NINETY-NINE News A Space Shuttle Launch, DISCOVERY! Magazine of the Lotfia El Nadi, First Woman Pilot in Egypt International Women Pilots, Reno’s Racing Ladies— a FIRST! The Ninety-Nines Inc. How Do I Apply for a 99 Scholarship? November 1991 Dr. Peggy Baty, A Dynamic 99 106th Air Rescue Group, New York Air National Guard The crewmembers of the 106th packs— motor-powered rubber Article and Photos by Ann Cooper Air Rescue Group, New York Air boats equipped for sea rescue. National Guard, from West The astronauts will use Hampton Beach, Long a type of pole to egress Island, are well-trained in from the Space Shuttle, air search and rescue and parachuting into the ocean. have the unique assignment The first of the Zodiaks as the primary SAR unit will be dropped at the site prepared and assigned to of the first astronaut in the effect a save of our U.S. water. The HC-130 will fly astronauts in the launch to the site of the last of the phase of Space Shuttle astronauts to land in the missions. Since the Chal­ water and the 2nd Zodiak lenger disaster, every effort will be deployed, again Above, the HC-130 Hercules of the 106th Air Rescue followed by a team of PJs. has been made to see that Group, Wei/ Hampton Reach, Long Island, N.Y., fires up our space pioneers are to fly to Patrick AFB for another Shuttle launch. Below, The 3rd Zodiak will be afforded every advantage. center, the awesome spectacle o f Space Shuttle launch from dropped at the approximate Kennedy Space Center. middle of the distance and Were they to have to abort Below, Tim Malloy, one of the highly-trained PJs, lowers a mission just after liftoff himself in 30 seconds from a hovering MH-60 Paveliawk. the PJs will plan to pick up and prior to the ability astronauts, rushing to glide the space shuttle them to the center of to a safe landing either the distance where across the Atlantic helicopter rescue from Ocean or in a returning the life rafts will occur. 180-degree sweep back The astronauts have a to Florida’s Cape scant 2-minutes to Canaveral, rescue depart the Shuttle. The scenarios have been ) PJs, HC-130 and planned. The H C -130 helicopter crews will A . .I. M A* Hercules crew and W ' ~ ” ~ 1» — attempt to have the waiting Pararescue/ astronauts in medical Jumpmasters (PJs) are hands on dry land as ready. quickly as possible. An H C -130 crew departs from The sight of a launch is an New York 2 days in advance of awesome spectacle. When I was the scheduled launch and lands at lucky enough to see Discovery Patrick AFB. Prior to launch, the blast into orbit, I was delighted to Hercules is flown downrange to a know that a team was ready to distance of 175 to 200 miles. take risks for the astronauts and Aboard is a full crew comple­ even more delighted that they ment—aircraft commander, co­ haven’t yet been called upon. pilot, navigator, radio operator, Good job, 106th! And, OUR and loadmaster. In the cargo hold HATS ARE OFF AND OUR of the 4-engine craft are the teams HEARTS ARE WITH THE of PJs who will deploy and then ASTRONAUTS WHO ARE parachute after three Zodiak ('UR PIONEERS IN SPACE. YOUR LETTERS From Sally Smith, All-Ohio: “As a NINETY-NINE News Magazine of the new Private Pilot, I have been amazed by General Aviation’s International Women Pilots, problems with the manufacturing of The Ninety-Nines Inc. single engine aircraft. I have heard November 1991 with dismay the many horror stories Vol. 17, No. 9 of law suits brought against the Discovery Blasts O ff............................................................................................ 2 manufacturers when their long-used Lotfia El Nadi, Egypt’s 1st Woman Pilot....................................................5 products have been involved in Section News ...........................................................................................................9 accidents, and have been horrified at Dr. Peggy Baty, A Dynamic 99 ...................................................................... 14 the many suits awarded against these manufacturers. R eno’s Racing L ad ies........................................................................................17 There are several activities afloat that How Do I Apply for a 99 Scholarship?.......................................................19 could help the cause of General Rosemary Colman and Mary O’Brien, Aussies.................................... 