(PRWEB) July 01, 2013
For the second year in a row, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University pilots from its Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., campuses have earned best spots in 1 of the countrys oldest and most prestigious all-female, four-day transcontinental flight competitions.

Daytona Beach pilot Valdeta Mehanja and co-pilot Danielle Erlichman finished initial in collegiate competitors and third overall in the 2013 Air Race Classic (ARC), although Prescott pilot Shelby King and co-pilot Anna Chrzanowski earned fifth place in collegiate and 12th all round.

The Embry-Riddle teams competed against 45 other teams from about the world, such as nearly a dozen other U.S. universities.

This years race started June 18 at Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Wash. The race consisted of nine check-in spots along the 2,458-statute-mile route, completing the journey at Drake Field Airport in Fayetteville, Ark., June 21.

Embry-Riddle racers have participated in the ARC every single year since 2007, finishing twice as the No. 1 team in the collegiate subcategory and capturing the No. two ranking in the all round competitors. Prescott has taken component every single year since 2009, ranking as higher as No. two in the collegiate division and No. six in the all round competitors.

Mehanja, of the Daytona Beach group, is pursuing a B.S. in Aeronautical Science and operates as a flight instructor. Her co-pilot, Erlichman, holds the very same degree and presently operates as a flight instructor while pursuing an M.S. in Aeronautics. Erlichman also competed for Daytona Beach in last years Air Race Classic.

It was a massive honor representing Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Aeronautical University at the womens air race classic this year and just being capable to meet this little group of ladies from across the united states, was an amazing opportunity for me, Mehanja, a first-time ARC competitor, stated. The understanding that I gained in the course of these past two weeks was a massive contribution to my flight experience. I am really grateful to the university to have been capable to participate this year.

The teams alternate pilots have been students Waverly Giannotti and Kelsey Tenhoeve. Marisha Falk, a former ARC competitor who now drives the Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster, served as coach.

King, of the Prescott group, has nearly completed her B.S. in Aeronautical Science and plans to grow to be a flight instructor. Chrzanowski holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Science and is a flight instructor. The teams alternate pilots were flight instructor Maren Ferreira and former ARC competitor Marlene Wessel. Their coach was flight education manager Ryan Albrecht.

Each ARC aircraft is judged against its own handicapped cruising speed, and teams must comply with the route as closely as achievable while improving their average speed – a format that focuses much more on piloting skills and decision-generating than on speed alone.

The ladies were selected for the competition by Embry-Riddle College of Aviation administrators simply because of their piloting capabilities, competitive spirit and expertise of aviation, safety, navigation, meteorology and crew resource management. Both teams flew Cessna 172 aircraft from the universitys fleet.

This experience was one particular in contrast to any other. I was able to not only work with a great teammate, but use each my academic and flight education expertise to aid us succeed and fly a safe race, Chrzanowski said. We met a lot of extraordinary ladies and had unbelievable help from our university and neighborhood.

We’re excited to use what we’ve discovered and compete once more subsequent year, she added.

Other schools that fielded teams in the Air Race Classic have been: Jacksonville University, Liberty University, Louisiana Tech University, Kansas State University, Metropolitan State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue University, Texas State Technical College, University of North Dakota and University of Oklahoma.

About the Air Race Classic

Originally known as the Powder Puff Derby when it was established in 1929, the annual race is sponsored by Air Race Classic Inc., a nonprofit organization devoted to rising public awareness of common aviation, presenting and promoting the tradition of pioneering girls in aviation, demonstrating womens roles in aviation and encouraging and educating current and future women pilots. For much more info, pay a visit to http://airraceclassic.org.





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