Earhart movie release rekindles local female aviation pride
Originally published October 23, 2009
By Ike Wilson
News-Post Staff
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Photo by Graham Cullen
Pilots, from left, Lin Caywood, Gail Norman, Sandi Terkelsen, Jill Tallman, Amanda Kolbe, Sethany Van Lehn and Alice Meiners stand next to a Censsna airplane at the Frederick Municipal Airport. |
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Amanda Kolbe and her pilot girlfriends couldn't wait for today's release of the movie about aviator Amelia Earhart.Kolbe, chairwoman of the Frederick -based Sugarloaf Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, the world's oldest association for women pilots, said, "My girlfriends in the Ninety-Nines are very excited about the Amelia Earhart movie." Malinda Caywood, membership chairwoman for the Sugarloaf Chapter and treasurer of the organization's mid-Atlantic section, agreed, "We've been talking about it since July when we were told about the Ninety-Nines being able to be involved in the promotion of the movie. We are very excited to be able to see Amelia's story depicted in a full-length film." Earhart was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences and was instrumental in organizing the Ninety-Nines. "Absolutely," answered pilot Jill Tallman when asked if Earhart influenced her. "She was a trailblazer, very courageous and she set the standard for many others who followed her. "And based on the few news videos I've seen of her, she was a very forthright person as well, and I admire that about her," Tallman said. Overall, aviation and aerospace have not fared well in this economy, Caywood said. "We've seen many of our sister Ninety-Nines struggle with holding onto professional flying jobs, accepting furloughs, going back to teaching flying to keep themselves in the game or changing jobs," Caywood said. The Ninety-Nines use their network to keep members aware of any opportunities. The Amelia Earhart Scholarships help young pilots earn the ratings they need. Opportunities to promote flying via youth events help to encourage young women to pursue aviation careers, said Caywood, who is also chairwoman of the 2,000-mile Air Race Classic in June 2010. The Ninety-Nines also partner with EAA to participate in the Young Eagles program, where children ages 8 to 18 can experience flight in a general aviation plane. "As pilots, we would like to ensure that lawmakers do not impose usage fees that would cause the cost of flying to rise so high that only the very rich or commercial ventures can afford it," Caywood said. "Most other countries already have very hefty usage fees that hinder aspiring pilots' ambitions to fly." Kolbe, a recent recipient of the Amelia Earhart scholarship, which is funding her Instrument Rating training, said the future looks bright for women pilots thanks to organizations like the Ninety-Nines, Women in Aviation and events like the Air Race Classic. "With support, camaraderie and scholarships provided by these organizations, we are able to continue doing what we love," Kolbe said. "The Air Race Classic is a great way for young women pilots to gain essential flight planning and long distance flying experience to strengthen their aviation knowledge and prepare them for careers in the airlines." The view from the sky can be breathtaking and pilots never tire recalling some of their unforgettable moments. Amanda Kolbe and a friend flew from Frederick to Ocean City to see the July Fourth fireworks. "It was a beautiful, clear night and we were able to circle the major pyrotechnic display at about 1,500 feet above the ground, enjoying a bird's eye view of the spectacle," Kolbe said. "When the show was over, I steered the plane back west to Frederick . Along the entire route we saw small fireworks randomly pop up in back yards, like fireflies, as far as I could see, which was about 10 to 15 miles in every direction. It was an amazing sight that I will never forget." Flying offers the opportunity to see powerful sunsets, like the one Caywood and her boyfriend saw recently while flying back to Frederick across the Chesapeake Bay. "It was just before dusk and the sky was a beautiful blaze of orange. My boyfriend was flying while I was snapping photos," she said. "In the sky, the sunset seems more powerful, and we were following it, flying due west, which prolonged the beautiful sight." "It's moments like the sunset flight that reminds you what a privilege it is to be able to fly a small plane and be able to experience such wonderful sights," Caywood said.
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