When you’re at lunch with one of your fellow RHS99ers, you pull your wallets out to pay the bill, and then get distracted and excited about seeing one another’s Pilot Certificates. Picture perfect moment.
This past weekend was the bi-annual Minden Aviation Roundup. This was an excellent event with a number of fantastic aerial demonstrations. The piloting skill of the performers was breathtaking and beautiful. I didn’t get any good photos of the jet powered glider, but his performance was one of my favorites.
Heather, Sammy, and her future 49 1/2 Kelsey met for breakfast before heading to the show. Dani went early with other friends and saved seats up front for everyone. At the airshow Dani ran into our own Gwen, and later on Tina, from the Reno Area Chapter. A good time was had by all! Enjoy the photos below!
R-L, Sammy, her future 49 1/2 Kelsey, and Chairman Heather
L-R Chairman Heather McCoy, Past Chair / Webmistress Dani Rhoda, and Sammy Lanz; with Blue Angels 4,5, and 6 in the background.
Pro Tips if you’re never attended the Minden Aviation Roundup: Bring your own chair, large refillable water bottle, sun screen, large shade hat, wear light weight breathable long sleeves and pants, and bring and a bigger umbrella to get some protection from the sun.
Airspace Education! Ladies, if you attended the Reno Air Races, Girls in Aviation, or the Minden Aviation Roundup, those all count towards our Chapter’s Airspace Education scores for the Southwest Section. Look for an email and a web fillable form in the near future!
If you were at our BBQ, you saw Laura and Mike’s Kit plane in person, with that AMAZING paint job. Here’s an article on what they did to prep for that gorgeous paint.
Happy October everyone!
How many different types of aircraft have you flown, and which one is your favorite?
Yes, you can only chose one!
This past Monday afternoon Dani completed her 2nd biannual flight review. When was your last BFR? (Ok, you don’t have to answer, but are you legal to fly??)
Congratulations to the Sierra Battle Born Chapter of Women in Aviation for hosting their first Girls in Aviation Day this past weekend. The event was held at Atlantic Aviation and Great Basin Aviation. There were over 50 girls registered to attend, and at least 4 Reno High Sierra 99s volunteered at this event. This event was a huge success; attendees had a grand time learning about all aspects of aviation, and meeting women who work in aviation. Naturally, we were all excited to meet the fighter jet (lady) pilot. See some of photos below. Our own student pilot, Tara was dressed up as Amelia and had her dog Piper in tow.
If you live in the Minden area, then you probably already know the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron arrived on Sunday night. They’re here in preparation for the Minden Airshow, the Aviation Roundup this weekend.
The Taildragger Cafe was not expecting the 35 pilots and crew to descend on them for dinner, but they successfully managed to feed everyone anyway.
We can’t wait to see the Blue Angels perform this weekend. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy watching their practice performances over the Carson Tahoe / Minden practice fields.….
As many of you already know, we lost a pilot at the Reno Air Races on Sunday, Aaron Hogue. One of the RHS members working in our fundraiser booth commented that she heard crowd react, and immediately knew someone had crashed. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hogue. Click here to read a Flying Magazine article with some more information.
RARA / Ballista, the L-29 flown by pilot Aaron Hogue, was at the top position for the start of the Jet Gold Class race on Sunday. [From racingjets.com ] and [Flyingmag.com]
The Reno Air Races are still going strong, with Stol races, unlimited, and more. I honestly couldn’t keep up. Here’s the beginning of one of the races!
The coolest thing about working the Air Races is that you get to meet 99s from all over!! So, the photos below are not only RHS 99s, but also 99s from Kansas, Texas, and California. Thank you again to our volunteers, you’re amazing ladies.
Some interesting things - a gentleman who visited our booth yesterday came back by today, with a briefcase he believes belonged to Amelia Earhart.
Lastly, planes are fantastic, but I love jewelry. I was thrilled to see the Aviation Jewelry booth was back. I just love their “Bad Attitude” pendant and earrings, but I bought the regular attitude pendant instead. :)
Despite the smoky skies, the Reno Air Races are going strong and so is our Merchandise booth! Thank you to all of our volunteers!! We’ll post more photos as we get them!
I received permission from Stacie to share her FB post about earning her BFR sign off. Please see her comments and photos below:
Stacie - September 13, 2022
Today was the best day EVER!!! I flew in some strong crosswinds at Minden and after some instruction I nailed the landings. Maybe better than when there’s no wind. Then Jere signed off my long anticipated biannual flight review and I can now fly on my own!!! I can’t even stop doing the happy dance!!!
I need to thank Laura Starkey and Heather McCoy for introducing me to Jere (best instructor ever!), Jeff Goodwin for listening to every last detail of every flight and every video, and lastly all my friends, the ladies of the 99s and my family for all the support!
