GREETINGS!

The Katahdin Wings is the Maine chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots, Inc. more widely known as The Ninety-Nines. Katahdin Wings was started in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to provide a local outlet for women pilots and women student pilots of Maine to gather and share their love of flying, and is one of three chapters that constitute the New England Section. For 2009 we try typically meeting on the first THURSDAY of each month from 6:30 pm to 8:30 at varying locations throughout Southern Maine. Occasionally we meet on Saturday morning from 10am to noon at an airport further away to afford us a chance for a "fly-to" meeting. Our members include women who fly professionally, as well as those who fly for fun. We encourage visitors, male or female, young or less young, to join us at meetings. Please feel free to attend a meeting to see what we're all about.

It is our mission to encourage not only other women pilots in our community, but to also be an educational resource for school teachers and community leaders. We also offer financial support in the form of scholarships to qualifying girls and boys to attend ACE Camp. In the aviation community, we offer organized flying events and safety seminars.

KATAHDIN WINGS GOING STRONG IN 2009

Katahdin Wings proudly show off the completed compass rose.

It was a very busy year for the Katahdin Wings 99s. They not only participated in many favorite events and activities, 2009 found them trying out some new skills. In May, the group completed an airmarking at Eastern Slopes Regional Airport in Fryeburg, Maine. This entailed painting a 100-foot compass rose in merely five hours. It was a fun and satisfying project for eleven determined members. Click here for complete details of the project, more photos of the compass rose and a history of airmarking and to see what the Katahdin Wings have worked on during 2008 and earlier. View the calendar at the left for a schedule of Katahdin Wings meetings and other aviation events and safety seminars.

Another new event a committee headed by Mary Build spent significant time planning was a Treasure Hunt in the Sky. The groundwork for this project started two years ago as an additional fundraiser to be donated to the New England Section. The rules and clues were formulated, some test runs of the flight area were made and finally promotion of the event hit New England aviation calendars. The hunters were given their coordinates within which the answers would be found and a two-week period of time during fall foliage season to find them. They were to answer the clues, then find and photograph the answers. The event ended in a Treasure Hunt Awards Barbecue at Eastern Slopes Regional Airport, with first place winning a new headset. Other prizes included a seaplane lesson and an original aircraft portrait.

Other traditional events that were carried on this year included a daylong Seaplane Safety Expo held at Brandy Pond SPB in Naples, Maine in June, and outreaching and fundraising at the Greenville International Seaplane Fly-in, in Greenville, Maine. During the summer a picnic meeting was enjoyed at the home airport of member and former WASP Betty Brown.

The finale of the year was hosting the Eastern New England and Connecticut 99s during the 2009 Fall Section Meeting, held in North Conway New Hampshire in October. This year the social event that capped off the weekend was highlighted by including the New England 99s at the Treasure Hunt Awards Barbecue.

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FLYING TO ALASKA
For all the very important and useful information you'll need, download FLYING TO ALASKA

Katahdin Wings member Mary Build has flown this long cross-country before. Read about her adventures.

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For More Information

Chapter Co-Chairs: Mary Build (mbuild@fairpoint.com) and Brenda Thibodeau (gtftib@fairpoint.net)
Vice Chair: Twyla Rogers (RogersTwyla@aol.com)
Membership: Marsha Taylor (taylormarsha99@yahoo.com)

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