SD chapter blog

99s Fly-By at the Wings Over Gillespie Airshow

2010-06-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

Post pending

Potluck & Silent Auction Scholarship Fundraiser a Succcess!

2010-06-15T00:14:00.000-07:00

Post Pending

Dottie Sanders Flight Scholarship winner selected

2010-06-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

The 2010 winner of the Dottie Sanders Memorial Flight Scholarship is Ana Mendivil who is working towards becoming a professional aerobatic pilot. She was introduced to aviation and aerobatics while in high school and became obsessed. Ana earned her private pilot in January and her Associate of Science in Commercial Flight in February of 2010. She will be graduating from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in June of 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and is currently working on her instrument rating.

Compass Rose painted at KSEE

2010-06-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

The San Diego chapter painted a new compass rose at Gillespie Field over the course of two days in April and it looks great! Aircraft mecahanics use an airport's compass rose to swing an aircraft's wet compass. About a dozen chapter members and a few significant others participated in this airmarking project taping lines and painting of the The Ninety-Nines, Inc. compass rose logo design with interlocking 9's on the southwest corner if the airport. Now all who fly in and out of Gillespie can see the functional 'art' by the SD 99s!

SD99s 2010 Delano Flight Scholarship Winner

2010-06-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

Bay Cities chapter Ninety-Nine Tracy Zedeck has been selected as the 2010 Marian R. Delano Memorial Flight Scholarship winner. The $1,500 award will help her in achieving the multi-engine rating.Tracy began flight training in 2002 while attending the University of Colorado for a degree in psychology. When she realized her flight training studies became my first choice for homework, she decided her my career and hobby choices would have to be switched. In 2004 she graduated college, earned her private pilot certificate and began a new quest to live her dreams:

"Over the next few years I worked as a teacher, waitress, and office manager at a glider towing company while paying for my flight training. In 2007 I received my commercial certificate and was promoted at the glider company from the office desk to the single seat Piper Pawnee. I loved being a “Tow Dog” battling the mountain wave and rough rotor over the Rockies. After a lot of patience, hard work, and persistence, I was offered an opportunity to work for the summer season of 2009 in Talkeetna, Alaska. I flew climbers and tourists in Cessna 185s onto glaciers in Denali National Park. Landing uphill on a U-shaped glacial run- way without brakes in front of massive granite mountains was one of the best experiences of my life! Sometimes I still have to pinch myself. For summer of 2010 I will be flying charter, mail, and sightseeing tours out of Juneau, Alaska. I am having a lot of fun building flight time, but I am ready to start building multi-engine experience to meet the hiring requirements for my ultimate goal in becoming an Emergency Medical Services pilot. This award is yet another reminder that as long as you keep trying, keep your goals in sight, and keep your passion in your heart, then the sky’s the limit."

Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots

2010-06-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots on March 8th commemorated the anniversary of the licensing of the world's first aviatrix on that date in 1910, Raymonde De Laroche (1882 – 1919) a French balloonist, by encouraging female pilots worldwide to introduce another woman to flight. The San Diego 99s did their best despite the intermittent rain showers. SD99s Mary, Connie, Roni & Natasha spent the drizzly day sharing their love of aviation (and the Ninety-Nines!) with a group of interested women. A few ladies also took a short flights with Natasha in a Piper as did others who went up with Mary. Channel 8 News even mentioned us briefly during their 11am show. Still a successful event despite the weather.

Food, Friends & Fun at our March Social Mixer

2010-06-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

Great food, good drink, interesting conversations, casual attitudes were the order of the evening at the Powell's hanger home at Gillespie Field. Special guests of the SD99s were Simone Aaberg Kaern, an artist from Denmark and her friend Latifa, a helicopter pilot (the only female) in the Afghan National Army. Simone told us the story of her flight to Afghanistan in 2002 in order to fulfill the dream of another Afghan woman to learn to fly. Her PowerPoint presentation and animated descriptions of events and conditions along the way put all of us in awe of her determination and won our enthusiastic admiration. She opened her art exhibition, Seize the Sky, the previous night at San Diego State. The exhibit explores the metaphorical and literal freedom of the sky, unbounded by political borders and examine flight as a metaphor for individual freedom.

Members of the SD99s with Simone, front row in black.

