Former white-knuckler joins air race
By Dolly A. Butz Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Flying in a plane with her husband, Bob, at the controls used to terrify Marion Cain, but over the years the Dakota City resident has not only conquered her fear of flying, she's also grown to love piloting a plane herself.
Cain, who has been flying for nine years, will push her aeronautical skills to the limit June 19 when she competes with partner Eileen "Bitsy" VanLent of Lincoln, Neb., in the 2007 Air Race Classic, a four-day, 2,400-mile transcontinental speed competition for women pilots.
"I was so nervous all of the time when I was riding with (Bob) because I didn't understand what it was all about," Cain said Monday at Martin Field in South Sioux City, where she learned to fly. "In 1998 I decided to take flying lessons, and just understanding about it helped a lot."
Cain, a mother of six and grandmother of two, said now is the perfect time in her life to participate in the Air Race Classic. She has logged 300 hours in the air and recently passed her Instrument Flight Rules exam.
"I just turned 50, so this is my 50-year adventure," Cain said.
The 2007 Air Race Classic will mark the 31st anniversary of the event. Cain and VanLent's race number is 31. Cain said she hopes the number will bring them luck.
"This is the 31st race, and my partner and I are excited that we're going to be No. 31," she said. "That's got to be great luck."
On June 19 Cain and VanLent will take off from Oklahoma City in a white 1977 Piper Archer II, along with 48 other teams. The pair has four days, flying by Visual Flight Rules in daylight hours, to reach the finish line in St. John, British Columbia. They will make eight stops during the race, with Denison, Iowa, being the closest stop to Sioux City.
At each stop, Cain said a flyover plane will record the teams' times at a certain section of the runway. Teams will be timed again by the plane when they take off. Each plane is assigned a handicap speed. The goal is for the ground speed to be as far over the handicap speed as possible. During the race, pilots are allowed to hold out for better weather.
"The whole race has to be flown in (Visual Flight Rules) conditions, which is fair weather," Cain said. "I would expect the first day that there could be a number of pilots hoping to get as far as Denison at least."
Gene Martin, airport manager, said he is confident Cain will do well in the competition, even if she doesn't have the fastest airplane.
"She's going to do fine," he said. "A jet would be the first one there, but that isn't it. They have the race categorized, so she could still win the race over a fast airplane. It has to do with how you navigate and how you pick your altitude for special winds. It's up to the pilot."
Since Cain is a first-time competitor, she will have access to a mother bird, an experienced team that has volunteered to guide new teams through their first race.
"It's a long event through lots of new territory for me," Cain said. "I've never flown into Canada, so that will be a new experience."
As for her goals, Cain said she wants to cross the finish line in St. John and meet other women pilots.
"There will be at least 100 (women pilots) around, so that will be exciting," she said. "I'd like to finish the race."
Staying safe in the air is another of Cain's goals.
"That's always a high priority for pilots," she said. "You always keep that in mind. Probably more so than you do on the road. Every day we check our airplanes to make sure everything's good."
With slightly more than a week to go before his wife competes in the race, Bob Cain was the one feeling a little nervous.
"I'm excited for her," he said. "I think she'll do just fine. There's always a little bit of apprehension, but I think she'll get through it well. She has a good partner with her."
Cain, who has been flying for nine years, will push her aeronautical skills to the limit June 19 when she competes with partner Eileen "Bitsy" VanLent of Lincoln, Neb., in the 2007 Air Race Classic, a four-day, 2,400-mile transcontinental speed competition for women pilots.
"I was so nervous all of the time when I was riding with (Bob) because I didn't understand what it was all about," Cain said Monday at Martin Field in South Sioux City, where she learned to fly. "In 1998 I decided to take flying lessons, and just understanding about it helped a lot."
Cain, a mother of six and grandmother of two, said now is the perfect time in her life to participate in the Air Race Classic. She has logged 300 hours in the air and recently passed her Instrument Flight Rules exam.
"I just turned 50, so this is my 50-year adventure," Cain said.
The 2007 Air Race Classic will mark the 31st anniversary of the event. Cain and VanLent's race number is 31. Cain said she hopes the number will bring them luck.
"This is the 31st race, and my partner and I are excited that we're going to be No. 31," she said. "That's got to be great luck."
On June 19 Cain and VanLent will take off from Oklahoma City in a white 1977 Piper Archer II, along with 48 other teams. The pair has four days, flying by Visual Flight Rules in daylight hours, to reach the finish line in St. John, British Columbia. They will make eight stops during the race, with Denison, Iowa, being the closest stop to Sioux City.
At each stop, Cain said a flyover plane will record the teams' times at a certain section of the runway. Teams will be timed again by the plane when they take off. Each plane is assigned a handicap speed. The goal is for the ground speed to be as far over the handicap speed as possible. During the race, pilots are allowed to hold out for better weather.
"The whole race has to be flown in (Visual Flight Rules) conditions, which is fair weather," Cain said. "I would expect the first day that there could be a number of pilots hoping to get as far as Denison at least."
Gene Martin, airport manager, said he is confident Cain will do well in the competition, even if she doesn't have the fastest airplane.
"She's going to do fine," he said. "A jet would be the first one there, but that isn't it. They have the race categorized, so she could still win the race over a fast airplane. It has to do with how you navigate and how you pick your altitude for special winds. It's up to the pilot."
Since Cain is a first-time competitor, she will have access to a mother bird, an experienced team that has volunteered to guide new teams through their first race.
"It's a long event through lots of new territory for me," Cain said. "I've never flown into Canada, so that will be a new experience."
As for her goals, Cain said she wants to cross the finish line in St. John and meet other women pilots.
"There will be at least 100 (women pilots) around, so that will be exciting," she said. "I'd like to finish the race."
Staying safe in the air is another of Cain's goals.
"That's always a high priority for pilots," she said. "You always keep that in mind. Probably more so than you do on the road. Every day we check our airplanes to make sure everything's good."
With slightly more than a week to go before his wife competes in the race, Bob Cain was the one feeling a little nervous.
"I'm excited for her," he said. "I think she'll do just fine. There's always a little bit of apprehension, but I think she'll get through it well. She has a good partner with her."
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Mimi wrote on Jun 12, 2007 10:14 PM:
Pat Cain Eskilsen wrote on Jun 12, 2007 12:14 PM:
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