Female Pilots Spread Wings in the Name of Earhart

FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- When it comes to women and flying, the name Amelia Earhart stands out above the others. Earhart became a pioneer when she flew across the Atlantic Ocean in June of 1928.

Almost ten 10 years later, tragedy struck, when the famed aviator's plane mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific in a history-making attempt to fly around the world.

Still, Earhart paved the way for women in a male-dominated field. And while most industries have made significant strides in attracting women, the aviation industry has lagged behind. Only 6 percent of the nation's pilots are female.

Celebrating Earhart

In celebration of Earhart's transatlantic flight, and with the goal of encouraging other women, ladies from across the country competed in the 39th annual all-female Air Race Classic, June 22-25.

Pilots flew 2,400 miles, taking off from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and ending in Fairhope, Alabama. Pit stops included North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, and Tennessee.

"Usually our field is full at 50," race organizer Marolyn Wilson said.

"We've increased the number of pilots that came in the last 10 years from 30 something to having to turn away people at 55, so the race is still growing," she added.

The idea for an all-female race came just a year after Earhart's celebrated flight, at time when women were forbidden to race against their male counterparts.

From Start to Finish

Amelia Earhart was part of the founding group.

"The original all women's air race was in 1929 and it ran from Santa Monica to Cleveland," Wilson explained. "There were 23 stops on that race 'cause the airplanes back then could only go 100 miles before they had to be put down for repairs and gas, bathroom, whatever it was."

More than 100 pilots registered this year, which featured a $5,000 top prize. Scores are based on a plane's projected versus actual timed performance.

"We've got 60 racers that this is the first time that they've done it. Normally we'd have considerably less than that so this is a huge group of new racers, not just collegiate but across the board," race organizer Lara Gaerte explained.

"One is in her 80s, the youngest one is a teenager," she told CBN News.

Just before take-off, CBN News met up with first-time racers, Rebecca Davidson and Jovita Perez-Segovia, the "Texas Tailwinds." 

"It's a great race," Davidson said. "Kind of getting back to the roots of when women first got into this kind of thing and being able to honor that tradition and showing that women are still very much involved in aviation and have a lot to contribute."

'I think events like this are great for young ladies to see that, 'hey, you can do this do,'" Perez-Segovia said.

The pair trained at LeTourneau University, a Christian college in Texas, where they learned about integrating faith into their careers and life.

"I've kind of learned who I am, who God is, and how all this relates to everything. So as much as I love airplanes, it's good to be at a place that prioritizes God and relationships," Davidson said.

"It's awesome that LeTourneau specifically has provided opportunities to grow personally, and then you have professors and mentors who encourage you to continue to grow your faith," Perez-Segovia agreed.

The women admitted there were challenges learning to fly and said their faith helped them to persevere.

A team from Southern Illinois University placed first place in this year's Air Classic race, with Davidson and Perez-Segovia finishing 27th. And while they didn't win, they said they are grateful for the experience, which taught them lessons about life in and out of the sky.

"I feel happy that we completed it, especially with a lot of these great women around here," Davidson said.