Melanie Hancock
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALASKA 99s THEFLYPAPER APRIL 2006 FROM THE CHAIR April finds us in the midst of spring break- DETAILS up—a sloppy mess that eventually leads to WHAT: ALASKA CHAPTER MEETING OFFICERS summer in Alaska. It also means that many WHEN: WED. APR. 12 Chair of us are checking airplanes, medical cer- Melanie Hancock . 694.4571 WHERE: PEGGY’S CAFÉ tificates and licenses in preparation for TIME: 6:00 P.M. Vice Chair summer flying. Clarissa Quinlan . 248.5530 WHO: EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Secretary Summer flying then leads to thoughts of Michelle Bartleman . 1.877.552.8926 where to fly. Put your thinking caps on and Treasurer let me know by phone (694-4571) or e-mail Our speaker for April is Captain Samantha Barb Spriggs . 622-3249 ([email protected]) if you have sug- Weeks, one of four F-15 women pilots gestions for fly-ins. based at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Samantha is a semi-finalist to serve a 2- We have several activities already on the year rotation with the Thunderbirds, the COMMITTEES calendar. Take a look at the calendar on U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team. Scholarships Helen Jones . 222.9977 page two and make sure to save those Guests are always welcome at our meet- dates. ings. I'm sure you'll enjoy the program! Flypaper Michelle Bartleman . 1.877.552.8926 I won't be able to attend the April meeting See you in May! Sunshine and understand from the schedule that I Louise Gettmann . 243.5643 will be missing a really good program. Melanie Flying Companion Melanie Hancock . 694.4574 Membership Mio Johnson . 696.3580 99s ONLINE FLYPAPER FACTS Fly-ins Chapter Web site www.ak99s.org The submission deadline for the May issue is April 25, Audrey Cole . 696.3580 For Web site updates and additions, e-mail Caren 2006. If you have an article, ad or information for the della Cioppa at [email protected]. Flypaper, please contact Michelle Bartleman by phone Scrapbook Lavelle Betz . 243.1898 1-877-552-8926 or e-mail at [email protected]. National Web site www.ninety-nines.org Ads in the Flypaper are free for members. Airmarking Gloria Kragness The national site includes news updates, scholarship opportunities and mentor connections. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Publicity October—September (Full year) $15 Sandi Sumner . 694.2080 February—September (Half year) $10 Aviation Museum Display Committee June—September (Summer) $ 5 Michelle Bartleman . 1.877.552.8926 2008 International Convention Committee The subscription cost is to cover printing and mailing, Angie Slinguff . 271-3422 You can also read the Flypaper online at ak99s.org. 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.