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"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

FREE FLIGHT!

We have Pilots!
We have Planes!
We have a Date!
We Need Women!

Fly It Forward is full speed ahead. Now all we need are Women and Girls to join us for an incredible event! And passengers have a chance to win $100! 


On Sunday, December 5th, from 10:30 to 3:30, we are inviting ladies of all ages, young and old to join us for a Free Flight around the pattern at Renton Airport.  Only rule, you can't hold a pilots license. We'll be meeting at...  BEFA. Boeing Employees Flying Association.  840 West Perimeter Road. Renton Washington. Take the West entrance off Perimeter road -- North end of the field. The building is directly in front of the entrance, but you'll take an immediate right, and an immediate left into their parking lot. Each flight will take about 10 minutes. Let us know what time you'll be there!

We invite you to take flight and become a part of history!
 
Your picture, in front of the plane, will set your place in history on the Centennial Woman Pilots website, and you'll receive an electronic certificate of the event. As a passenger participant in the Fly It Forward campaign on December 5th, you'll be entered into a $100 drawing, honoring the 100th year anniversary of the first woman pilot, Raymonde De Laroche.

We are attempting to make Renton Airport the "Most Female Friendly Airport in the World!" But we need your help. After last nights winter snow storm, we'll need mother nature to cooperate too. You'll also have the chance to talk to retired female airline captains, and women currently flying.
 
All you need to do is:
  • Click on the white button that say's,"Follow" to follow this blog.
  • Leave a comment here and tell me your interested in the event, and what time you're planning to arrive. (And how many friends will join you.)
  • Email me at Karlene.Petitt@Gmail.com if you have any questions
  • Pass this message to all the women you know.
  • On the December 6th blog, leave a comment and tell me, in one or two sentences (more is great), what you thought about your experience flying. 
  • Then, I will enter your name in a random drawing held on December 10th, for one lucky woman to win $100 just in time for Christmas.
Women under 18 will need a letter from their parents stating they give you permission to take a the flight.



Today I fly an A330 for Delta Airlines, the largest airline in the world. 31 years ago I took my first solo flight at Renton Airport.  History continues-- be a part of it.

About your pilots read: Miracles Happen When Pilots are Involved!

"We are women, watch us soar!" 

 Enjoy the Journey!

~ Karlene

If you have any questions email me at: Karlene.Petitt@gmail.com  And... Check out the Centennial of Women Pilots Website by clicking HERE  Remember to check my blog the morning of our event. The only thing that will stop us now will be the weather.

108 comments:

  1. Hi Karlene. I would love to bring my daughter and Mom down for this. We can be there at 1PM. Will be nice to see you again after 30 years :-)

    Sandi (Smith) Mills

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  2. I wish I could be there! This is an excellent cause and you are beyond awesome for championing it!

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  3. Thanks Heather--- You will be here in spirit!

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  4. Karlene ... If you want I can offer trips in Bonn, Germany as well. Same rule ... no licence. :-)
    Interested women shall contact me via twitter (x2921294h) or maybe you can redirect them to my e-mail account.

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  5. EXCELLENT!!!! Free flights in Germany! contact: suess.patrick@gmail.com

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  6. Hey, Karlene, count me in. I'll plan to be there at 2:00. Oh boy! (No snow tires, though, so weather permitting!)

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  7. Good luck with this event Karlene! I really hope the weather co-operates

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  8. Thanks Linda... Yes, weather permitting for all of us! See you then!

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  9. Thanks Lesley! You've been my inspiration! Fly safe and keep taking those women up. Make sure you click on the $100 bill and tell me how many you've flown from November on, so I can stuff the drawing with your name. :)

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  10. Hello Karlene, this is very interesting so please jot me down as one of your participants!

    Thanks.

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  11. Hi Meghan, GREAT! Looking forward to seeing you and your mother!

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  12. Ann, so glad you'll be there. What time do you think you'll arrive?

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  13. Christina CarpentierNovember 24, 2010 at 7:46 PM

    We would love the opportunity to participate on 12/5. I have 2 foster/adopt daughters now ages 5 & 10 who have never flown before and are very excited to take their 1st flight. The 3 of us can be there in the afternoon, would 2:30 be ok? And I'm not sure where the mtg location is?
    ~Christina Carpentier
    chrissycarpentier@gmail.com

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  14. We would love to have you and the girls Christina! This is great. Google quest the address, that should help. But right now we have another pilot who is trying to get the Boeing flying club to participate. We may move down the ramp a bit. Hang tight for more information!

