Liz Ruth(SLO 99s) doing SOFIA’s last low pass at Edwards AFB Airshow 2022, before retiring the 747SP-based astronomical observatory. Note the open door with the mirror of the telescope visible inside. SEE LIZ’ ARTICLE ABOUT RETIRING SOFIA BELOW!
The mission of The Ninety-Nines is to promote the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring their unique history and shared passion for flight.
Letter from the Chair
By Dana Davis
Greetings SLO 99s!
2023 certainly roared in with rain, wind, high surf and a lot of hangar flying. January leaves us with dreams of blue skies, full reservoirs, and hopes for a spring superbloom to fly over. I’ve been fortunate to get out and fly a few times this month, both as pilot and passenger, and I’m always amazed by the beauty of where we live and the joy of flying.
Theresa and Dana on their flying adventures
On coastal flights I’m awed by the power and vastness of the ocean; over the Carrizo Plain we saw water filling Soda Lake with reflections and unusual colors; and sharing meals at new or out of the way restaurants with local flavors and fellow pilot friends reminds me of the wonderful community I am privileged to be a part of. Even on a day like today(Camarillo Fly Out), faced with bumpy skies, and unsettling lift and sink, there were beautiful views out the windows, and help from the pilots I am blessed to have in the right seat.
Beautiful Soda Lake in the Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain, San Andreas Fault, and the snow capped Sierras in the background
Landing at the new New Cuyama, L88
As January comes to a close, the LA 99s are hosting the Southwest Section Winter Workshop on the 28th: Aviatrix Wellness Retreat - A Guide to Personal Health and Chapter Growth. Our own Jolie Lucas will be presenting, and Anele Brooks, Susan Steeb and I will be attending to represent the chapter. We hope to bring back great insights and information to share.
Lopez Lake - now with water!
Shell Beach to Oceano Dunes
Pismo Beach Pier and evidence of the high tides
Shell Beach Margo Dodd Park with the shifting bench
Our February meeting is scheduled for February 1, in the Board Room at ACI. The same evening, the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Airports will host an Open House at ACI Jet to present an SBP Master Plan Update. I hope you all will join us to review the Master Plan information at 5:30, then we can convene in the Board Room for our meeting and discussion around 6:15-6:30.
Other events to look forward to in February, the Annual Valentines Fly Out to Santa Ynez, and we hope to host an educational event,“Aerodynamics of Flight,” taught by our female Cal Poly Mustang Aviation Club students.
On March 1, plan to meet us for dinner, social gathering, and meeting at the Spirit of San Luis. It’s always good for the soul when women with a passion for aviation gather and share stories, mutual support, and camaraderie around a common bond.
See you at the airport,
Dana
SLO 99s Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
starts around 6:15 at ACI Jet, Board Room
right after the SBP Master Plan Update
Our own Liz Ruth signing the belly of SOFIA,“her” NASA 747SP before retiring the storied flying astronomical observatory.
Farewell SOFIA - NASA’s 747SP Observatory
By Liz Ruth
[Apologies to Liz and our readers for the belated publishing of this article. It should have appeared in this newsletter three months ago, the ed.]
For the last six years, I have had the privilege of the flying the special, one-of-a kind airplane called SOFIA(Stratospheric Observatory For InfraRed Astronomy). The NASA airplane is a Boeing 747SP(Special Performance) that has a 34,000 lb., 9-foot diameter reflecting infrared telescope and acts as a flying observatory. Well, we flew the last science mission a few weeks ago—NASA decided to retire the project at the end of September. The only flying left for SOFIA is to ferry her from her home airport at Palmdale CA and take her to her new home in Tucson AZ, at the Pima Air & Space museum.
I have flown SOFIA mostly from Palmdale, where we take off after sunset, fly for 9 to 10 hours(around 4500 nautical miles) observing celestial objects, then come back to Palmdale before sunrise. But I have also flown missions from Christchurch New Zealand; Stuttgart, Hamburg and Cologne, Germany; and Santiago Chile. Everywhere we go, there are aviation and astronomy enthusiasts who come to see us. There is a lot of love for this airplane!
I was on the last two missions in September, and is was certainly bittersweet for the pilots and flight engineers as well as the mission directors, telescope operators, instrument operators and scientists. We have all worked together and gotten to know each other through the years. It’s hard to believe that it has come to an end. NASA held a big farewell“celebration” for us after the final flight, and it was good to see all the folks who have had a part making SOFIA successful.
Video of Liz doing her SOFIA low pass at Edwards AFB Airshow 2022, includes virtual tour of the interior of SOFIA, as well as footage the departure
I got one more piece of fun last weekend. We took SOFIA up to the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, where many of the scientists are based, and opened the airplane for tours for their friends and families. Then we flew the airplane to the Edwards Air Force Base for their big airshow. We did a fly-by, low and fast, then came back around for another fly-by with the telescope door open, which was the first time the door has been opened during the day since testing over fifteen years ago. We maybe got a little TOO low and fast—I think we scared the tower controllers as we passed by. Then we landed at Edwards and gave tours all afternoon. Once again, I was bowled over by the astronomy and airplane buffs who stood in line for hours just to see the inside of this beautiful airplane. I even talked to a young man who had flown in from Japan just to see SOFIA before she was decommissioned. All of this just reinforces how lucky I am to have been part of this great mission. I will miss you, SOFIA!
Letter from the Chair
SLO 99s Monthly Meeting
Farewell SOFIA - NASA’s 747SP Observatory