Where in the world is my wife?

[Eric Menchen]

O.k., it's a rhetorical question. I know the answer, because I can track her here, which as I'm writing shows she is in Lufkin, TX. Three legs of the Air Race Classic down, and six to go. O.k., I have to admit it. I'm proud of her and excited. If you want to find out more, you can check out her web site, http://www.myfirstairrace.com/ . Or you can check the media:
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/ju ... jke-Unger/
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12668176
She made the front page of the Boulder newspaper, and page B-1 of the Denver Post, in both cases above the fold with a photo! A photographer took pictures for the Longmont paper, but I haven't seen a story yet. Maybe they are awaiting her triumphant return to Longmont

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

I will be following her travels and rooting for her safe journey!

Thanks for this great news, you should be very proud of your wife.

I hope you have a GREAT bottle of Port lined up to open up upon her successful return.

[Eric Ifune]

Way cool!
She flys an aerobic plane? How many G's can it pull?

[Eric Menchen]

Roy,
Maybe the 1960 Taylor I bought specifically for her. That would be a good one.

Eric,
I think 5 Gs positive, 3 Gs negative. It isn't the greatest high performance aerobatic plane, but it's fun and you can land it in the bush too.

The local paper did run a story as well:
http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=16738

I'll quit posting links now, as her web site has a host of links to other press coverage.

[Glenn E.]

She flys an aerobic plane?

I'll be that makes her arms really tired!

It is very cool, though. :)

[Roy Hersh]

Wouldn't that be anerobic in a plane? :help:

[Eric Ifune]

I've actually experienced 5 G's in an aircraft and 9 G's in a centrifuge. It's not your arms that get tired!

[Roy Hersh]

Eric M.,

Any updates for the gang?

[Eric Menchen]

Marijke returned on Monday, very tired but very happy. They placed 28th out of 32 in the race. Conditions did not favor their airplane, the only fabric covered entry. A big high pressure system sat in the middle of the country, giving them headwinds most of the time. A fabric covered plane has more drag in the headwind, and picks up more speed in a tailwind compared to a metal covered plane; so that slowed them down. Also, three long legs combined with the headwind didn't help. If they had a tailwind they could have flown those legs of the course full throttle, but with the wind not cooperating, they had the either throttle back or stop and refuel. They had some well developed spreadsheets to figure out which to do based on the wind, and ended up throttling back. On their best leg (probably a shorter one, but I'm not actually sure which one it was), they came in 11th. That's not bad and gives some idea of how they might have done given more favorable weather.

I told Marijke: 1) be safe, 2) have fun, 3) win. Two out of three isn't bad. She also raised more than $20,000 for a good cause.

http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?ID=16832
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/ju ... jke-Unger/

[Eric Ifune]

Fabric and dope plane? Yes, not as aerodynamic, but maybe more fun!
Glad everyone made it back safe.

[Eric Menchen]

Yes, my wife reported that a lot of people at the stops made comments like, "I'm glad to see someone is flying a real airplane."