atten- can award it. encourage them to apply. dance.

C) Revision of meeting minutes B) Aviation Trade Show 2) BUSINESS • Corrections: • Volunteers needed to watch the booth A) Treasurer’s report ∗ Palmer Flying and Pancake break- at this years Alaska Airmen’s Associa- fast: June 3 • Bank account for Museum display – tion Aviation Trade show. Sign up sheet ∗ Sponsorship for the Valdez Fly in - Melanie checked into interest rates was passed around. 250$ around town and First National seems to

have the highest locally for a standard C) New officers • Roberta moves to accept the minutes as savings account. • corrected. Mio seconds. All in favour, It is time to consider new officers for the group. Ballots must be in the June news- B) Application for Ruth Jefford none opposed. letter, because new names must be into as Master Pilot the International Office by July 1. 3) PROGRAM • Not complete yet. Looking for people Melanie's time limit is up. who can write recommendation letters • Introduction by Sandi Sumner and pres- for her to go with the application. So if entation by retired Air Force Colonel D) Logo ideas for Convention anyone knows Ruth or knows people and Alaska Chapter 99 Jean White. • Exuberant presentation by Janet Ox- who know her. John Olofsson suggested ford of logo ideas for the 2008 Con- Mark Stella; Angie said that both the 4) CONTINUED BUSINESS vention. Discussion followed. No con- Mat-Su valley chapter and the Alaska A) Scholarships crete decisions made. chapter are nominating her. Angie said that the request for the nomination actu- • Scholarships are posted online – if you E) Meeting adjourned THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALASKA 99s Page 5

CONT’D: Two short flights in a ping pong

Author Sandi Sumner takes a wack at filling up the tanks of a Twin Navajo, before heading out April into the Alaska skies with Ninety-Nine Dee Rice.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 03 Again, I remained planted in the cock- prepares pit while Dee off-loaded all the re- We seldom saw the ground but Dee maining cargo and reset all the pas- her green was flying with instruments, not con- senger seats because there were peo- cerned about the weather. She kept ple from Ruby waiting to fly with us traffic light busy with charts and adjusting what- back to Fairbanks. ever you need to adjust to stay on track for our destination (blond, not a No one complained while Dee worked, and the pilot). and they waited in 10 to 20 below zero weather on the frozen tundra. world Before landing in Tanana, I nearly dozed off because the noise from two Soon we were airborne again, with a thinks Go. engines and the whiteout made me happy, smiling group of people. An sleepy. Dee touched down on a snow- hour an a half later, we landed in covered runway in Tanana and Dee Fairbanks again. We had one hour to ~Christopher Morley, disappeared through the window on freshen up and get to the banquet. John Mistletoe her side of the cockpit while I ate a snack. “So much for two short flights” I said to Dee. She laughed as she dropped On we flew to Ruby, one of the check- me off at the Westmark again and points on the Iditarod Trail. There went home to clean up for the dinner. was the mighty Yukon River below. Dee circled the village of Ruby, then I am writing this piece for the Flypa- made a perfect landing on another per because it's my way of acknowl- snow-covered runway set atop a edging every woman pilot who has mountain with 360 degree views. ever flown in Bush Alaska in the win- No doubt there was ice underneath ter. All of you are hard-working, dy- the snow at both Tanana and Ruby, namic superstars in my book! but Dee never allowed the Navajo to get away from her. (A couple weeks And I'd fly with Dee Rice again, any- later, during the running of the Idi- where, anytime, even on "two short tarod, Ruby had fierce winds and flights" inside a ping pong ball. many pilots were stranded there for a couple days before they could fly out.)

Anchorage, AK 99509-1962 99509-1962 AK Anchorage,

P.O. Box 91962 91962 Box P.O. The Alaska Chapter 99s 99s Chapter Alaska The

THEFLYPAPERTHE OFFICAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALASKA 99S

May and June. Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months in the garden year: cool, misty mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun, followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights. The discussion of philosophy is over; it's time for work to begin.

[ PETER LOEWER ]