WE ARE HERE!!! We arrived in Lake Havasu this evening after an exciting couple of days!

We had a WONDERFUL send off from Ruston with lots of friends and family and even three news crews!! After lots of interviews, bags, and hugs, we preflighted and were off! Enroute to Abilene was gorgeous, got some great IMC time!! However, just about the time we entered into clear blue skies, one of our instruments starting acting funny. Of course they train us for events like this so we were well prepared, and how convenient to be going to Abilene where all of Jessica V's Maintenance friends are!

We spent the remainder of the day running errands, buying contact paper for our race numbers, and relaxing. Ready for the long day of flying ahead!

Today, we arrived at the airport around 9:30 to prepare to leave, only to run into a few hiccups with maintenance. The new attitude indicator hadn't yet come in, the Garmin 430 update wasn't cooperating (user error, imagine that?!), and the XM weather needed to be purchased. But with a little patience, some great friends at Abilene Aero, and a few lessons learned, we were ready!

Every time I (JV) enter a maintenance shop I question if I should become an A&P (and aviation mechanic). It absolutly fascinates me and I really appreciate Mark Reed, head of the Abilene Aero MX team, teaching me so much today! I learned how to perform a seat rail AD (Airworthiness Directive, basically a recall for airplanes), how impluse couplings work, and how to feel if an aircrafts engine's timing is right. So much fun, and after all the learning, the airplane was ready!

Today was SUCH a great learning experience for us both. The terrain, weather and altitude really brought out the outstanding skills we have acquired over these few short years and pushed our abilities and confidence, what an awesome experience! Flying from Abilene to Lake Havasu involved lots of mountains, which made it necessary to climb to a pretty high alititude. This brings into question the abilities of the airplane as well as the health of the pilots. Both did GREAT! It was bumpy and we had to deviate for some weather as well as for air traffic and finally stopped in Flagstaff, AZ to refuel, reboost and rest. The flight was a short hour after that into beautiful Lake Havasu! The Air Race Staff was WONDERFUL and greeted us with water and cool towels (By the way, it's HOT here!).

Once on the ramp, we applied our race numbers and polished 182PW up all nice and shiny for her inspection tomorrow!! At 9 a.m. the fun really begins!!

We appreciate all your prayers and support, what a blessing everyone has been! We will update lots more tomorrow, but after 6 hours of flying, we are ready for BED!! 

Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Jessica L and Jessica V