Sometimes life leads us away from the things we love, like aviation. After an almost 20 year hiatus, Stacie just earned a signoff for her biannual flight review. Congrats Stacie!!!
I invite you to take a moment with me and reflect on what happened 21 years ago. My condolences to those who lost loved ones.
This morning I was crewing at the Great Reno Balloon Races for RHS 99 Balloon pilot Karalyn, and took this photo. As they finished playing “The Star Spangled Banner”, on the word brave, all pilots hit their burners. They lit up the morning sky with flame as T-6’s from the Reno Air Race Association flew overhead. It was a beautiful sight to see, and a moving moment.
Hello everyone!
Just a reminder - we still have THREE slots we need to fill for our RARA Fundraiser. This is so very important, so please ask your friends, neighbors, and anyone you know over the age of 18, if they’d be willing to volunteer 4 hours of their time in our small merchandise booth, in exchange for parking and entrance to the Reno Air Races. Click HERE to sign up.
Is to give scholarships!
That’s right - Scholarships are POSTED! Visit our Scholarships page for more details!
As many of your may remember, we used to have two younger (aka teenage) members in our Chapter, Summer and Syd. Both of these young aviatrixes were from Truckee, and both received scholarships from our Chapter. Well, our esteemed Chairman, Heather received this lovely note from Syd and wanted to share it with you!
Good afternoon, Reno High Sierra,
I want to first say THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity to learn, assist, and grow from all of you. Today is my first day at the Florida Institute of Technology, pursuing my Bachelor's in Aeronautical Science with Flight degree. My first class was Meteorology for Aviation and Summer Benjermanson- a fellow Reno High 99'er, was in it!
I will keep you posted on my journey and again can not thank you all enough for holding my wings! I hope to make you all proud and can't wait to do the same someday too!
Also, if you find yourself in Melbourne, Florida, don't hesitate to reach out :-)
Syd Whisler
We’re so excited to hear from these former RHS 99s! Syd did include her contact information but I thought it prudent NOT to post, so if you would like to reach out to her, please contact rhswebmistress@gmail.com or renohighsierra@gmail.com.
While we all love flying and aviation is the glue that holds us together (like Click Bond, one of our scholarship sponsors') it’s easy to not fly. The reasons, dare I say excuses are endless. The weather isn’t good, you don’t have someone to fly with you, you only got 7 hours of sleep, there’s a cloud in the sky, and that’s before bring in the expense of Aviation Units.
Suddenly you realize it’s been a while, a LONG time since you’ve been at the controls. That was me. In the last two years, I’ve barely filled two pages in my log book. I know, it’s sad, right?
I was having lunch with an old friend (we were friends before we were pilots) Jenn from Great Basin Aviation and she said, “Dani, you’re going up. I’m booking it right now. You need to get flying again.” Well, today was that day. I went flying again. It was Glorious.
Thank you to Jenn, for pushing me back into the cockpit, and thank you to Stacie for setting a good example flying weekly. Today was one of the best days of the year. Though I haven’t landed a plane since my last bi-annual flight review, I had 7 good landings today, one of which was like butter, and only one that was meh. My patterns aren’t even bad!
Moral of the story, be like Jenn, and give a fellow aviatrix a push to fly. Be like Stacie, and post every time you go flying, so you can inspire others. The results are that this pilot dusted off her log book, took a flight, and is now filled with joy. From those of us who need a little push, thank you!
This past Saturday evening, the RHS 99s met purely for social reasons at the the recently opened Nashville Social Club, in Carson City. https://thenashvilleclub.com/
Sadly, this webmistress was unable to attend, but based on the photo, a good time was had by all. Thanks to everyone who came out, and we look forward to seeing you soon!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you with Staci.
Congrats Stacie, on soloing again!! We’re so happy and excited for you!
Per her Facebook Post one hour ago!
“Wow.. I did it! I solo’d today. I’m still pinching myself. Everything just came together so perfectly. I’ll be on cloud nine if anyone needs me today!”
Blue Skies and following winds….
Kay’s Obituary
Kathleen Margaret Bennett passed away peacefully on August 4, 2022 in Reno, Nevada. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to so many in the greater Reno-Carson-Silver Springs communities. Her service to the community was extensive, exemplified in her work on the Carson City Board of Supervisors and the development of the Silver Springs Regional Airport (KSPZ). She passed away at 86 years old after a courageous fight against brain cancer.
Kay, as she was known by all, was born on June 8, 1936 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. The second of 3 children, she grew up in a close-knit, Irish Catholic community. Kay was a proud Brooklyn native and loved sharing stories of her youth; playing stick ball and street hockey on roller skates. Her older brother John recalled that as beautiful as she was, she was known to give a solid check to whoever crossed her. She frequently attributed her grit and tenacity to those formative years growing up in and around New York.
