"And to the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly...!" Revelation 12:14
~ 2024 Women's Air Race Classic (ARC) ~
June 18-21, 2024
Carbondale, IL (KMDH) ~ Fort Collins, CO (KFNL)
Joyce is excited and looking forward to racing the ARC in 2024!
Stay tuned for updates and more details!
Women's Air Race Classic 2024 Race Route
Meet "Team Bessie"
Pilot
Joyce Parker
Topeka, KS
Joyce was born and raised on Long Island in New York-- "The Cradle of Aviation"-- and remembers as a young girl, the airplanes flying over her home on approach into Kennedy/KJFK Airport. After graduating high school, she applied to the airlines to become a stewardess; becoming a pilot was not even on her radar. But when that didn't pan out, she went to college and continued to work in the graphics arts/printing industry. Then, on a whim one day, she joined the United States Air Force (USAF), and the rest, they say, is "her-story." After successfully completing Basic Training in January 1985, she went to her first base in CA and got up close and personal with the screaming F-4 Wild Weasel fighter aircraft!!! Following her assignment in CA, she went to Japan and spent a lot of time hanging out with KC-135 air refueling tankers. She even witnessed 1st hand, the air refueling of the 'infamous' SR-71. Over the years in the military, she grew more and more fond of all things airplanes and aviation, spending time with fighters, tankers, and helicopters. For her last military assignment, she served as a battle staff crewmember and the superintendent of the 65-person Operations Team Two, logging 500+ hours aboard the Boeing 747, a.k.a. the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). From 2001~2004, she had the awesome privilege of serving at The White House, Washington, D.C., and it was during this time that she put wings to her dream of becoming a pilot and earned her private certificate in June 2003, and her instrument rating in November 2003.
Joyce retired from the USAF in 2009 after almost 25 years of dedicated service. She continued her "air force connection" as an Air Force Jr. ROTC instructor at Highland Park High School, Topeka, KS where she served for three years. She shared the passion and gift of flight with many of her cadets taking them on incentive flights in her very own Beechcraft Sundowner airplane, "Joybird", to the Amelia Earhart airport and museum in Atchison, KS. Following her time with the cadets, she transitioned to hanging out with kindergartners as she taught kindergarten for three years at Cair Paravel Latin School, Topeka, KS. She currently teaches kindergarten and 1st grade at International Academy of Bright Stars, a Christian charter school also in Topeka, KS.
Joyce has been a devoted member serving the Lord for the past thirteen years at South Knollwood Baptist Church, Topeka KS. where she teaches kindergarten Sunday School, takes care of babes in the nursery, singer & soloist with the church choir, directs the drama team, and serves as church treasurer. One of her greatest passions, though, is mentoring and nurturing ladies in their new-found faith in Jesus Christ through the discipleship program.
Joyce is currently a member of the Kansas City/Heartland chapter of Pilots for Christ International (PCI) and has been a member of the organization-at-large since 2003. She is also a member-at-large of Women in Aviation International (WAI) since 2002; a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) since 2001; a member of the Beech Aero Club (BAC) since 2008; and a member of the American Bonanza Society (ABS) since 2020.
With her love for aviation, her lifelong calling as a teacher and learner, and her passion for serving the Lord Jesus Christ, she hopes to one day merge the three desires into becoming a commercial, certificated flight instructor and ultimately a pilot somewhere on the mission field. But for now, she covets the title of women's air race pilot and is looking forward to standing atop the winner's platform of the 2024 Women's Air Race Classic!!!
Topeka, KS
Joyce was born and raised on Long Island in New York-- "The Cradle of Aviation"-- and remembers as a young girl, the airplanes flying over her home on approach into Kennedy/KJFK Airport. After graduating high school, she applied to the airlines to become a stewardess; becoming a pilot was not even on her radar. But when that didn't pan out, she went to college and continued to work in the graphics arts/printing industry. Then, on a whim one day, she joined the United States Air Force (USAF), and the rest, they say, is "her-story." After successfully completing Basic Training in January 1985, she went to her first base in CA and got up close and personal with the screaming F-4 Wild Weasel fighter aircraft!!! Following her assignment in CA, she went to Japan and spent a lot of time hanging out with KC-135 air refueling tankers. She even witnessed 1st hand, the air refueling of the 'infamous' SR-71. Over the years in the military, she grew more and more fond of all things airplanes and aviation, spending time with fighters, tankers, and helicopters. For her last military assignment, she served as a battle staff crewmember and the superintendent of the 65-person Operations Team Two, logging 500+ hours aboard the Boeing 747, a.k.a. the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). From 2001~2004, she had the awesome privilege of serving at The White House, Washington, D.C., and it was during this time that she put wings to her dream of becoming a pilot and earned her private certificate in June 2003, and her instrument rating in November 2003.
Joyce retired from the USAF in 2009 after almost 25 years of dedicated service. She continued her "air force connection" as an Air Force Jr. ROTC instructor at Highland Park High School, Topeka, KS where she served for three years. She shared the passion and gift of flight with many of her cadets taking them on incentive flights in her very own Beechcraft Sundowner airplane, "Joybird", to the Amelia Earhart airport and museum in Atchison, KS. Following her time with the cadets, she transitioned to hanging out with kindergartners as she taught kindergarten for three years at Cair Paravel Latin School, Topeka, KS. She currently teaches kindergarten and 1st grade at International Academy of Bright Stars, a Christian charter school also in Topeka, KS.
Joyce has been a devoted member serving the Lord for the past thirteen years at South Knollwood Baptist Church, Topeka KS. where she teaches kindergarten Sunday School, takes care of babes in the nursery, singer & soloist with the church choir, directs the drama team, and serves as church treasurer. One of her greatest passions, though, is mentoring and nurturing ladies in their new-found faith in Jesus Christ through the discipleship program.
Joyce is currently a member of the Kansas City/Heartland chapter of Pilots for Christ International (PCI) and has been a member of the organization-at-large since 2003. She is also a member-at-large of Women in Aviation International (WAI) since 2002; a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) since 2001; a member of the Beech Aero Club (BAC) since 2008; and a member of the American Bonanza Society (ABS) since 2020.
With her love for aviation, her lifelong calling as a teacher and learner, and her passion for serving the Lord Jesus Christ, she hopes to one day merge the three desires into becoming a commercial, certificated flight instructor and ultimately a pilot somewhere on the mission field. But for now, she covets the title of women's air race pilot and is looking forward to standing atop the winner's platform of the 2024 Women's Air Race Classic!!!
Meet "Joybird II"
1976 Beechcraft B24R Sierra 200
"Joybird II"
is hangared at
Topeka Regional Airport (KFOE)
and receives all her care and feeding from
Million Air FBO (KFOE) &
Heinen Aviation Services (KTOP)
is hangared at
Topeka Regional Airport (KFOE)
and receives all her care and feeding from
Million Air FBO (KFOE) &
Heinen Aviation Services (KTOP)