Chapter 7 #2
Pancho thought about what she knew of aerodynamics and her own experience flying in this part of the country.
“Keep your speed up on final a good ten knots over what you usually fly at. Cut the throttle a bit shy of the landing zone, and don’t try to hold your flare too long.
Just set your plane down firmly and use your brakes to get rid of the extra speed. ”
Louise, who’d walked up from behind to join them in watching the ceremonies, added, “I had to land a couple of times in extreme heat on my way out here, and I’ve got the same wings you do, Marvel.
Pancho’s right. Keep the speed up on final, or your flight controls will get mushy and you’ll be in trouble if you hit any heavy crosswinds when you’re low and slow. ”
Marvel nodded. “Thanks, ladies. That’s helpful.”
Amelia shrugged. “We’re all in this together. I’m still going to win, but I don’t need any of you to drop out of the race.” She added soberly, “Or worse.”
They all shared serious looks. For just a moment, they acknowledged the danger of what they were about to attempt.
They were going to cross most of a continent by dead reckoning, encountering who knew what by way of weather, engine problems, or other emergencies.
This race could test them to their limits.
Into the heavy silence, Pancho said firmly, “We’ve got this. We’re going to show everyone just what women pilots are made of.”
Louise snorted. “We’ll show them we’re every bit as good as the boys and that we deserve the same recognition and the same jobs.”
Over the loudspeaker, Nikrent cleared his throat and paused dramatically.
Pancho knew from the agenda they’d been given that next up was the introduction of the nineteen women who would be starting in today’s race.
Mary Haizlip had finally called in last night to report that she was stuck on the ground with engine problems but hoped to land in Santa Monica late in the afternoon and start behind them. The race organizers still hadn’t decided whether to let her join the race already in progress.
If Pancho were in charge, she would let the talented pilot join the race.
Mary was the second woman ever to get a commercial pilot’s license and had been burning up the pylon racing circuit with her husband, who also raced airplanes.
It was only a matter of time before Mary broke the world speed record for women pilots.
She’d earned her spot among the top women fliers in the world.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce some of the greatest pilots in the history of aviation . . .” Nikrent announced.
“He’s got that right,” Amelia muttered.
Nikrent continued, “The women fliers who are going to be contestants in the first National Women’s Air Derby from Clover Field to Cleveland!”
Music blared over the speakers, and Pancho reluctantly approved of Irving Berlin’s lyrics. “Blue skies, smilin’ at me. Nothin’ but blue skies . . .”
One by one, Nikrent announced the pilots.
“Miss Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to jump across the Atlantic Ocean. Miss Earhart!”
Amelia waved both hands over her head, and the crowd went wild. Shouts of “Lady Lindy!” were audible all the way over to the ramp.
Pancho chuckled. “If only they knew how much she hates that nickname.”
Nikrent announced, “Mrs. Louise M. Thaden of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . . . one of the finest fliers from the Atlantic coast. When she was seven years old, she jumped off the barn roof with an oversized umbrella and has been crazy about flying ever since. She’s the only woman to simultaneously hold the altitude, speed, and endurance records for women pilots! ”
“Show-off,” Pancho teased her.
Louise grinned unrepentantly.
“An umbrella, huh?” Marvel asked Louise. “How’d that landing go?”
“Broke my collarbone. But I was still determined to find a way to fly.”
Nikrent continued, “Next up, all the way from the Alaska territory, Marvel Crosson, at present, holder of the world’s altitude record for women, 23,996 feet!”
The crowd oohed and then broke into enthusiastic applause and cheers. Beside Pancho, Marvel raised one arm and waved shyly.
The introductions droned on, and Pancho tuned out, going over the route one more time in her head. Her attention jerked back to the race when Nikrent called out, “Go ahead, Ruth, give the audience a wave!”
Pancho tensed. She was next. While she didn’t often pay attention to how others reacted to her, she hoped her family’s enormous wealth and her colorful reputation didn’t earn her a bad reaction from the crowd.
Thankfully, the crowd cheered as loudly for her as for the other racers.
“Could I have all our lady aviators gather in front of the airplanes?” Joe Nikrent said over the loudspeaker.
As the pilots made their way to the edge of the ramp, Pancho spotted Nikrent and the other race officials clustered together, having what appeared to be a serious conversation.
“If they change the route again, I’m gonna lose my temper,” Pancho declared. “It’s already afternoon! What’s the plan here? Age us like sherry?”
Nikrent stepped away from the other men to greet them. “Mr. Henderson wants me to express his best wishes to you all.”
“What’s going on?” Pancho asked him bluntly.
“There’s a minor disagreement among the officials regarding your destination tomorrow,” Nikrent said soothingly. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Speak for yourself,” Pancho snapped. “We have courses to plot and fuel loads to calculate. Which is it going to be? Calexico or Yuma?”
“Dr. Ayers will get you that information in a timely fashion. He’s the senior official who will be flying along with you,” Nikrent replied. As the women rolled their eyes, he said briskly, “I’ll tell the press you ladies are ready for the final prerace interviews and pictures.”
There was a collective groan from the assembled aviators. “Let’s just get this show on the road,” Amelia declared. The other women chimed in to agree with her.
“Now, now.” Nikrent raised his hands higher. “This is a wonderful opportunity for young aviators of the future to see you in the papers.”
“Does that mean the papers are planning on covering our flight skills instead of what we’re wearing?” Pancho demanded.