Resources

Food for Thought

These pages will provide helpful information for those who plan to race.

• Racing Related Federal Aviation Regulations, contributed by Racer Juliet Lindrooth.
• Density Altitude - The Triple H Effect (AOPA Air Safety Institute, 2018)

Articles

These articles relate first-hand what it is like to race the Air Race Classic.

• An article in Women in Aviation Magazine, July-August 2015. Air Race Classic:  The Riddle Racer Experience, written by collegiate racers Nancy Snyder and Valdeta Mehanja.
• An online journal written by racer Julie Boatman Filucci from the 2005 Air Race Classic: 2005 Air Race Classic Journal
• An online journal written by Kathleen Roy and AOPA's Carolyn Smith from the 2003 Air Race Classic: 2003 Air Race Classic Journal
• An article written by AOPA's Elizabeth Tennyson from the 2001 Air Race Classic - Racing to Learn
• For AOPA Members - A November 1996 wrap-up article detailing the results of the 1996 Air Race Classic; the article ran in Flight Training and was written by Greg Laslo: In Training - Getting There
• A February 1995 article from Flight Training written by Anne Honer that gives a good overview of the Air Race Classic: In Training - Air Race Classic

Books

• GIRLS CAN'T BE PILOTS: AN AEROBIOGRAPHY By Margaret J. Ringenberg with Jane L. Roth

Margaret flew in every Air Race Classic since they started, taking first place in 1988. A former WASP with over 40,000 hrs, she learned to fly because as a little girl she was told "girls can't be pilots." She has been a flight instructor since 1945. She flew the Round the World Air Race in 1994 and the London to Sydney Air Race in 2001. Her flying is highlighted in Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" chapter 12. She continued to promote aviation and women who fly until her death in 2008.

• THE POWDER PUFF DERBY OF 1929 - By Gene Nora Jessen 

Air Racer Gene Nora Jessen provides the exciting story about the 20 women pilots who planned and executed the first major female cross-country airplane race. On Sunday, August 19, 1929, these women took off from Santa Monica, California, in their propeller-driven airplanes headed for Cleveland, Ohio, where the race ended on Monday, August 26. Challenges along the 2,759 mile course included suspected sabotage attempts, sexist criticism of their flying ability and several crashes, one of which caused a fatality. Nevertheless, the race managed to capture nationwide attention and gained new respect for female aviators.

Videos and CDs

• "Wings of their Own", a Documentary by Mary Scott and Abby Dress producers, Mary Scott Director; 2004 Make Believe TV; ISBN 0-9770218-0-7
• "Breaking Through the Clouds", The First Women's National Air Derby, Written and Produced by Heather A. Taylor, 2110 Archetypal Images, LLC  ISBN 36211
• "Beyond the Powder", The Legacy of the First Women's Cross Country Air Race, 2015, written and produced by Hemlock Films.