Kay married her first husband, Richard Najarian Sr., in 1957 and the young couple embarked on an adventure moving from New York to California, eventually settling in the San Francisco bay area, where they welcomed 5 beautiful children, Richard, Thomas, John, Kathy and Matthew.
When her youngest son entered the first grade, Kay enrolled in nursing school and spent the next four years raising a family and working to graduate with honors. She eventually became a surgical nurse, working in operating rooms at the dawn of heart transplant and arthroscopic surgery. She worked as a nurse for 13 years, the profession eventually bringing her to the Carson-Tahoe Hospital in 1985 as the hospital's surgery manager.
It was there that she was introduced to Nevada politics through her then husband, Hale Bennett in 1987. She won the 1988 Carson City Board of Supervisors election in the primary, the first women to do so in a Carson City election. She was elected 3 times and served for 12 years representing the Ward 4 district.
Upon retiring from the Carson City Board of Supervisors, she became a licensed pilot and joined her husband Hale in the full-time operation and development of the Silver Springs Airport. She and her late husband, Hale are remembered for their many contributions to Nevada aviation and for the tremendous growth of the Silver Springs Regional Airport in Lyon County. Literally creating a modern, commercial airfield from what had been, a weed filled, single gravel strip.
Kay retired for good in 2020 where she spent the last years of her life in a close and loving relationship with her partner Jim Manly, a decorated military aviation veteran.
Kay is preceded in death by her brother Raymond Cleary, husbands Richard Najarian Sr. and Hale Bennett, her granddaughter Allison Kathryn Najarian and her grandson Joseph Brennen Najarian. She is survived by her brother, John Cleary, her sons Richard, Thomas John and Matthew Najarian and her daughter Kathryn Barnett. She was blessed with many grandchildren; Kristin, Erik, Cassidy, Mark, Sabrina and Ryan Najarian and Megan, Timothy and Christopher Barnett. She was also a proud great grandmother to Vivian Allison Cockerell.
A Celebration of Life event is planned for October 8, 2022 at the Silver Springs Regional Airport, Silver Springs NV. Contact richard.najarian@cox.net for more details.
In lieu of flowers, Kay had asked that a donation be made in her name to either of the following groups that she patronized:
The Reno High Sierra 99s RenoHighSierra99s.org
Sponsoring pilot training & scholarships for young women. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made on behalf of Kay to the Reno High Sierra 99s
Checks may be mailed to: Reno High Sierra 99s, Kay Bennett
PO Box 12863
Reno, NV 89510 Or please contact Stacie Goodwin, RHS 99s Treasurer, at (801) 874-5710.
The Reno Chamber Orchestra renochamberorchestra.org
Donate Here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?donation=rco
New Horizons
We are pleased to share a little bit of Kay’s Aviation history from the Reno High Sierra 99s 20th Anniversary Membership Yearbook Published by Lynn Meadows, in 2009:
Private Pilot: December 7, 1990 at the Carson City Airport
Hours: 600
Ratings: ASEL
Joined 99s: – July 1997, Reno High Sierra Chapter
Occupation (2009) Co-Owner / Manager of Silver Springs Airport
Previous Occupations: Elected to Carson City Board of Supervisors (1998-2000), registered operating room nurse (1980-1997)
Flying activities: Lyon County Fly Fest each May, Nevada Airports Association, have flown the west coast from Seattle to San Diego, to Denver.
Non-flying activities: classical music, photography, skiing, biking
Service and or social organizations: Silver Springs Chamber of Commerce, Northern Nevada Development Authority, Nevada Business Council, Lions International, and the 99s.
Flying Story: As a student pilot in 1990, I did my required solo flight into controlled airspace at Reno Tahoe International. After successfully landing and taxiing off the runway, I was asked by the tower controller what my intention was. Thoroughly shook up, I responded in a weak, nervous voice, “I just want to go home!” After a few moments of total silence (I suspect the tower folks were cracking up), a gentle voice came back on and guided me to the proper runway.
Kay - You will continue to live in the hearts and memories of those who knew and loved you.
Your contributions to the Aviation Community will live on through the Silver Springs Airport.
The Nevada Women’s History Project interviewed Kay - Click to watch a snippet or the full interview, or Kay Bennett for the page dedicated to her.
The Silver Springs Airport website also has some of Kay’s history - Click here to visit their history page.
Please share your stories and favorite memories of Kay in the comments section below.
Stacie G. is absolutely hitting the bullseye with her proficiency training, and has the flight track to prove it! WAY TO GO STACIE!!! Check out what she had to say, and look at that flight track!
“What a little studying and chair flying at home will do. Today I nailed my landings and my patterns were perfect. I’m so proud of myself!” Stacie
