Rotarian amongst pilots in Air Race Classic
PONCA CITY was the fourth stop for the 46th Annual Women’s Air Race Classic held during the course of the week from June 20 to June 23. Pilots were initially delayed due to thunderstorms, but soon took off after refueling for their next destination in Sulphur Springs, Texas. PONCA CITY Rotary members joined Tulsa Rotary members to coordinate a ‘greet team’ for one of the pilots participating in the Air Race Classic. They were joined by members of the Ponca City Police Department because the pilot is dedicating her race to improving awareness about human trafficking. Pictured L-R: Sgt. Caleb Landis, Ponca City Rotarians Brooke Jones, Zac Robertson (with therapy dog Wesley) & T.L Walker, Sgt. Eric Welch, Angel Wings pilot and Tulsa Rotarian Jeri Barrientos, Tulsa Rotarian Lynette Potter, and Officer ReAnna Sage. Not pictured: Angel Wings co-pilot Mary McMahon, airport manager and Rotarian Don Nuzum, and Dave Potter. (Photos by Calley Lamar)
Ponca City Airport served as a stop for the 46th Annual Women’s Air Race Classic held during the course of the week from June 20 to June 23.
The race is celebrating 94 years of women’s air racing, and sees participates flying 2,684 statute miles across 12 states. This year sees 42 race teams and 96 women pilots competing. These women range in age from 17 to 90. These pilots come from a variety of backgrounds including students, teachers, doctors, airline pilots, business owners, professionals and air traffic controllers.
These teams consist of at least two women and must fly using VFR (Visual Flight Rules), meaning they can only fly during clear daylight hours.
The race began at 8 am on June 20 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Ponca City served as the fourth stop on the route.
Following delays due to thunderstorms in Hastings, Nebraska, the racers arrived between at approximately 6 pm on Wednesday, June 21 in Ponca City.
Amongst the pilots was Jeri Barrientos from Tulsa. Barrientos is a Rotarian and is using the race s a platform to promote awareness about human trafficking, especially as it affects children.
Rotary has tackled other issues including eradicating polio worldwide, now, Rotarians are taking on eliminating human traffic throughout the world. The State Department estimates between 15,000 and 50,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year, although, this figure varies wildly as it is difficult to research.
A team of local representatives of the Ponca City Rotary, as well as officers with the Ponca City Police Department came out to greet Barrientos during her stop on Wednesday.
Following a refueling for planes and pilots like, the race continued with the next stop being Sulphur Springs, Texas. The pilots have until 5 pm on Friday, June 23 to reach the final destination at Homestead, Florida.
For more information on the Air Race Classic, visit www.airraceclassic. org, and for more information on the Rotary’s mission to eliminate human trafficking, visit rotaryendht.org.