740 Women Introduced to Aviation with Free Airplane Rides March 9 2013: 264 Women and Girls set new Record at Lyncrest Airport Sept 15th 2012

CONGRATULATIONS Manitoba Aviation Community!!!

September 15th, 264 women and girls ranging from 2 years old to 83 year old Chipmunk pilot were air borne in the Rural Municipality of Springfield in small two- and four-seater aircraft. Planes ranged from an Ercoupe, RV6a, Fleet Canuck, Champ, C172, C152, C182, Cherokee, AcroSport, CH701, ...and more!! Pilots and Volunteers came from Beulah (near Saskatchewan border), Brandon, Shoal Lake, Morden, St Andrews, Oak Bank, Dugald, Anola, Starbuck, Springfield Flying Club, Recreational Aircraft Association, COPA, Women in Aviation International, 99's, Retired Airline Pilots in Canada, Calm Air, Air Canada, Mountain City Aviation (Morden)....and more! Women Pilots included Anne (Private Lic) and Chantal (Commercial Multi-IFR), Anne, Amy Johnson (ABD), Delainey Brown (Commercial, Multi-IFR (ABD)), Cindy Glover (Air Canada), Courteney Remple (Private Pilot, Mountain City Aviation), Colette Pierce (Learn to Lander), Jill Oakes, Jac Laliberte, and Irene Hyland (Chipmunk pilot)! The following awesome men supported this event and made it a success:
Adrian Meilleur -
Al Hein -
Ben Toenders
Bill Gibson
Bert Elam
Mike Elam
Murray Bryson
Brian Koldyk
Bruce McEwing
Burt Barkman
Bud Laliberte
Curt Reimer
Dale Chevalier
George Inman
Harry Wiebe
Jerry Roehr
Jim Goold
Jim Oke
John Blackner
Mark Odegard
Paul Dyck
Peter Moodie
Rick Riewe
Ron Loewen
Ted Jensen
Tom Stoyka
Victor Prefontaine

Some Volunteers left home round 6:30 am, the first briefing was at 8:00 and the first flight in the air was with Al Hein who flew in from near Starbuck. The day began with a strong 20-25kt wind straight from the south with calm air at 2000 asl. By mid-morning the winds began to drop. Passengers waiting for their flights were treated to a surprise - an amazing hour-long tour of some antique and modern aircraft of all descriptions with Burt Barkman leading the tours. Dave (Mountain City Aviation) and Delaney Brown gave mini "introductions to flilght" throughout the day to small interested groups of women who never envisioned themselves in a small aircraft....never mind flying one!! By evening the winds dropped and the last three passengers were treated to a classic Prairie sunset ride in a classic Fleet Canuck, a two-seater aircraft made in Canada!

Thank you to over 35 volunteers who donated their time, energy and money, and the Rural Municipality of Springfield for helping to make this event a success in inspiring women and girls to taste the adventure of flying for fun! ...plus, working together, we set a new record!

Drop by the Lyncrest Airport any day around noon and read the Sprigfield Flying Club's guest book to see some first hand comments from the passengers! Photos, Passenger's comments and details on the record will be posted on later this week on http://womenairborne.blogspot.ca If you have photos you'd like posted, please sent them to jill_oakes@umanitoba.ca

Next event Women Air Borne...Sept 7th 2013!

Next event for Youth only aged 8-17 is at Lyncrest on Sept 22nd, Saturday, come early as its first come first serve - first flights leave at 9:30 am Bring your parent/guardian as a signed COPA for Kids waiver must be signed before boarding the aircraft.

CONGRATULATIONS Manitoba!!!

Happy Flying
From the Organizing Core: Colette, Bert & Jill and all the 35 Volunteers

Rick Riewe (Event Photographer) running up to the plane to take photos before the passengers leave.

Susan Kotello's friend in the air!

Elizabeth Hiltz says she felt like she stepped back in time!

Marshallers: John Blackner, Bert Elam, Amy Johnson; Mike Elam, Murray Bryson, Dale Chevalier, Adrian Mielleur, Rick Riewe, Paul Dyck and others helped keep aircraft and people organized throughout the day.

Bruce McEwing refueling his thirsty C180.

