The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Flying high
Milan pilots to fly across the country
By Krystle Dunham, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2008
Becoming a pilot and flying across the country may be a dream for some people, but for Pam Palmieri and Holly Czupich this dream has become a reality.
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Both Milan residents have taken their dream of becoming pilots and will go one step further, when they take flight for the Air Race Classic 2008 in June. The race starts in Bozeman, Mont., and will end in Mansfield, Mass.
The Air Race Classic is the longest running all-women pilot race and is the original Powder Puff Derby. Amelia Earhart competed in the first race.
Women's air racing began in 1929 with the First Women's Air Derby. The current 2,400-mile Air Race Classic began in 1977.
"It's a great opportunity to be able to join other aviators that have been a part of this race," Palmieri said. "We just want to be safe, competive and enjoy the trip, as well."
Palmieri will be the pilot and Czupich will co-pilot in the event, which will take place June 24 through 27. Both pilots will have to work together on strategy, using wind speed, cloud cover and air temperature to plan and execute their flight.
"Everything changes in flying," Palmieri said. "To be a pilot, you have to realize that things are going to change and be able to turn on a dime and realize how to change your strategies."
The team will be clocked from the time they leave and the time they arrive at each leg of the race between Montana and Massachusetts. Palmieri said the idea of the air race is to get the maximum efficiency out of the aircraft.
Both pilots first met through an organization for women in aviation called The Ninety-Nines Inc. The group has more than 5,500 members in chapters and sections throughout the world.
Czupich was in her last part of flight training when she joined the Ninety-Nines and Palmieri was her mentor.
Czupich, a Temperance native and business assistant at USA Jet Airlines at Willow Run Airport, said when she was offered her first flight she really enjoyed it and realized very quickly that she had a passion for flying.
Czupich said she doubted herself at first being able to fly, but received support from friends in aviation and family to follow her dream.
Prior to her interest in flying, she had almost finished her master's degree in information science. She admitted, however, that she lost interest in the area she was studying and discovered aviation was her true passion.
Czupich has been flying for a year and two months and hopes to someday become an instructor.
"Every day I have to pinch myself," she said. "It's just really exciting. I never thought I'd become a pilot."
Czupich said she hopes to introduce some of the people she has met in aviation to other future pilots.
"I would love to meet young people who are interested in aviation and help them out," she said.
Palmieri's love for flying started as a toddler growing up in California. She said she was never sleepy enough to take naps in the afternoon and remembers hearing airplanes flying outside her home and thinking, "I wonder where it's going?"
Palmieri said her dream of learning to fly was put on the back burner as her life grew more complicated. In November 2003, she decided it was finally time to pursue her dream. She and her husband, Vinny, took flying lessons and her dream became a reality.
"When I'm flying, it's like this is where I'm supposed to be," Palmieri said. "Flying makes me excited about life and it's a reason for living."
Palmieri and her husband, who met years ago while pursuing their passion for sky diving, moved to Milan two years ago and live on a private airstrip. Palmieri works in the office of the vice president for government relations at the University of Michigan.
As for flying, Palmieri and Czupich's mission is to promote aviation through mentoring other women pilots and to spark interest in youngsters through aviation events and appearances.
"It's important to mentor women in aviation and break the mold," Palmieri said.
The Milan team is still seeking more sponsors for the Air Race Classic. For those interested in becoming a sponsor for the team, contact Palmieri at 439-0354 or visit the Web site www.teammi.org.
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