Flying to Carl Keller Field for the 21st year, the September 21 meeting of the All-Ohio Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, will be held this year at the Liberty Aviation Museum. For many years the group celebrated with the Gypsum Reunion at the hangar.
Pilots and spouses, who are called 49 ½’s, will fly or drive to Port Clinton for a business meeting to hear information on the airport presented by Stan Gebhardt, to visit the museum and eat at the diner.
Ninety-Nines were named for 99 charter members. They formed in 1929 when all 117 licensed American female pilots were invited to assemble for mutual support and advancement of aviation. Amelia Earhart was the first president. International and local chapters give scholarships to pilots for furthering their education.
Chairman of the All-Ohio Chapter, chartered in 1933, is Roberta Jones of Put-in-Bay. Other chapters in Ohio are Lake Erie (1974), Scioto Valley (1981), Greater Cincinnati (1986) and Women with Wings (1993) in the Akron-Canton area. For many years at different airports, the All-Ohio Chapter held the Buckeye Air Rally, open to men and women. Chapters cooperate with the FAA and other aviation organizations to present safety seminars throughout the year.
Guest speaker will be Stan Gebhardt, Director of the Port Clinton airport. He will share information about recent advances of the local airport now that Griffing has moved to the local airport and that it is an international airport. He will speak just after 11 a.m.
99’s and other women pilots are invited to attend the social time at 11 a.m. and business meeting at 12 p.m.
Aviation activities for those flying to Port Clinton were organized by Linda Blodgett of Ashland. For further information about this meeting or the Ninety-Nines, contact Edna Hansen, 419-734-2423.
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