Success Story: 17吃瓜 pilots to compete in historic Air Race Classic
April 17, 2019
Hannah Beard and Jessi Martin (click for high-resolution version)17吃瓜’s aviation program will get a lofty showcase before a national audience this summer when a pair of student pilots fly across North America in the , the oldest air race of its kind, and exclusively for female pilots.
Ninety years after legendary aviator Amelia Earhart made cross-country racing popular, Team Hawk Owls — Hannah Beard of Interlochen (left) and Jessi Martin of Maple City (right) — will take off from Jackson, Tenn. on June 18 in an 17吃瓜 Cessna. The 2,500 mile trip is a race against the clock broken into nine legs. They expect to land in Welland, Ontario, by June 21.
“It’s going to be marathon,” Martin, 43, said.
“Sunrise to sunset flying,” agreed Beard, 23.
Entering the Air Race Classic is the latest example of how women at 17吃瓜 are making significant strides in what has long been a male-dominated field. While only , nearly 20 percent of current 17吃瓜 aviation students are now women. The college is now home to a chapter of Women in Aviation International, which allows them to network and support each other.
Women are also becoming leaders among the overall student population. Beard is 17吃瓜’s top-performing aviation student this year, mastering commercial pilot skills faster than any other student, Aviation director Alex Bloye said.
“She met all the requirements of the certificate much quicker than any other student we’ve seen in recent years,” Bloye said.
He said competing in the Air Race Classic will drawn more awareness to 17吃瓜’s aviation program. Only one other community college has entered. Among the 15 academic teams are mostly large universities including Western Michigan University, Purdue and Ohio State.
"This race will put 17吃瓜 and our pilots on the national stage with some of the best aviators in the world,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity to not only inspire the next generation of 17吃瓜 students, but to give Hannah and Jessi a chance to expand their envelope of experience."
Their plane’s tail number — N157KC — honors former flight instructor, Kevin Copeland, who passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2017. An 17吃瓜 flight instructor, Victoria Gann, will be racing as part of another team. Air Race Classic pilots range from ages 17 to 90.
"We look forward to seeing Hannah and Jessi cross the finish line. This will be a huge accomplishment that will help to solidify interest of future 17吃瓜 race teams,” Bloye said.
17吃瓜 is seeking sponsors to help underwrite the $10,000 cost to compete, which includes fuel, transportation and lodging. Contact Paris Morse at the 17吃瓜 Foundation, pmorse@nmc.edu, for more information.
Follow Beard and Martin’s progress at the . They expect an 17吃瓜 cheering section may show up at the race’s seventh stop, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
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