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  15. I will be there with my 2 daughters at 10:30. What type of plane is it?

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  16. Melisa, I'm so glad you're going to be there. Email me,karlene.petitt@gmail.com so I have your email address for updates. Right now we have a couple of Cessna 182 and someone else is flying his 172 on floats, too.

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  17. Hiya Karelene,

    I really do wish you all the luck with this event, and my greatest wish would be that I could bring my daughter Lauren, who has a slight disadvantage, she has a mild disability whose dream is to fly for her career. She is so determined to make this dream to become reality, and won't let any disability stand in her way, we are going to go
    and get a full medical report to prove to the CAA that she is very able to control an aircraft :) She had a lesson this year and she was told by her instructor that he did more with her on her first ever lesson than some other 14 year old young ladies on their very first lesson. How encouraging :)

    Would be amazing to see where you took your first solo flight, but at this moment in time is unaffordable for us as it is so near to christmas and there are no direct flights from this part of the world where I live, it would have to
    be a hop over to Amsterdam from my home airport in Leeds UK to get to Seattle, a trip of over 15 hours, but it would be so worth it so that Lauren could become part of history and look back on it when she is flying commercially.

    What a fantastic thing for you to be taking part in.I really do believe that you are the most inspirational female pilot in the world, everything you do from podcast interviews, keeping up with your blog, finding wonderful Friday Flyers, promoting aviation as a career choice, and
    writing novels too! Not to mention being a mum, gran, wife etc. You make everything so positive and you are proof that anything is possible if you work hard at it.

    Delta Airlines are so lucky to have you as one of their team of professional pilots, and I hope Lauren too could become a pilot for Delta in the future and fly with you. How cool would that be.

    Have lots of fun on the Sunday, and I do hope that Renton Airport can become the most female-pilot-friendly airport in the world 2010, the place where you took your first solo and I personally believe that you are the most dedicated woman pilot in the world anyway :)
    We will be thinking about you :)

    Jo xx Leeds (UK)

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  18. Jo, it is my greatest wish for you and Lauren to join us for this event. If there is any way you could make it, you could stay at our little home with us. Never underestimate the power of a miracle.

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  19. Boeing Employees Flying Association is providing Pilots Lounge and Ramp Space for December 5 event at KRNT / W36. Also a floatplane, weather permitting.

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  20. I'll be there with my 182 ready to fly potential women pilots!

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  21. Thank you so much Rustedgranny!!!! I too am a granny. Not rusted yet. But soon! lol

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  22. I'm not a female pilot, but I'd like to help if I could. (Says on the main web page that male pilots can participate).
    I could show up with a plane and probably a few women to add to the count!

    Tom

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  23. Is there a minimum age? I have two little girls, ages 3 and 5. They're each around 40 pounds. Is that too young / small?

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  24. NO AGE Limit! Young or Old!!! Bring those little girls! My two year old granddaughter is going too!!!

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  25. I want to bring my friend for 10:30 (or anything after that, whatever's available :D). I have a question though. I am a student pilot. Am I still allowed to go since I technically don't have a license (and most definitely won't yet by that point, considering that I haven't even soloed)? Also it'll be my birthday that day. ^_^

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  26. Hi Horsie890, I am so glad that you and your friend will be there! Yes...Student Pilots are welcome! And it will be a Happy Birthday to you! One of our "maybe" female pilot helpers shares your birthday. I think we should get a cake. Email me your name to Karlene.Petitt@gmail.com

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  27. Hi Karlene,

    It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to encourage women to pursue aviation. I would love to attend and can be there at 12pm.

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  28. 777Jumpseat... YEAH!!! See you there! Thanks

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  29. Hi Karlene! How awesome are you for doing this!? Already a pilot, but would love to help, do you need loaders, organizers, etc?

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  30. Hi Karlene!
    I thought I posted about a week ago, but apparently did something wrong. Karen & I will be there, probably at 10:30 because we have a later obligation at 1pm. And we'll try to bring a few more women!

    Deb Greer
    greerberge@comcast.net

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  31. Put 2 more down for the list around noon! I'm so excited!! Ill post to my account so we can get some more people!!

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  32. Amanda... YES! We need loader helpers who are pilots. I'm in Dallas right now. How tomorrow night. Send me an email and we'll coordinate! Karlene.Petitt@Gmail.com Thank YOU!!!!!

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  33. Hello! I run a teen program and would LOVE to bring my girls to experience this. There will be about 8 of us and we'll arrive around 1:30 pm. I hope that works! Thanks!!!!

