"And to the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly...!"
Revelation 12:14
Revelation 12:14
~ 2025 Women's Air Race Classic (ARC) ~
June 17-20, 2025
Fairhope, AL (KCQF) ~ Spokane, WA (KSFF)
Joyce and Tammy are excited and are looking forward
to racing the ARC in 2025!
Stay tuned for updates and more details!
Women's Air Race Classic 2025 Race Route
Meet "Team Midwest Bess"
Classic Racer 19
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 Airport (KJFK). 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 was assigned to her first base in Victorville, CA and got up close and personal with the screaming F-4 Wild Weasel fighter aircraft! Following her assignment in CA, she went to Okinawa, 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 airplane 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 (K59) and birthplace 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. Joyce currently teaches kindergarten and 1st grade at International Academy of Bright Stars, a Christian charter school also in Topeka, KS. In 2023, she started a youth aviation program at her school in Topeka, KS, exposing youth in her community to the world of aviation, and presenting them with the opportunity to consider and even explore the possibility of one day becoming a pilot!
Joyce has been a devoted member serving the Lord for the past sixteen years at South Knollwood Baptist Church, Topeka KS, where she teaches kindergarten Sunday School, takes care of babes in the nursery, is a 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. She also enjoys playing the piano, and caring for her three pooches: Bailey, an 11-year-old Yorkie; Roxie Mae, a four-year-old Pomeranian Chihuahua, and Magneto, a two-year-old Yorkie.
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); NE Kansas Chapter of the Ninety-Nines (99s); on the Board of Directors of the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum (AEBM); a tour guide and simulator operator at the Combat Air Museum, Forbes Field, KS (KFOE); a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); a member of the Beech Aero Club (BAC); and the Women's Air Race Classic (ARC) since 2011.
With her love for aviation, her lifelong calling as a teacher and learner, and her passion for serving the Lord Jesus Christ with the gifts and skills He's bestowed upon her, Joyce hopes to one day merge the three desires, as she is currently pursuing her commercial pilot and certificated flight instructor ratings, to ultimately becoming a pilot somewhere on a 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 2025 Women's Air Race Classic with her teammates!!!
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 Airport (KJFK). 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 was assigned to her first base in Victorville, CA and got up close and personal with the screaming F-4 Wild Weasel fighter aircraft! Following her assignment in CA, she went to Okinawa, 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 airplane 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 (K59) and birthplace 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. Joyce currently teaches kindergarten and 1st grade at International Academy of Bright Stars, a Christian charter school also in Topeka, KS. In 2023, she started a youth aviation program at her school in Topeka, KS, exposing youth in her community to the world of aviation, and presenting them with the opportunity to consider and even explore the possibility of one day becoming a pilot!
Joyce has been a devoted member serving the Lord for the past sixteen years at South Knollwood Baptist Church, Topeka KS, where she teaches kindergarten Sunday School, takes care of babes in the nursery, is a 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. She also enjoys playing the piano, and caring for her three pooches: Bailey, an 11-year-old Yorkie; Roxie Mae, a four-year-old Pomeranian Chihuahua, and Magneto, a two-year-old Yorkie.
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); NE Kansas Chapter of the Ninety-Nines (99s); on the Board of Directors of the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum (AEBM); a tour guide and simulator operator at the Combat Air Museum, Forbes Field, KS (KFOE); a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); a member of the Beech Aero Club (BAC); and the Women's Air Race Classic (ARC) since 2011.
With her love for aviation, her lifelong calling as a teacher and learner, and her passion for serving the Lord Jesus Christ with the gifts and skills He's bestowed upon her, Joyce hopes to one day merge the three desires, as she is currently pursuing her commercial pilot and certificated flight instructor ratings, to ultimately becoming a pilot somewhere on a 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 2025 Women's Air Race Classic with her teammates!!!
Co-Pilot
Tamara Willits, Lawrence, KS
Born and raised in Kansas, Tammy started flying with her father, a general aviation (GA) pilot when she was in grade school. She has fond memories of landing in cow pastures in Iowa to visit her grandparents. Tammy had multiple options in the GA community to take flight, so she did not obtain her own pilot certificate until 2013, followed by her instrument flight rules (IFR) certification and technically-advanced aircraft (TAA) endorsement.
