Powder Puff Derby Virtual Museum: Patch and Charm

A charm from the 1975 race. Across the front is the route of the race across the United States, on the back is the year the race took place.



From the estate of Mary Rose Myers, who participated in 3 Powder Puff Derbies, including the 30th one in 1977 that signaled the end of the race.


A sew on patch from the last race in 1977.

Robert Henderson, Warbird Sculptor

Robert Henderson, dubbed the "Warbird Sculptor" by an entire generation of World War II veterans, has chosen to chronicle the history of aviation in monumental bronze sculptures.

To date, he has fathered "The Study Hall", a most unique outdoor sculpture garden at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This garden houses extraordinary bronze warbird memorials - 4 World War II fighters, 3 World War II bombers and 1 World War II cargo plane.

These warbirds tell the modern day history of the Air Force to those who study at this prestigious school, as well as millions of visitors each year.

Mr. Henderson is also working on a Woman Aviators Sculpture Park, and I interviewed him (via his wife, Cheryl) about the project.

http://volcanoseven.com/YouFlyGirl/RobertHendricksonInterview/RobertHenderson.html

WASP recognized with memorial at BOHS

Orange County Register: Women pilots recognized with memorial at BOHS
Quintin Ruiz, grandson of WASP Violet Cowden, escorts Mary Lamy and Myrle Mackintosh.

A plaque and monument have been unveiled among 12 pepper trees at the edge of the Brea Olinda High School campus to pay tribute to 12 Women Airforce Service Pilots, better known as WASPs, from Orange County.

The memorial was paid for through donations and fundraisers held by the Orange District of the California Federation of Women's Clubs.

During World War II, the women pilots flew non-combat missions, making more male pilots available for combat flights. The WASPs flew most types of military aircraft including B-26 and B-29 bombers. These women weren't granted military status until 1977.

"They've been overlooked," said Ellie Rankin, member of the Placentia Round Table Women's Club.

Mary Lamy, of Seal Beach, who is one of the 12 Orange County WASPs, was present in her uniform at the dedication Nov. 10.

Along with Lamy, the women honored are Beverly L. Beesemyer, Mary Reineberg Burchard, Violet Thurn Cowden, Jeanne Perot D'Ambly, Mary Ann Dreher, Roberta Jane Fohl, Bethel Gibbons Haven, Dolores M. Lamb, Joan Whelan Lyle, Doris K. Muise and Eleanor Olson Weems.

Marilyn Bennett, president of the Orange District, initiated the idea of getting involved with recognizing the WASP legacy.

Bennett, along with district chairman Myrle Mackintosh, led the women's clubs in this effort for more than a year, Rankin said. Previously, the 12 pepper trees were planted in part of the BOHS campus that was damaged by the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire.

Women from the 23 women's clubs in the Orange District were present for the event

Powder Puff 25th Jubilee Charm: "You've Come A Long Way, Baby"

This is a charm about 1 and a half inches long, featuring a female pilot, with a cigarette in a cigarette holder, leaning on a propeller.

It's thick, stamped metal, with the raised surfaces painted. The base surface is now a dark color - not sure if it was that way originally or not.

On the back is stamped:

25th Jubilee: July 5-8, 1971
"You've come a long way, baby"

This is the catchphrase of Virginia Slims, who helped sponsor the race.

Let's Make the Jerrie Mock Statue a Reality

I was reminded of the funding drive to create a statue of Jerrie Mock - the first woman to fly solo around the world - today.

Fundraising has been going on for a couple of months - the goal is $45,000.

I took the liberty of creating a web page, which will direct folks to the appropriate address to donate funds.

http://volcanoseven.com/YouFlyGirl/GeraldineMockStatue/index.html

However, everyone reading this knows who Jerrie Mock is, I'm sure, so you can bypass the page and, if you are so inclined, donate to:

Licking County Foundation
PO Box 4212
Newark, OH 43058-4212
http://www.thelcfoundation.org/funds/stories.html
Licking County apparently oversees funds for hundreds of projects, so your check needs to be made out to them, but put in the memo line: put into Jerrie Mock Sculpture Fund.

PR: BERINGER Announces New 29oz Tailwheel

Tallard, France: Beringer Wheels & Brakes has announced a new, extremely
lightweight tailwheel assembly for the Pipistrel Sinus, with applications
for other aircraft.

The two-piece anodized aluminum wheel with sealed ball bearings and its 6-ply 200x50 tire and tube, assembled, weighs just 830 grams (29 ounces). It rides on the 8mm diameter Sinus axle; no aircraft modifications are required.

"We designed and built a particularly light but strong tailwheel to complement the BERINGER mains used throughout the Pipistrel line," said Rémi Beringer, chief designer. "This wheel and tire have a design load of 150kg [330 lb], which makes this assembly ideal for the Sinus."

Other applications, including some in both OEM and homebuilt markets, will also benefit from this design's strength/weight ratio; the new BERINGER tailwheel may soon be seen on amateur-built aircraft, as well as in several additional OEM applications.

The tire is delivered already mounted and pressure-tested. It is ready for immediate delivery for use as a retrofit improvement, or for new installations. The factory invites OEM inquiries. Retail price, FOB Tallard, is $249 US.


Headquarters and Engineering:
BERINGER Wheels & Brakes
Aéropôle
Champ Eymi
F-05130 Tallard, France
contact@beringer-aero.com
www.beringer-aero.com
tel +33 492 201 619
fax +33 492 526 966

USA Service Center, Parts & Support:
Lockwood Aviation
1 Lockwood Way
Sebring, FL 33870
www.lockwood-aviation.com
phone: 800-527-6829
fax: (863) 655-6225 Parts:

Aircraft Spruce WEST
225 Airport Circle
Corona, CA 92880
www.aircraftspruce.com
toll free: 800-824-1930
phone: 951-372-9555
fax: 951-372-0555

Powder Puff Derby Cachet, 1947-1966

I'm putting together a virtual museum for Powder Puff Derby material.

Here's a cachet from 1966, sold to raise funds for the Powder Puff Derby.

Here's what the card says:
The Powder Puff Derby this year marks a significant achievement-the only aviation event to function for 20 consecutive years...a race run by women for women. We are proud of its success and its contribution to general aviation.

During this 20 year period, with our first race numbering all of 2 entries, we have totaled 1009 entries, 3,382,746 race miles, and 73 cities in these United States have served as official stops, some as many as 8 times.

This year we anticipate another exciting race from the Evergreen State of Washington to the Sunshine State of Florida. In purchasing this cachet, you have supported the POWDER PUFF DERBY.

What's a cachet?

In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private (independent of postal authorities) cachets. They commemorate everything from the first flight on a particular route, to the Super Bowl. Cachets are also frequently made, either by private companies or a government, for first day of issue stamp events or "second-day" stamp events. They are often present on event covers.

The first cacheted FDC (first day cover) was produced by prominent philatelist and cachet maker George Ward Linn in 1923, for the Harding Memorial stamp issue.

Cachet-making is considered an art form, and cachets may be produced by using any number of methods, including drawing or painting directly onto the envelope, serigraphy, block printing, lithography, engraving, laser printing, attachment of photographs or other paper memorabilia, etc. Frequently flight cachets (which have also been used in space and on the moon) are rubber-stamped.

The largest and best-known cachet-making companies, which typically produce thousands or tens of thousands of printed cachets for U.S. stamp issues, are Artcraft, Artmaster, Fleetwood, House of Farnam, and Colorano.