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  34. Katie... 8 at 1:30 is GREAT!! See you all there. Thank you!!!!

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  35. Hi Karlene,
    I'd love to come fly with you on Sunday! I can be there at 12:30 if that's alright?

    Thanks!!

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  36. 1230 is perfect!!! Thanks! Will you be alone or bring anyone with you? See you there!

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  37. Super! My wife Annabel and our two daughters ages 14 & 10 plus possibly two of their friends will be there at noon.

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  38. I would LOVE to do this!!! It would be a dream for me! I will take whatever time you have left!

    Monica Lundberg monicalundberg@yahoo.com

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  39. Aloha! I'd love to come and bring my ten-year old daughter. Thanks, Heidi and Fiona Lennstrom

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  40. Aloha again-

    The two Lennstrom women would like any time after 12 noon. Do you need an e-mail address for us? Thanks! Heidi & Fiona

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  41. Hi EVERYONE... I've been on a plane all day and just moderated comments on my blog. Looking forward to seeing you all!

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  42. This looks exciting, my name is Lisa and I am Tom Gwilym's coworker. I am planning to get there around 2pm. :)

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  43. This sounds fun. There will be 3 of us. We can come around 2:00.
    Thanks. donna.nolan@q.com

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  44. A friend and myself can be there at High Noon. I would love to find out more about flying in a small plane. Haven't had the chance in 25 years...not since my old friends amphibian (The Golden Goose)!
    thanks. JW_PXC@HOTMAIL.COM

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  45. Looking forward to seeing you at noon!!! Thanks! JW....

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  46. Hi again! I'll be bringing my two girlfriends and one of their daughters! :D I'm super excited, thank you so much!

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  47. Hi Elise... Yeah! See you there. What time do you think you'll arrive?

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  48. What an amazing idea!! I'm hoping to find a friend who wants to go with me. My dad is a retired airline pilot and both my mother and her mother had their pilot's licenses at one time. Someday I'd like to follow in their footsteps!

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  49. I'll be bringing my daughter by...she'll love it! We are flex on the time, is there a slot that works best for you?

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  50. Blind guy... YEAH. Thank you for asking! 1 pm would be great! We have a ton at 1030 and will be rolling later.

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  51. Laura, I'm excited you'll be joining us! You will find a friend. Looking forward to meeting a future pilot!

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  52. Hi. I will be there at 11:00 am, and our eight year old daughter may want to fly as well. We'll be looking to fly with Austin Watson!!

    Robin and Rachel Schachter

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  53. Robin and Rachel and Robin... see you there!!!

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  54. Hi Karlene,

    Thanks for putting this together! I'll be there with two others around 2pm. We're planning to fly with Tom Gwilym, my charming coworker and friend.

    Thanks again,
    Madeleine Calagna

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  55. HI, my name is lisa and I am Tom Gwilym's coworker. He forwarded me this exciting event, and I am planning on getting there around 2pm : )

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  56. Hi Madeline, Looking forward to seeing you there!!!

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  57. Karlene: Sign me up for 2 p.m., please (and thank you). In the meantime, I know two awesome, spitfire girls that I'm going to try to get to soar too and will let you know. P.S. Krista used to sit for my boys!

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  58. Hi Stacy, That's great! We love awesome spitfire girls! Krysta says hi!!!

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  59. hello just wondering if you could sign me
    up for 2 me and my son whos 9 is boys allowed? if yes sign me up for 230?

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  60. Hi,

    I am Surbhi Ghadia. I am an Aviation HighSchool student and would like to be an astronaut some day.

    I would love to take this free flight on Dec 5th with my mom (total two women), and can be at the airport by noon.

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  61. Hi,

    This is Surbhi - an AHS student. please count me in for this flight along with my mom. We can make it there around noon. Will that work.

    Thanks!

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  62. I will be there around 10:30 with a friend. We're excited!!

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  63. Hi Karlene! My daughter and I have been fascinated by flight since she was a child. We would like to be there at noon and we will be bringing my daughter's best friend. I am Dawn and my daughter's name is Hannah. Her best friend is Maria. This is a great way to get women involved in flying. My grandma was one of the first female pilots in Michigan and my mother has a small aircraft license. I would love to get mine as well. We can't wait!!!

