Ninety Nines visit Warwick Municipal Airport

WARWICK — In June, Judy Bolkema-Tokar came in eighth in the Air Race Classic, Inc., flying her Cessna 182 in a 2,400 mile race from Wiley Post Airport, Okla. to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, The Ramsey, N.J. grandmother is an instrument-rated pilot who’s logged in almost 3,000 flight hours. Bolkema-Tokar flew the distance in a four-day series of “legs” or fuel stops across the United States. During the race, each plane is assigned a handicap speed, and the pilot tries to maintain a ground speed that’s as far above the handicap speed as possible, the object being to fly the perfect cross-country by taking advantage of weather and winds. Bolkema-Tokar has a long association with the Air Race Classic, and serves as its immediate past president, The race was nicknamed in its post-World War II years,“The Powder Puff Derby,” and many still remember it by that name. In addition, she’s an active member of the North Jersey chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of world-famous pilot Amelia Earheart established “under an airplanes’s wings” in Long Island in 1929. Amelia Earhart and 98 other female aviators established the “Ninety Nines” as a non-profit organization for licensed professional and private women pilots, naming it after the number of original members. On Sept. 8, Bolkema-Tokar had plenty of opportunities to discuss her race with like-minded women, when the Ninety-Nines held their annual meeting and picnic at the Warwick Municipal Airport. The event is hosted each year by the airport as a community service. Bolkema-Tokar said that the Ninety-Nines offer scholarships for flight training. “Our scholarships are open to any male or female student pilot with an earnest desire to further aviation achievements.” For information contact the Ninety Nines at: northjersey99s@hotmail.com