$2,000 Darlene Kelly Scholarship Winner Announced

2010-06-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Alexandra Nye has been selected as the 2009 winner of the San Diego 99s Darlene Kelly Scholarshipp for advanced training. Allie currently works for an FBO at Montgomery Field as a dispatcher. She began flying at age 15 with Quantico Marine Corps Flying Club in Quantico, Virginia and soloed in in 2005 at 16. She received a scholarship to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she earned her Private Pilot certificate at 17 and was the youngest member of their Precision Flying Team. She finished her instrument rating in 2008 and is currently working on her Commercial Pilot certificate with the help of this scholarship.

June Meeting at Ramona Airport

2009-08-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Our June 2009 gathering was a fly-out meeting to Ramona Airport where we hosted our Dottie Sanders flight scholarship winner and guest speaker Kelly McCague. Kelly arrived at Heather Gamble’s hangar from Borrego in her park ranger Husky Aviat.

She told us all about her job as a ranger for the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We were rapt listeners as she told us how she came to be one of only two flying park rangers in the state (the only female), and what her job entails in terms of law enforcement, rescues, and assisting biological programs in the park.

After our program, the chapter sat down for a sandwich lunch and some hangar flying...and of course posed for a group photo...

Wings Over Gillespie Airshow

2009-08-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

San Diego Ninety-Nines members participated in several capacities at this year’s airshow. It was a great way to be seen in the aviation community and meet with current or aspiring aviatrixes and introduce ourselves. We had a booth where we told passersby about the Ninety-Nines, our purposes and achievements. We also sold many raffle tickets for our Barnstormers Travel Air Bi-Plane ride flight scholarship fundraiser.

Ninety-Nines Heather & Frankie "wo"man the booth

Annette & Bonnie

Member Jill Baker also was part of the show as she was flight crew for the Confederate Air Force on their B-25.

SD99s also had their aircraft on display: Tracy Ramm flew in her bright yellow T-34 and Heather Gamble came in her silver Cessna 180 to decorate the ramp near our booth.

"Ask the Examiner" presentation

2009-08-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

At the March monthly gathering of the San Diego Ninety-Nines we had a panel of Desingnated Pilot Examiners on hand to ask everything you ever wanted to know about taking your next checkride. Their insight provided an interesting look at what it’s like to be in the other seat, what the pitfalls are for the examinee and how they can be avoided. DPEs Swede Gamble, Julie Keane and Pat Hill, patiently and thoughtfully presented their insights into the flight test process, told about some of their experiences, and then took questions from the group.

Swede Gamble said, “When I am giving a private pilot check ride I am fully aware that when the student passes he or she is cleared to fly anywhere and everywhere from then on.” A significant thought from Pat Hill: “Each new student is only as good as the CFI who is teaching him/her, who is only as good as his teacher was. I would like to think that the latest ones are better than the earlier ones, but I’m not sure that’s always true.”

One quote, from Julie Keane: “I don’t have to work hard to fail a student; he or she always just gives it to me.” All three examiners agreed that preparing using the “Private Pilot Test Standards” is the most effective way to pass the test. They also lamented that there are still students who come to them having never seen a PTS booklet! That said, they really due want everyone to pass and are not out to fail a certain percentage. The DPEs made it clear that those who did not pass made more than just one or two mistakes. Even still, they said a simple mistake is not going to sink the Flight Test: if you happen to make a mistake, demonstrate your good judgement by taking corrective action. If the rest of your test was to PTS standards, don't sweat the error.

Dottie Sanders Memorial Flight Scholarship Winner

2009-08-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Chapter Ninety-Nines congratulate Borrego Valley 99s Chapter member Kelly McCague who has won this years $1,000 Dottie Sanders memorial flight scholarship. Kelly is an Anza Borrego State Park Ranger who flies a Husky Aviat as part of her patrol. She plans to use the award to finish her Commercial Pilot certificate.

"I patrol rugged terrain in the deserts and mountains, focusing on the park resources (equipped with telemetry equipment for tracking bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and deer; wildfire damage; and flood damage), law enforcement (illegal hunters; burned and abandoned vehicles; illegal off road activity; firearms calls; camping violators; assist CHP in pursuits; work with San Diego Sheriff officers with various calls; work with Border Patrol and Customs with illegal immigration and smuggling, search and rescue, and in medical situations. The rewards in saving lives are enormous and gratifying. I can’t think of anything better than protecting our resources and possibly saving a life and doing all that from the air!"