Tammy is a pharmacist specializing in geriatric pharmacy and palliative care pharmacy. She loves to combine her work world with her passion for aviation by providing flights for geriatric residents in facilities she services as well as hospice patients wanting to check off “bucket-list” items.
One of Tammy’s favorite activities is introducing people to aviation. Age doesn’t matter. It may be giving a child their first ride in an airplane; the youngest was about 12 months old. Tammy also took a 97-year-old woman up for her first flight ever (big or small plane) and Tammy recalls it was amazing to watch her reaction. Tammy was able to provide flights for two patients residing in a nursing home, who were pilots afflicted with dementia. One of these two actually flew the aircraft and flew it very well. His dementia just disappeared when he got into the cockpit. Such an amazing day for both of them, and for Tammy as well.
As a member of the NE Kansas 99’s, Tammy is the Girl Scout liaison, coordinating educational opportunities to NE Kansas/NW Missouri Girl Scouts. Presentations include “How to Talk Like a Pilot;” “Navigate the Skies;” “The Many Parts of an Airplane;” and “How Weather Affects Flight.”
Tammy is a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Central, an organization that transports people for medical appointments. The most common requests are flights to MD Anderson in Houston, TX and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In addition, Angel Flight Central provides transportation for kids to special summer camps. These camps are for kids with diabetes, history of a serious burn, and other medical conditions. With this program, the pilots donate the aircraft, fuel, and time, so the flight is completely free for the patients.
Tammy was the lead timer for the Air Race Class (ARC) at the Lawrence, KS (KLWC) stop in 2022, and worked the timing line at the Dodge City, KS (KDDC) stop during the 2024 race. She is very excited to be able to participate as a racer this year!
Tamara Willits, Lawrence, KS
Born and raised in Kansas, Tammy started flying with her father, a general aviation (GA) pilot when she was in grade school. She has fond memories of landing in cow pastures in Iowa to visit her grandparents. Tammy had multiple options in the GA community to take flight, so she did not obtain her own pilot certificate until 2013, followed by her instrument flight rules (IFR) certification and technically-advanced aircraft (TAA) endorsement.
Tammy is a pharmacist specializing in geriatric pharmacy and palliative care pharmacy. She loves to combine her work world with her passion for aviation by providing flights for geriatric residents in facilities she services as well as hospice patients wanting to check off “bucket-list” items.
One of Tammy’s favorite activities is introducing people to aviation. Age doesn’t matter. It may be giving a child their first ride in an airplane; the youngest was about 12 months old. Tammy also took a 97-year-old woman up for her first flight ever (big or small plane) and Tammy recalls it was amazing to watch her reaction. Tammy was able to provide flights for two patients residing in a nursing home, who were pilots afflicted with dementia. One of these two actually flew the aircraft and flew it very well. His dementia just disappeared when he got into the cockpit. Such an amazing day for both of them, and for Tammy as well.
As a member of the NE Kansas 99’s, Tammy is the Girl Scout liaison, coordinating educational opportunities to NE Kansas/NW Missouri Girl Scouts. Presentations include “How to Talk Like a Pilot;” “Navigate the Skies;” “The Many Parts of an Airplane;” and “How Weather Affects Flight.”
Tammy is a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Central, an organization that transports people for medical appointments. The most common requests are flights to MD Anderson in Houston, TX and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In addition, Angel Flight Central provides transportation for kids to special summer camps. These camps are for kids with diabetes, history of a serious burn, and other medical conditions. With this program, the pilots donate the aircraft, fuel, and time, so the flight is completely free for the patients.
Tammy was the lead timer for the Air Race Class (ARC) at the Lawrence, KS (KLWC) stop in 2022, and worked the timing line at the Dodge City, KS (KDDC) stop during the 2024 race. She is very excited to be able to participate as a racer this year!
Meet "Joybird II"
1976 Beechcraft Sierra 200
hangered at
Philip Billard Airport (KTOP)
and receives all her care and feeding from
Top Fuel FBO (KTOP)
and
Blackhawk Aircraft, LLC (81KS)
(Dave Christy & Kevin Drewelow)