The pilots at Yorkton	Location of Yorkton

You could say they know how to “wing” it - and that’s the “plane” truth.

Eighteen members of the Ninety-nines, an international group of women pilots, flew into Yorkton Municipal Airport in nine airplanes during their recent 2004 Gold Cup Air Rally from Toronto to Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan - a distance of 1,500 nautical miles or 1,600 statute miles..  The visitors, ranging in age from 23 to 72, belong to the First Canadian and Maple Leaf chapters - based in Toronto and London, Ontario respectively -  of the organization. 

Last year’s rally took the group from Ontario to Prince Edward Island, and this year, because member Doreen Birchmore was  born and raised in Meadow Lake, a decision was made to fly in this direction.   The rallies, which began in 2000, are competitions, but are principally done “for fun and to learn more about flying,” explained Marilyn Dickson, head of the group visiting Yorkton. “We organized the first rally to celebrate the beginnings of the Ninety-nines in Canada,” she said, adding some Ninety-nines are involved in aviation as a career while others fly as a hobby.  “It’s a great chance to go somewhere you haven’t been before,” said member Sharron Lutman. 

The Ninety-nines had their beginning in Long Island, New York in 1929 when 99 women pilots involved in air racing gathered for the first time  (thus providing the group with its name). Two years later, famed pilot  Amelia Earhart was elected the group’s first president.  They wanted an organization for women so they could support and encourage each other in their flying,” said Dickson. Today, the  not-for-profit, charitable organization has  more than 6,000 members throughout the world.

The 18 who visited Yorkton stressed they’re involved in flying, first and foremost, for the fun of it. During rallies, with two pilots in each plane, “we can just trade off flying,” said Dickson, adding the rallies are “kind of educational” because of having to watch details such as fuel consumption and because of participating in a spot landing competition. Ninety-niners’ motivations for getting involved with aviation are as varied as the women themselves. Dickson, who has been a pilot for 15 years, got involved with flying for one simple reason. “I have a friend who’s a pilot and she invited me to the Ninety-nine meetings,” she stated, adding once she attended an international aviators’ conference and meeting “some interesting women”, she got hooked. Today, Dickson, a flight instructor, runs an aviation business out of Guelph. “I get paid to do what’s fun,” she commented.

Anna Pangrazzi began flying at age 18, when she took a high school aviation course, while Anne Starret (whose partner for the rally was daughter Rachelle) said she “figured it was time to do something for me.” For her part, 23-year-old Rachelle -  who also came on the first rally and is a graduate of the aviation program at the University of Western Ontario in London - got involved at age 16 when she attended a summer aviation camp. Lutman had a friend who took her up in a Twin Otter while working for the Ministry of Natural Resources, while her copilot Susan Begg got involved because a next-door friend invited her to accompany him to ground school.

For aviators, the weather can be a challenge, as bad conditions can mean having to divert from the original flight plan. Dickson recalled the time members were flying across Canada and, due to weather conditions, had to go into United States air space. “We were in Montana before we could get back to Canada,” she said. However, this year’s rally did not present any problems weather-wise, or mechanically, for which the members are grateful.

Begg said pilots also face the challenge of having to know aviation rules “and how to fly your plane properly.” She noted it’s important to keep track of fuel consumption since “there’s so many desolate places”, especially in northern Ontario. Another challenge, said Anne Starret, is “the  packing and the weights and balances,” as pilots must be careful of the amount of weight they take in the plane. However, the flying, which promotes friendship and comradeship, is the highlight for Pangrazzi. Dickson agreed. “Every year there are new people on the rally that haven’t been before.   It’s nice to get together,” she commented.

The rally also serves the purpose of introducing both aviators and non-aviators to the idea that females, as well as males, can become pilots. “There’s not a lot of women flying,” Anne Starret commented. She added being in a group enables women who “wouldn’t venture far out on their own” to make the journey, which is completed in Cessnas, Beach Barons, Grummans and other types of planes. These are either rented or owned, with some members having a share of ownership in a plane. This makes it easier financially for members, and psychologically for owners, who are not as concerned when someone else is with the pilot, especially since each team has one veteran and one less experienced pilot, said Anne Starret. Different teams flying the same type of plane can find it interesting to compare fuel consumption levels and performance of the plane at various altitudes Groups such as Young Eagles and Big Brothers and Sisters take advantage of the group’s willingness to have young passengers. “We do a lot of taking people up for flights,” Anne Starret noted.   

The Ninety-Nines were looking forward to going to Meadow Lake, and citizens were eagerly anticipating their arrival. “It’s very exciting. The whole town’s excited,” said Birchmore, explaining that so many women coming at once, especially in a plane, was a novel experience for Meadow Lake residents.

Wednesday night, the group held a banquet, where rally prizes and a winner’s cup were given out, before returning to Ontario by a route taking them past Laronge, near where member Corinne Shalley’s mother has a cottage.

Want to see more pictures and stories about the 2004 Rally?

Want to read Mollie Richard (winner)'s account?