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  64. Karen, I am looking forward to this opportunity! My 14 year old daughter Taite and I will be there at 10:30 unless you tell us otherwise. Taite is a freshman at Aviation High School and is currently taking ground school as an elective. Neither of us have flown more than a handfull of times and never in a small plane. We are very excited to ba a part of this event!
    Thank you,
    Mitzi Stewart

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  65. Hi, We would love to participate. There will be two of us. We can get there by 10:30 or whatever time frame works best for you. We love airplanes, aviation history and photography. No pilots license for us but we did have photos in the Museum of Flight's 2009 Spirit of Flight exhibit, if that gives you any idea of our enthusiasm! Thanks for arranging such an interesting event! Cynthia and Carolyn.

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  66. Surbhi, Laura, Dawn, Mitz Cynthia...

    And anyone I may have missed naming--- I'm looking forward to seeing you all! So much fun with the enthusiasm of the young pilots--- and old! (PS.. I'm old and still enthusiastic)
    See you Sunday!

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  67. Denise (London House)December 3, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    Hi, so proud of you :-) Can't wait for Sunday. There will be at the least, myself and my two daughters joining you. Let me know what time slot you would like us to fill and if you need me to recruit any more women to attend.

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  68. To the Anonymous person with the son-- this event is for girls. We're trying to get 2010 in the sky by 2010 in honor of the first licensed woman pilot. It looks like we are going to have full planes all day. So it might not work for your son. But, one of our pilots does Young Eagles and that could be an avenue for him.

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  69. Denise... Can't wait to see you! Let plan 11- 1130. The day is filling up. But we have more planes and pilots! Exciting!!!

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  70. I think we'll keep RNT tower pretty busy!

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  71. Karlene..Sounds like it'll be quite an event today. You've obviously put a lot into it. Wish I was going to be out that way to see it. Hope the day is a BIG success. John

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  72. hi my name is bonnie im the one who have a son can i just sign for 230 ride and just leave my son in the groundfor. awhile?thank you

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  73. Hi my name is Bonnie. I emailed you about my 3 yr old grandson. My duaghter and I will be there about 2:00pm. Thanks so much for organizing this... What a great event!

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  74. Hi, I'd like to come tomorrow with my daughter around 11:30 if possible. If not, we're flexible all day and can be there at any time. Thanks!
    Ann-Marie (amg@amgspeirs.com)

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  75. Hi. My name is Lisa. My daughter, Maya, and I were wondering if you have any time slots still available for tomorrow. If so, we may be able to round up a few more girls, too. We would also like to know how we can find out more about the Young Eagles. Thanks

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  76. I can see the planes from my house in Renton and have always wanted to fly out of the Renton airport. I gave birth to two pilots, a boy and girl. They are pilots for the WANG. I love to fly, but no license. I'd like to go at 1:00 or later if that's better. Just let me know. My name is Lyn McKay
    I think this is a fabulous project and I'm excited to be part of it.

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  77. Hello! Two of my children have attended Aviation High School and that is how I heard about this event. Do you have room for three of us at 3pm? This would be form myself Lisa, my 21 year old daughter Judy and her friend.
    Thank you!

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  78. Hi my name is Marali and my 3 daughters and I will be coming, and I was just wanting to let you know that we will be there around 1030 to hopefully get on one of the earlier flights.

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  79. Hello,
    If you still need passengers, I would love to participate! My name is Amy Hance-Brancati and I would be able to be there at 3:00. Thank you!

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  80. Hi Karlene--
    I'm going to bring my daughters, a couple of their girlfriends down around 10:30. We met @ the Airport office when you were there to meet w/Ryan. One of them has a little brother--would he able to go up with the girls?
    Carolyn

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  81. Hi Karlene--
    I'm bringing my daughters and a couple of their girlfriends down @ 10:30. The only question we have - can the friends bring their little brother, too? Or will he have to (sadly) watch?
    Carolyn

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  82. Ann Marie, we'll see you at 11:30!

    Lisa, we have a couple pilots involved in Young Eagles... and they will bring stuff!

    Lyn, 1 is perfect!

    Cramerclan... see you at 3 pm!!!


    Marali, 1030 is great!

    Amy, 3 is perfect... Excellent time!!!

    See you there Bonnie!!!

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  83. Hi Carolyn, how many do you think you'll bring? And the boys...we've had a couple requests but have over 160 women now. If we can get them on, we will. But doubt it right now. We just have to see. But we have a great observation area and cake, cookies and cocoa.
    See you then!!!

