I sat in the jump seat of Julie Clark's bright yellow T-28 "Top Banana" as we flew
back to Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Julie, recently retired captain for Northwest Airlines and
famous aerobatic pilot, had just taken me on the one of the most incredible rides of my life.
Twenty minutes earlier, we had taken off to the south, rolled back to the north toward Lake Pyramid and
ascended to 8,500 feet.
"Are you up for some acrobatics?" she asked, as I marvelled at the view of the surrounding mountains.
"I won't do anything you don't want me to," she said politely.
I had a fleeting image of myself in a state of vertigo inside the meticulously kept 1956 war bird
but immediately tossed my worries aside. How many opportunities like this come up in a lifetime? How many
souls would have given anything to be in my position?
I hit the switch and replied, "Go for it!"
"OK, I'll be gentle," she said.
We proceeded to do a barrel roll. My first reaction was to shut my eyes
as the G forces took over, but I realized this wouldn't do; I opened them wide. WOW! What an incredible
feeling it was to see the mountain tops upside down and rolling back up to the sky.
It was like being in front of a reflection of a vast, magical pool, except
everything was crystal clear as it rotated in motion.
"WhooWHOO!" I yelled with the excitement of an 8-year-old on a carnival ride for the first time.
"Would you like to do another one?" Julie asked. How about an aileron roll?"
"I'm ready!" I said.
The roll was as smooth as silk. I didn't leave my seat. By the time we did a hammerhead, I was feeling like
an old pro. I wanted the flight to go on forever. I smiled and thought about my dear friend Bobbi Trout, who began
her flying career in 1928, and went on to set many world records in the sky. How
she would have loved this flight with her friend Julie. I would not have dreamed of
such an adventure had I not known Bobbi, who invited me to my first International Women in Aviation Conference in 2002.
20 Hours Earlier
March 12, 2004
I sat in the lobby of the Reno Hilton waiting for my pilot friends to meet me at the hotel entrance.
People had been trickling into the hotel since March 10th to be a part of the
15th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference. More than 2,000 women pilots from all over the world would
meet for a few days to network, listen to guest speakers, present and accept
aviation scholarships, view exhibits, reflect on the history of women in aviation and bid on aviation products and memorabilia.
On this afternoon, a few of us were taking a break to watch CFI Wally Funk (of the famous Mercury 13)
bungee jump. My cell phone rang, and my pilot friend Cheryl Baker was on the line.
"I won! I won! I won the bid!" Cheryl exclaimed.
"Cheryl, I can't believe it!" I replied.
"Yep, I won the bid," Cheryl said. "And I'm giving it to you."
I sat down on the stone bench that rounded the lobby sculpture.
"Cheryl, you can't do that," I said emphatically, "I can't accept it."
"Oh, yes you can. You are going to fly in Julie Clark's T-28 tomorrow at any time you choose.
Bobbi would want you to go."
Five Months Earlier
October 2003
The scud line was at 1500 feet at Denton Airport in Denton, Texas. I had a total of 9.8 hours in the air. Wally Funk, my CFI,
was in the right seat. I had done a few good touch-and-goes and "kissed" the runway as we did a full stop. Wally jumped out of the
airplane.
"OK, Kid! Now you go do it!"
"NO!" I said excitedly.
"YES!" she said, as she slammed the cabin door and ran off.
I had no choice. I was sitting in the middle of a runway. I had to get off. I pushed the throttle in and took off.
At 60 miles per hour I left the pavement. There was no turning back. I was the PIC (Pilot in Command). I called my left downwind.
The scud was touching my wing tips and the plane was buffeted by small wind gusts. "Oh, Dear Lord, be with me," I prayed.
"Bobbi, be with me, too."
I called out my base and then my final. It was a textbook landing. I came to a full stop. Wally jumped in.
"You did it! You did it! It was wonderful!"
"I did it," I said in a fog of disbelief.
"Now let's go home and sign your certificate that Bobbi made for you," Wally said. Bobbi Trout had introduced me to Wally
at the 13th International Women in Aviation Conference held in Nashville, TN in 2002.
The Connecting Flight
We proceeded to do a barrel roll. My first reaction was to shut my eyes
as the G forces took over, but I realized this wouldn't do; I opened them wide. WOW! What an incredible
feeling it was to see the mountain tops upside down and rolling back up to the sky.
It was like being in front of a reflection of a vast, magical pool, except
everything was crystal clear as it rotated in motion. 
20 Hours Earlier
Five Months Earlier