Ninety Nines visit Warwick Municipal Airport
WARWICK It takes about two hours to drive from Fairfield, N.J., to Warwick. But for Shannon Osborne and Cathy Vajtay, the trip from Fairfield’s nearby Caldwell Airport to Warwick Municipal Airport in Osborne’s Cessna 182 airplane only took 20 minutes. The two are members of the North New Jersey Chapter of the “Ninety-Nines” who returned to Warwick Municipal Airport for their annual picnic and meeting on Saturday, Sept. 10. However, the weather forecast had been somewhat questionable so most of the ladies, all of whom are licensed pilots but live nearby, did leave their airplanes at home. Holding the event at Warwick Airport has become a tradition. “We love it here,” said Chapter Chair Rosanne Isom. “And we always receive a wonderful welcome.” Amelia Earhart The “Ninety-Nines” has been home to women pilots since the early days of aviation. The world famous pilot, Amelia Earhart, its first president, and 98 other early female aviators established the “Ninety Nines” in 1929. The organization, named after the number of original charter members, is an international non-profit association of licensed professional and private women pilots. Full membership requires that the applicant be licensed as a fixed wing, helicopter, balloon or glider pilot. And many of the 65 members of the North New Jersey Chapter also have instrument, commercial and other advanced ratings. Some have served as airline pilots or were even former members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Hall of Fame Three years ago the relocation and refurbishment of their “Ninety-Nines” display in the Aviation Hall of Fame at Teterboro Airport, N.J., was completed. Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey is dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey’s aviation and space heritage. The emphasis of the North New Jersey Chapter’s display and video presentations is on the role of women pilots in modern times rather than the early history of the organization. The annual picnic in September is the chapter’s official kick-off for the year’s activities. This past year some of its members flew to Aticheson, Kansas, the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. They made the long flight to attend the induction of one of their members, Jean Sciebetta, into the International Forest of Friendship, a memorial to the world history of aviation and aerospace. The North New Jersey Chapter of the “Ninety-Nines” continues to offer scholarships for flight training, which are open to any male or female student pilot with an earnest desire to further aviation achievements. Find out more For information contact the Ninety Nines at: northjersey99s@hotmail.com