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  84. Denise (London House)December 4, 2010 at 5:53 PM

    Hi Karlene, this is Denise again. So happy to see your day is looking amazing! Since you have more than enough participants, I am going to have to give up our 11:00 time slot, my oldest daughter is sick and unfortunately we need to stay home to get well. Have an amazing time. I'll be thinking of you. xo Cheers to your success!!

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  85. Hello Karlene,
    Our family of three women (one is Aviation High School student, one is future AHS student) is very interested in participating
    in a flight on December 5.
    We are very flexable on the time. We can come around 2 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Inessa Robins.

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  86. Hi Karlene--
    It will be my 2 girls, plus another 2 girls, and their little brother (though the +2 aren't going to be able to come if little brother can't come, since they can't leave him home). We're planning on coming down at 10:30. I'll check back a little later...
    Carolyn

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  87. Hi Karlene,
    What a great idea! I just heard about it today through the Girl Scouts. I'd like to bring my 7 year old daughter if you still have room for the two of us.
    Thanks,
    Lisa

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  88. My friend Kallie and I would like to go! We'll be there before 11am. We're so excited!

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  89. Kallie, we'll see you at 11~

    Lisa, of course we have room!

    Carolyn, we'll see you all there. You can bring the brother. We have an observation room with cookies and cocoa, watch planes fly and listen to the pilots talk to the controllers.

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  90. Inessa, See you at 2~

    Christine we might put you to work. Can you stay all day?

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  91. Hi! I'm the woman with the 3-year-old and the 5-year-old girls who asked back on Monday if we could all come, and you said yes.

    I know commenting on this blog may not be seen until it is too late, but we would still LOVE to attend. We're planning to show up around 11. Tom G. told me about this -- maybe we'll see him there!

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  92. Hi,

    This is Surbhi again. Unfortunately we won't be able to make it today.

    Will catch you some other time...

    Cheers!

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  93. Karlene Thanks so much for a fantastic day!! Hoping you all break this record! Was very inspiring to see so many young girls out, hopefully inspiring to them as well! Thanks again for a day I won't soon forget :)
    Meghan Finley

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  94. Kathryn loved her flight today......she insisted that we stop and pick up a frame for her certificate on the way home so it could be properly displayed on her wall.....Thanks!

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  95. That was AWESOME! Thank you so much - all of you - for your time and energy to pull this together. My daughter and I had a blast.
    Donna Nolan

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  96. My daughter, Kendra got to sit in the front seat. She felt like the co-pilot and smiled the whole time. She said "That was EPIC!" so you managed to impress a 14 year old. Good job! Thanks so much,
    Donna Nolan

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  97. Christina CarpentierDecember 6, 2010 at 6:40 AM

    Thank You Karlene! What an awesome experience! And Thank You to our pilot Dick for taking one last flt w/us, I think he said it was his 18th of the day. We had a beautiful sunset flt & got to see the city lights, xmas lights but still could see the mtns & Puget Sound! This was my 2 foster/adopt daughters 1st time flying & it was a thrill for all 3 of us to experience together!!!
    ~Christina Carpentier
    chrissycarpentier@gmail.com

    Heather, age 5 says:
    "It was fun & made my belly go up & down. I saw some pretty xmas lights & I saw my house."

    Angela, age 10 says:
    "It was fun, felt like I had wings, made my stomach feel funny. I got to be the co-pilot. When I grow up I want to be a pilot too & work at the Renton Airport."

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  98. Loved the flight with Tom Gwylim as pilot. What a wonderful experience! I didn't expect to take my daughter - almost two years old - on her very first flight. She had such a good time, she blew kisses to the landed planes on the way down! And with a pilot who is also a friend. It just doesn't get more awesome.

    Thank you so much for the experience!

    ~Nikki (& Emiko!) Burns

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  99. Great idea. Wish I could be join you!

    Michelle
    @eskyguide

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  100. Thank you for organizing such a great event. We had a beautiful and memorable flight. We were in the air as the sun was getting low so the colors were beautiful and Mt Rainier was crystal clear. Thanks to everyone for this special event.
    Lisa Cramer

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  101. Thank you so much for planning this event, Karlene! My daughter Annika (the one in the orange NASA suit) loved the flight and couldn't wait to tell her dad and brother every little detail. She wants to go to the Museum of Flight this weekend and find out about "flying camp." We both had a wonderful time. Thank you!
    Lisa Sturgeon
    P.S. Maybe you could give a copy of her letter to our pilot Peter? She wanted him to see it too.

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  102. Lisa, Yes... I will. Going to post it tomorrow! Have fun. Your daughter is incredible... so is her Mom!

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