The Darlene Kelly Memorial Scholarship Winner

2009-08-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Chapter Ninety-Nines congratulate member Krystene Zehnder who has won the 2008 year $2,000 Darlene Kelly Advanced Training memorial flight scholarship. She plans to use the award to finish her instrument rating in pursuit of her goal of career pilot.

"My instructors have been very helpful, fun, and encouraging. They have made me feel like I could do anything I put my mind to, even when I am struggling with different aspects of my training. I want to be able to do that for someone else. That is why after getting my commercial rating, I want to become a certified flight instructor. I want to help and encourage young pilots just like my flight instructors have encouraged me. Being able to see new pilots fall in love with flying like I did and nurture that into a rewarding career will be one of the most rewarding things I can do in my life. In addition, by becoming a certified flight instructor I will be able to build up my commercial flight time and achieve my career goal of becoming an airline pilot."

November gathering, guest Jeff Acord

2008-12-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

The San Diego Chapter welcomed back former 24 yr. SoCal Air Traffic Control Specialist, corporate pilot and aviation record setter at our December meeting at Gillespie Field. A great supporter of women in aviation, he was happy to visit with us. Jeff holds a Multi Engine Airline Transport Pilot license, has over 2,500 hours of flight time in 103 different makes and models of aircraft and has set five aviation world speed records (so far!) and is one of the very few pilots in the world to hold records in three platforms. He spoke to us about aviation record setting. How he did it, what is involved and record validation process. Jeff is also looking for a co-pilot- with airplane- to help him set another record. (Both pilots get their names in the record book!)As a thank you for joining us, chapter member and aviation photographer Barbara Murray presented him with a matted print of his choice from her collection. Barbara was also on hand to sell some of her photo work. They make great Christmas gifts for the airplane enthusiast in your life... or for yourself! Barbara takes lots of aerial photos of San Diego as well as some great 'on approach' shots of airliners and general aviation aircraft.

SD 99s are hostesses for AOPA ASF

2008-12-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Chapter members came out to meet & greet with the aviation community on November 20th at the AOPA Air Safety Foundation presentation of "Mastering Takeoffs & Landings" in Mission Valley. 99s worked the front tables where pilots would arrive to turn in their registration/prize drawing cards and assisted the presenter in giving away the door prizes. We also made sure all the ladies in attendance were aware of the International Organization of Women Pilots and the flight scholarships available on a local as well as international level. Flyers on a planned spring 2009 Flying Companion Seminar to be put on by the San Diego chapter as a fundraiser were also distributed. About 325 pilots were in attendance, with about 30 or so women who were not yet members- but hopefully all know know about the benefits of being a 99!

KRNM meeting/CAL Fire tour

2008-10-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our October meeting was a fly-out (or drive out) to Ramona airport for a gathering of Ninety-Nines and guests at Heathers hanger. Future Woman Pilot Andy flew in with her husband in their C182, Connie flew in with hubby Gene in their Bonanza, Jill came in a Skyhawk with some guests and Whitney brought Dottie plus two airplane enthusiast pals in a Skyhawk.
Several other members came by car and it was a great turn out. Future Woman Pilot Masami came to the USA as a Japanese air traffic controller who wanted to learn to fly. She passed her checkride and is now a certificated pilot. Masami was presented with gold 99s wings to celebrate her achievement.

The group was also treated to a tour of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection air tanker base there. Two of the pilots at the air base are women: one fixed wing and one helo. We all toured their UH-1 Super Huey helo, OV-10s, S-2s & leased Bombardier CL415 air tankers.
We also got to sit in the various aircraft cockpits and listened to their pilots talk about how they fight fires, the role their plane plays and their CAF careers.
After the tour we all went back to the hangar and had a lunch of sandwiches, fruit, potato salad, chips and cookies.

Halloween Hangar Party

2008-10-26T11:38:00.001-07:00

Members of the San Diego 99s joined with the local chapter of the Antique Aircraft Association at the Allen Airways hangar, Gillespie Field, for a Halloween BBQ and costume party. Vampiress Frankie, doctor Heather, white wolf Fran, belly dancer Leah, scarecrow Dottie, bathing beauty Lynn, artist Mary and Piper Cub Jill attended and enjoyed the live band while having a chicken and beef BBQ dinner.

Jills homemade Piper Cub costume, complete with tailwheel and accented by her grass strip date Mike, took the top costume prize at the event. Congrats Jill!

