Arty is working with Lynda Meeks, founder of Girls With Wings, and will bring “Penelope Pilot” along on the flight. The Penelope Pilot Project™ seeks to increase girls’ participation in aviation events and activities, as well as encourage girls to stretch their wings in other ways. Arty and Lynda plan publicity that will bring out grandmothers and their granddaughters to some of the airports along Arty’s route.

Arty is well qualified to make this flight. She has been flying her MaxAir Drifter for 19 years.  Beginning in 2000, she has made at least one multi-week, multi-state flight each year.  Her longest flight was 29 days and 4300 miles. See the attached PowerPoint slide show for pictures of her flying her Maxair Drifter.

For this flight, she plans to leave on Saturday, March 29 (weather permitting, of course!), fly south through western Oregon into California following I-5. She’ll  connect with I-10 in southern California and follow it east to Florida and Sun ‘n Fun. Her return flight will take her slightly further north, through Oklahoma and northern New Mexico, to Monument Valley, the Great Salt Lake, Idaho and back into Oregon.  The flight will be approximately 7500 miles and will take seven weeks.

Arty will be camping most of the time, staying with friends and aviation enthusiasts along the route when possible, and occasionally overnighting in a motel. She will encourage other aviators to join her for as much of the flight as they want.