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Liberty Belles soar to a strong finish at Air Race Classic

Two teams of female aviators representing Liberty University School of Aeronautics (SOA) participated in the 40th annual Air Race Classic (ARC) last week, with one team finishing in the Top 10.
From left to right: Analise Nelson, Alicia Isacson, and Katie Wagner placed 10th out of 55 teams at the Air Race Classic.

Two teams of female aviators representing Liberty University School of Aeronautics (SOA) participated in the 40th annual Air Race Classic (ARC) last week, with one team finishing in the Top 10.

The team of Katie Wagner, Analise Nelson, and Alicia Isacson placed 10th out of the 55 teams that took the three-day, 2,716-mile sprint across the United States from Prescott, Ariz., to Daytona Beach, Fla. The top 10 teams received cash prizes totaling $15,000.

The team of Kaitlyn Allen, Lizzy Hauk, and Melody Kaijala placed 11th despite experiencing an alternator issue on the second day of the race.

The ARC debuted in 1977, reviving the female aviation spirit inspired by the 1929 Powder Puff Air Derby featuring Amelia Earhart.

This is the fifth year the Liberty Belles have participated in the historic race.

Two teams of female aviators representing Liberty University School of Aeronautics (SOA) participated in the 40th annual Air Race Classic (ARC) last week, with one team finishing in the Top 10.
From left to right: Melody Kaijala, Kaitlyn Allen, and Lizzy Hauk placed 11th at the Air Race Classic.

“The Liberty Belles have once again illustrated that Liberty University pilots are at the forefront of the aeronautics profession and continue to garner national-level recognition for their professionalism, talent, and Christian character,” said Anton Cihack, Liberty Belles coach. “I am very proud of our team, and I am thankful that we have such amazing support from the university leadership and the local community.”

The SOA will have another chance to promote women in aviation when it hosts the last of this month’s three “Women Can Fly” events in Virginia on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Freedom Aviation hangar at Lynchburg Regional Airport.  The event is free, but girls or women who wish to ride must register in advance at www.womencanfly.org.

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