Proceeds from the event go to the Antiquers scholarship program. 99s member and Cuyamaca College art teacher Mary Ford donated a work she did of the Point Loma Light house to auction as a fund raiser. Mary is pictured with her date and winner Bill Allen.

Congratulations to our New Private Pilots!

2008-09-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

At our last meeting we welcomed two new certificated pilots to the San Diego chapter of the Ninety-Nines:
Natasha Stenbock & Sam O'Brien

Both were formerly Future Woman Pilot members of the chapter. Our new Private Pilots were presented with gold 99s wings pins by vice-chair Connie to be a visible memento of their achievement of "earning their wings". Sam is already hard at work and halfway through her instrument rating, which she hopes to finish well before the end of the year. Her next goal after that is her commercial certificate. Natasha is very excited about aerobatics and is hoping to find some spare time in between her weather broadcasts on KFMB TV to find a CFI she can go inverted with soon.

99s International Convention in Anchorage

2008-09-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

This past August 99s from around the USA and the world came to Anchorage, Alaska for our annual International meeting of the Organization. San Diegos 99s Frankie, Fran & Dottie attended. It was unusually chill and a bit rainy for an Alaska summer, but we all enjoyed it anyway. It was too beautiful there not too. (Even though it hailed for a few moments one day!) The main business meeting is where the chapter delegates vote on amendments & proposals presented to the membership and the President gives a 99s "state of the union" address.

The annual convention is also where the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships are officially presented to the winners at a banquet dinner. Getting to hear each winners story is really inspiring and makes you proud to be a 99! This year, the Board of Directors also swore in new members, including new International President Susan Larson & VP Donna Moore.

Pictured are members of various 99s from the SWS having a pre-banquet happy hour

There was also plenty of time for socializing, shopping for cool stuff in the aviation Fly-Market, catching up with friends from other chapters and taking in the sights in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Lake Hood is the largest seaplane base in the world and no trip to Alaska would be complete without a floatplane ride.

Frankie, Dottie, Lianne Oakes (Orange County) and Sue Ballew (Santa Clara Valley) are pictured after their flight seeing over the Cook Inlet in this beautiful C206 in floats.

Heather & Andy Go to Oshkosh

2008-08-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

San Diego Ninety-Nines Heather G. & Andy K made the trip to the worlds largest fly-in and got to be a part of the largest gathering of women pilots ever in one place. An estimated 1,000 women pilots posed for this photograph during the EAA Fly-In at Whitman Field in Oshkosh, WI. Andy & hubby went to OSH in their new Cessna 182 for an incredible cross country journey. Way to go girls!

99s Brunch at KMYF

2008-06-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 22nd Ninety-Nines from the San Diego, Borrego Valley, Palomar & Coyote County chapters met for a delicious brunch at the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant overlooking Montgomery Field. It was a beautiful warm day: perfect weather for our outdoor table and for viewing the traffic in the pattern. This was a chance to catch up on what members have been doing, talk about things we'd like to do in the coming months and interact with 99s from different chapters which we only get to do a few times a year. Every 99 who attended even got a small aviation themed door prize as well.

New CFI and SD 99 Anna choosing a door prize baggie.

"Swede", 49 1/2 of SD 99 Heather, with his prize baggie. LOL

Ladies who Brunch: Dottie (SD), Anna (SD), Mika (SD) & Judi (Borrego Valley).

Palomar 99 Robin with her door prize: a autographed Women Air Force Service pilots poster.

2008-06-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

It was Friday the 13th, but those of us who came to the MYF Tower Tour organized by Lisa Golden called ourselves lucky! As you know, tower tours are not usually offered anymore since September 11, 2001, so this tour was a real privilege. Members of the San Diego 99s, including Lisa Golden, Heather Gamble, Barbara Murray, Dot Norkus, Alena Herranen and our guest Roberta Bernhard met Friday morning at the tower. The chief controller Tom Dray gave us a tour and explained some of the equipment including a color display of all the aircraft in or near the MYF airspace and neighboring airports. It is pretty amazing how much information is displayed for each aircraft shown. The display “time-shares” information so that it can show the tail number along with the type of aircraft, then it flickers to a different set of numbers which may be airspeed and altitude, and then, if I remember correctly, it flickers again to show other information before returning to the tail number. When two aircrafts come close, the letters “CA” appear in red indicating a conflict alert. This happens regularly at MYF when there is an airplane on each of the two runways 28R and 28L.
Upstairs where the air traffic controllers sit, it was extremely quiet. We tiptoed in and quietly watched them in action and enjoyed the wonderful view of the entire pattern. We saw one small plane make a very hard landing, and I think some of us were wincing inside realizing how well the controllers can see bad landings. They must have had some good laughs when I was practicing my landings a few years ago. We are thankful to Lisa Golden and Tom Dray for this insightful tour. ~ Reported by Alena

