8/15/2009 - Bend
Touching down at the Bend Airport, a unique race celebrating it's 40th anniversary. The Palms to Pines airplane race, taking pilots from Santa Monica California to Bend, ended Saturday morning at the Bend Airport. Spectators and participants standing along the runway to watch planes come in. Making the race unique, the planes are all single engine, with a minimum of one hundred horse power and the pilots are all women.
"They love their airplanes and their girls. You know they discuss what kind of engines they have, 'oh you have an O-350, what's your handicap?' And they discuss their shoes. 'Where did you get those fabulous shoes?" said pilot and competitor CJ Strawn.
Originated in 1970 by the Los Angeles Palms Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, organizors say it is the longest running all women's air race. Pilots ranging in age into their eighties.
Comments
Great
Sounds like fun, but in their haste to get off the ground at Santa Monica, all but the last 2 planes busted through Burbank's air space.
We were there
The racers departed SMO RWY 21 the morning of the race and were instructed by Santa Monica Tower to continue to the shoreline before turning, then headed 315 to Chatsworth Reservoir. They were west of the lateral boundary of Burbank's airspace.