20 Aviation (GA). It would serve your readers well to leam about these— COVER: 5 NASA astronauts and 2 and to be encouraged to write to the Scientists flew aboard Columbia this sponsors in support of their activities. summer. We’re delighted to honor 1. The need for liability reform Astronauts Rhea Seddon and Tamara legislation is being addressed by Bob Jernigan and Payload Specialist Millie McEwen, Congressional Representa­ Hughes-Fulford with O’Connor, Bagian, tive from Ohio (Birthplace of Avia­ Gutierrez, and Gaffney—theirs was the tion). Bob flies out of Hillsboro first mission in Spacelab Life Sciences. Airport to visit the people of his Your editor witnessed Discovery’s liftoff with district and is in support of GA. He is 106th Air Rescue Squadron, NYANG. See the sponsor of Bill HR 2815, for Page 2. liability legislation reform. Write to: The Honorable Bob McEwen House of Representatives 100 of 700,000 pilots have written to aviation material published. In Febru­ 329 Cannon Office Building support this activity. If your readers ary Private Pilot, I had three, in April Washington, DC 20510 are interested in showing support of Private Pilot, one and two in June as 202-225-5705 this, they can write to: well as at least one image in June 2. A similar bill is being sponsored in FAA, Office of Chief Counsel Flying. I shoot air-to-air; air-to- the Senate by Kansas Senator Nancy Attention Rules Docket (AGC-10) D ground; and static shots and every Kassenbaum, Bill S645. Docket #23345 aviation-related subject I can. I 800 Independence Avenue, SW 3. The FAA has reopened the com­ combine my two loves that way. Washington, DC 20591.” ment period for a proposal to estab­ If I can be of help to you, please let me (Editor’s note: A brief note is all that is lish a Primary Aircraft Category that know.” would contain simplified certification necessary. It is the n um ber o f re­ Bonnie Rauch, Crane Road, Somers, procedures for small, single engine sponses that affects policy-making. Let NY 10589.914-277-3986. airplanes. I recently read about this in your views be heard.) an editorial in Flight Training magazine which mentioned that only From Your Editor: “We goofed! The mention of ‘Mimi Tompkins, First Officer of the ill-fated Alaska Airlines Letters to the Editor are welcome. Flight 243 in Hawaii’ in our recent The deadline for receiving letters Ninety-Nine News should be corrected and articles is the first of every month. Letters chosen to be printed to read ‘A L O H A ’ Airlines.” will be those that deal with the content of the Ninety-Nine News. From Bonnie Rauch: “I am a member Letters and articles may be edited of Greater New York Chapter working for the purpose of clarity or space. on my instrument. I am a professional Ann Cooper, Editor photographer and am finally having my PRESIDENTS MESSAGE' Late in September, I was in Dallas wand that could get us off the ground. ductory lesson with Wayne as back­ on family business. The days were They call it a “collective.” I call it ground, I still jumped at the chance. crystal clear and unusually cool— magic. Jim was my instructor and I took the perfect for flying, gliding, ballooning Well, 1 was very impressed with the pilot’s seat (the right one). This is one or hovering. I had never “hovered” magic wand, but I still wasn’t sure it of those incredible simulators that can and it seemed like a wonderful time would work until I could see it with do anything and makes it all seem so to become acquainted with the basics my own eyes. Naturally, that would real. We simulated night, a departure of helicopter flight. I arranged to tour mean a flight. Wayne Brown, Senior from Washington National. The lift­ the training facilities of Bell Helicop­ Instructor Pilot at Bell, was enlisted off and crosswind departure were ter Textron, Inc. (BHTI), something I to take me on a demo flight for a few going very well when Charlie decided had hoped to do for quite some time. minutes. to remove the “forced trim.” At that After appropriately logging in, I It was magic, all right. After point the stick became extremely received my temporary security sensitive and I put us into an immedi­ badge and was greeted by Jim ate spin which ended with ground Szymanski, HELIPROPS Program contact—I crashed! I have several Administrator. Jim provided back­ hours in fixed wing simulators and I ground about the Training Academy have never crashed one. It was an and introduced me to Loren Doughty, amazing revelation to me. I had never Chief Instructor Pilot, and several seen the screen go blank and I had other instructors and test pilots. I this overwhelming feeling of finality. explained my sincere doubts that an It seemed like THE END and it took aircraft could really fly without fixed my breath away. wings and my concern that putting Perhaps everyone should have that the prop on top of the aircraft instead becoming light enough to become experience. It certainly gave me new of in front, where it belongs, would airborne, we lifted smoothly upward insight into the necessity of making only beat the air but do little else.