March 13 came in with showers and gusty winds. We were watching. Waiting. But decided the safest course of action was to keep this party inside. Jay flew a test flight with Katie and Lauren, and that was that.
Time to call her quits.
We may have been grounded, but we did make a new world record! BEFA had more cars in the history of aviation than any FBO on a Sunday in the rain!
A special thanks to our volunteers, Bobbie, Annie, Katie, Lauren, Cindy, Linda, Teresa, Lyn, Christine, Zach, and Mireille. You were such a HUGE help! Thank you Dan and ERAU for your continued support... the cookies, cocoa and coffee. And to our pilots Tom, Austin, Jay, Kevin, Mark, Catherine, Kendra, Ruth, Shad and Gary. Catherine and Kendra flew over from Tacoma. Jay in from Sequim. Ruth taught the girls how to do a walk-around and Gary entertained the ladies with everything you'd want to know about airplanes. Amanda dropped by to hang out and said next time she'll bring her helicopter! We hung out and shared the joy of talking about flying. Great duty if you can get it. Women and airplanes. Does it get better?
Mother Nature may have grounded our flights today, but she did not destroy the meaning of aviation for all those who came out to celebrate the Women of Aviation Worldwide Week.
All our pilots have agreed to call the women and girls who showed up for our event and take them flying when the sun shines. She will shine. We will fly.
Time to call her quits.
215 registered, 139 women showed up to fly... despite the weather. That speaks volumes for the interest of women in aviation. Mother Nature may have not played fair... but we had a great time regardless. Thank you all for joining us! Enjoy the photos of the best Hangar Party of 2011!
We may have been grounded, but we did make a new world record! BEFA had more cars in the history of aviation than any FBO on a Sunday in the rain!
A special thanks to our volunteers, Bobbie, Annie, Katie, Lauren, Cindy, Linda, Teresa, Lyn, Christine, Zach, and Mireille. You were such a HUGE help! Thank you Dan and ERAU for your continued support... the cookies, cocoa and coffee. And to our pilots Tom, Austin, Jay, Kevin, Mark, Catherine, Kendra, Ruth, Shad and Gary. Catherine and Kendra flew over from Tacoma. Jay in from Sequim. Ruth taught the girls how to do a walk-around and Gary entertained the ladies with everything you'd want to know about airplanes. Amanda dropped by to hang out and said next time she'll bring her helicopter! We hung out and shared the joy of talking about flying. Great duty if you can get it. Women and airplanes. Does it get better?
Mother Nature may have grounded our flights today, but she did not destroy the meaning of aviation for all those who came out to celebrate the Women of Aviation Worldwide Week.
All our pilots have agreed to call the women and girls who showed up for our event and take them flying when the sun shines. She will shine. We will fly.
I think I'm in love with that Mirage.
ReplyDeleteChristine, I'm thinking we need to do a sun dance to get your cross-country done next weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteYes please. I know it's a lot to ask of March, but I want to try anyway.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having us, good weather or bad! We loved the warm welcome and the personal plane tour. Looking forward to a flight!
ReplyDeleteJenn K.
whimsyj@aol.com
139 ladies in a hangar, now that's a party! Despite no flying your event still was a great success! You introduced 139 women to aviation! So great!!!
ReplyDeleteEven with the rain, it was great, Karlene. All those girls were so excited to see the planes and hear about flying--I know you got some signer-uppers! (ahem. I might be one of them, those airplanes are so pretty. Every time I'm around them the bug bites.)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you ladies made the best of things and had a great time! Thanks for sharing the pictures! I love them!
ReplyDeleteAt least this time I had a chance to meet some of the other pilots. In December we flew so much we never saw each other since we were in the air more than on the ground eating cookies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures!
ReplyDeleteMy 4 year old, Annabelle (9th picture), enjoyed getting to see the plane and sit in the pilot seat. We are looking forward to the opportunity to fly. She was already picturing how the family and her cousins were all going to sit together and fly somewhere.
We look forward to the day when she is old enough to fly herself. :D
- Her mom.
Awww... great pics! Too bad you were grounded! And still so many kids were there! I hope you can reschedule, and that everyone will come back to go for a spin. It was a blast in December!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting these events Karlene! You are inspiring the next generation of workers in the aviation industry, rain or shine. :) The test flight was SO fun! Thank you for everything you have done for me. I would LOVE to volunteer for the rescheduled date!
ReplyDelete-Katie
I was a no-show because of the weather but I loved all the pictures, especially the young girls getting a start in aviation! This program and all that you do is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteJen, you are so welcome! I am planning a day in May! Stay tuned for more information on that!
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria! We did... and what you did was awesome!!! You should be so proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, you need to watch out for that bug. When she bites, she bites hard!
ReplyDeleteThank you Heather. It would be very cool to do a book signing with you, during our next event! :)
ReplyDeleteTom, It is fun meeting the pilots and the enthusiasm of the ladies. Then add cookies... we've got a party!
ReplyDeleteThank you other Linda! It was a blast. And we will plan again! I'm thinking a day in May!
ReplyDeleteKatie, you have a date! We're going to have so much fun and the sun will shine!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous. We had fun in the rain and will have fun again! Hope you can make it next time.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to trying again in May. We have a friendliest airport record that we have to maintain....and now have some good competition from Frederick!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom! We will. :)
ReplyDeleteFor a great comment... about the importance of canceling due to weather, go to this link and read the last comment. http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2011/03/mother-earth.html
ReplyDelete