Colette Pierce and her sister Helen lead registration. Colette learned to land her family plane last winter and Ken flew her to Winnipeg from Beulah, MB.

Sandy Hudson brought the largest group = 37 women!! to join in the fun and spent most of the day touring around the airport and going for free rides.

Gerry Roehr is the Regional Director for COPA and has volunteered for civilian search and rescue for many years. He took about 25 gals flying in his C180!

Harry Wiebe introduced women one at a time to flying in his C152.

George Inman took a steady stream of passengers up in his CH701, a kit built aircraft known for its' excellent short field take off and landing features.

Passengers went up with Curt Reimer in his RV6 - a kit built aircraft

Tom Stoyka started flying first thing this morning and flew right through til just before sunset when he headed back to his farmstrip near Cooks Creek.

Al Hein flew in from Starbuck and flew the whole day.

Lorraine Baydack surprised her daughter by flying in an open cockpit plane - Angie will only believe it when she sees this photo!!

Adrian Mielleur, one of a team of marshallers

Ron Loewen flew in from Morden in his C152, Manitobans will recognize Ron as the pilot of the only BD5 in western Canada!

Bud Laliberte doing his cockpit check with Irene Hyland a Chipmunk Pilot!

Curt Reimer loading his RV

CINDY Glover flies for Air Canada and flew about 8 women at this event. Next time you board a flight to see your grandchildren, check out the Captains to see if Cindy is flying!

Murray Bryson marshalling a passenger and Pilot BruceMcEwing to the plane.

Mark O'degard has flown 100s of youth in our free EAA Young Eagle flights, and flew non-stop all day for Women Air Borne.

Burt Barkman lead about 25 people at a time on a surprise airport-hangar-airplane tour. He lead tours the whole day and was often seen with a large group of women curious to learn more about airplanes and flying.
Including 15 RM of Springfield Girl Guides who earned their Aeronautical Badge at the event!

One small group of the 264 women and girls who were flying today - and a few of their husbands who came to stay on the ground and take photos or look after enfants!

Courteney Remple with another group of keen women.

Jill Oakes making sure Elizabeth, a Fisheries Biologist, is belted in before taking of for her first flight.

Mike Elam marshalling.

Cindy Glover with another load of women!

Vic Prefontaine helped Ben Toenders with a tail wheel spring problem. Vic and Grant 'held down the fort' making sure things ran smoothly.

Dave (Mountain City Aviation Morden), Ann (east of Bird's Hill Pk) and Delainey Brown kept the operation running inside the clubhouse.

Five of the female pilots participating in the event: Courteney, Delainey, Irene, Amy and Jill

Tom Stoyka and passenger

Mark O'degard with some of his passengers.

RM of Springfield Girl Guides (and one Brownie) on their way home after spending the day at the airport!

Burt Barkman with Girl Guide group

Courteney Remple with her passengers

While waiting, some people were fascinated with trying their hand at flyinig on the flight simulator - for free access to anyone who would like to use it. Some of the men and boys that came with their family played on the flight simulator while they waited for the girls to come back from their flights. Next week - Saturday, Sept 22nd 2012, youth - boys and girls- aged 8 - 17 have a chance for free flights, first flights leave at 9:30 am. Come early to avoid a long wait and bring cards or other games to play while you wait.

Jac Laliberte has registered 100s of youth for EAA Young Eagle and COPA for Kids flights. She worked the whole day helping with getting certificates completed and selling items from the Springfield Flying Club gift shop - shirts ($20), hats ($10) and more available.

Paul Dyck marshalling more women to their planes.

Tour of Burt Barkman's museum!

Mark O'degard and passengers

Dale Chevalier with a relative and Tom Stoyka after their flight.

John Blackner's daughter, Carolyn.

Rick Riewe took almost 400 photos for the event.

Jim Oke came to the field in the afternoon to fly the 2nd shift and flew until dark.

John Blackner

Peter Moodie with one of his passengers that had waited for 4 hours before her flight. We sure were glad to see Peter arrive to give some rides!

Rick Riewe and Adrian Mielleur marshalling and photographing passengers.

Jim Oke with more passengers who got to fly in the "Pilot" seat - Jim spent decades as a flight instructor for the military so he is more comfortable in what is normally the seat used by passengers or flight instructors. The pilot usually sits in the left seat!