Annual Potluck & BOD Officer Installation

2008-06-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

This year the chapter gathered at Connies hangar at KSEE for a scrumptious potluck and to welcome our new 2008/2009 chapter officers. The event was very well attended by members & friends and no one left hungry! FAA Safety Counselor Fred Christleb was also on hand to present our elder stateswoman of aviation, Fran Bera, with yet another award for her collection- a plaque commemorating 50 years of service in aviation safety that was due to her since being inducted into the SD Aerospace Hall of Fame back in December.

Congratulations Fran!

New members Jeanne & Cynthia with Life Member Leah.

Carole, Dorothy & new SD Chapter member Krystene.

Flying the Helo Simulators at NAS N. Island

2008-06-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

The San Diego 99s had a rare treat on May 30, 2008. Thanks to the time and effort of Chapter Vice-Chair Diana and her colleagues at North Island Naval Air Station, the San Diego 99s had the pleasure of flying a helicopter simulator! It was very realistic and a few of us found ourselves feeling a bit queasy as we tried to hover…a little up…a little down…up again…down a bit…slipping sideways…whoa, stop turning in a circle…just hover in one place! After hovering, we each flew around in the San Diego area. In my group, one member expertly flew us under the Coronado bridge, another flew us around the buildings downtown narrowly missing some of them, and another landed us on an aircraft carrier in San Diego Bay. LT Pat Cliggett assisted us with the simulator by providing us with traffic, weather and ships upon request. We found it quite funny when Pat made an aircraft carrier appeared on dry ground and had it plow across the land into the bay!

Dottie Sanders Memorial Scholarship Winner

2008-05-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

The SD 99s have awarded the $1,000 Dottie Sanders Memorial Flight Scholarship to Charli O'Malley. Originally from Boulder City, NV, she attends San Diego State University and is majoring in International Business. She earned her private pilot’s license June '07 and plans to use this scholarship to help her complete her instrument rating soon.

Helo Pilot Talks About Sea Rescue

2008-05-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

At our April meeting Navy helo pilot Katie Lausten talked about her rescue at sea after a night time mishap while trying to land aboard an aircraft carrier. What an amazing story! Thanks for sharing Katie. Pictured: Former Navy helo pilot member Diana, Katie & Chair Frankie.

Southwest Section Meeting: Palm Springs

2008-05-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

SD chapter members Frankie, Fran, Heather, Diana & Dorothy attended the Spring Section Meeting in Palm Springs May 2nd-3rd. Not only did we have a chance to catch up with 99s from other chapters, we got to spend a few days in Palm Springs having some fun and keeping abreast of the Section business. Even if it was a road trip to PSP for some of us, it still was a great time!

Darlene Kelly $2000 Flight Scholarship Winner

2008-03-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Ashley Hilman who was selected as our Darlene Kelly Advanced Rating/Certificate scholarship recipient. Ashley, a senior at point Loma Nazarene University majoring in Mathematics, will use the award to complete her instrument rating. She then plans on getting her commercial pilot certificate and to fly as a missionary pilot.

Gold 99s wings pins for sale

2008-03-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

Once again, the SD chapter will be selling our 14kt HGE wings at the Women In Aviation Convention. They are $20 each and make an awesome gift from the Chapter for the FWP who graduates to full 99 or a nice gift to yourself! Just ask for DOROTHY, or call 858.353.0737, who will be by the Int'l 99s booth over the course of the 3 expo and she will sell you one. Or, you can order direct by sending a check or money order to the San Diego 99s

Don't forget, we also have 99s window shades for $15 too!

Marion Delano $1,000 Flight Scholarship Winner

2008-03-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Leslie Nelson who is the winner of the SD 99s Marion R. Delano Memorial Scholarship for 2008! A check in the amount of $1000 will be sent to Plus One Flyers for the benefit of Leslie to be applied toward her PPL.