99s Fly! The Northwest Section Blog

The Special Projects Fund provides a way for the Northwest Section to support the chapters, through small grants or loans, for special projects or activities which further the mission of The Ninety-Nines and for which there is no other funding available.

How To Apply:

The requesting chapter(s) will apply to the chair of the Northwest Section Finance Committee at least 30 days in advance of the need for the funds. The Finance Committee may discuss the request by email, telecon or at a scheduled BOD meeting. The Finance Committee will vote to recommend or not recommend the project to the BOD of the Northwest Section. The BOD of the Northwest...

The Northwest Section is excited to announce the winner of the 2024 Patty Mitchell Northwest Section of The Ninety-Nines Scholarship -- Alyssa Rittel of the Midnight Sun Chapter

Alyssa Rittel, a Ninety-Nine and pilot from Fairbanks, Alaska, began flying in 2022 and is excited to pursue an aviation career as an airline pilot. She is a participant in the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program and is training to become a certified flight instructor. Her favorite part of aviation is exploring the vast landscapes and untouched wilderness of Alaska. She is also a member of the Midnight Sun Ninety-Nines and is grateful for the mentorships and friendships formed...

Two of...

Two of...

Every year the Northwest Section Governor honors a Ninety-Nine of the section who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in aviation, acknowledging accomplishments in areas outside of our organization as well. Nominations for the Governor's Award are received from the nominee’s chapter or another Ninety-Nine who has personal knowledge of her achievements. Send nominations to...

On September 16, two groups of 99s each enjoyed a welcome event, either the dinner cruise on Lake Coeur D'Alene or the wine tasting at Coeur D'Alene Cellars. The following day we held the board meeting, annual business meeting, silent auction, and luncheon in the wonderful facility of the Historic Flight Museum. That...

by Stef Goza, Chapter Chair

We had over 20 attendees to our program on survival kits on September 13, 2022. A huge thank you to our presenters and to our hosts for the meeting space!

There is a wealth of info out...

On this day, Past Governor Patty Mitchell's birthday, we are pleased to announce the establishment of a new scholarship in her honor. Please see the fourth listing on the Scholarships page. The application gives you the full details on Patty's background, the award, and the application process....

Patty Lou Mitchell

Patty Mitchell passed away at home on December 3, 2020, after a long...

This Northwest Section collage shows current Governor Patty Mitchell and Vice Governor Stacey Budell, along with Past Governors Karin Rodland, Patty Viall, and Andrea Chay.

This past year has been a challenge, hasn’t it? GA flying is down, and student pilots are struggling to continue their training under social distancing parameters. Lately, I’ve noticed an increase...

Jamie Boesiger and Sherry Kandle, Idaho 99s booth at BSU SheTech 2020 STEM Day for High School Girls

Okay, so we now know that we won't be able to see each other in person in September in Billings at the annual section conference that...

Western Washington 99s member Beth Chapple flies her Evektor Harmony near Thompson Falls, Montana, September 10, 2019

Well, fellow pilots, life doesn't always give us VFR weather and safe flying. Our spring Board of Directors meeting will be held via Zoom due to the social distancing steps we all must take.

Please join us this Saturday, April 4, 2020, at 9 a...

Members of the Columbia Cascades Chapter had a lovely visit from Debra Plymate at their February 15^th meeting. Debra is a local expert on Amelia Earhart and shared insights and stories from Earhart's life. With a emphasis on local Portland Ninety-Nines history, we learned about Amelia's visit to Portland in 1933. Edith Folz, the first Oregon female transport pilot, along with other 99s, hosted Amelia for a group breakfast at the Benson Hotel. Debra shared how years later she and other Portland area 99s met for breakfast and recreated a photo of the early aviatrixes. Debra's enthusiasm comes across as she sports a replica of a flight suit that Amelia designed. Debra, a member of the Oregon Pines 99s, has been...

During October our chapters held interesting events. Here are two of them.

Fiftieth Anniversary of Greater Seattle

Greater Seattle Chapter 99s celebrated...

On May 18, 2019, Alaska Airlines held an event called Aviation Day both at their hub at Seatac Airport, Washington, and in their hangar at Portland International Airport. The company jets were open for tours all...

This month has offered some great flying days in the Pacific Northwest. Look at the grin on Bailey Kimble's face as she enjoys her first time flying in a small plane! And notice the excellent view of Mount Adams through the window.

Michele Ewing of the Columbia Cascade chapter, a commercial pilot for Alaska Airlines, offered Bailey a ride in her...

On June 15 and 16, 2018, the first Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association fly-in of the year was held at Missoula International Airport (KMSO). The newly formed Big Sky chapter of the 99s had a wonderful opportunity to participate with a booth.

Joining them for the beautiful weather (of the first day) were the pilots of about 300 airplanes and an incredible 4,000 other pilots and aviation enthusiasts. There were many activities and a Barnstormers Party Friday evening. When rain came on the...

Tosha Cypher's first experience flying from the left seat in the training helicopter.

In 2017, Tosha Cypher of the Mat-Su Valley Chapter in Alaska received the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship for her certified flight instructor (CFI) rating in helicopters. Last August she wrote: "Training for my CFI is going well. I'm currently working with my instructor to prep for taking the FAA written exams to get those completed and out of the way." After that she was able to focus on making lesson plans for her teaching material. "I'll keep up on my flying but will mostly be focusing on the ground portion as creating the lesson plans is a lot of work, and then once it gets closer to the checkride I'll fly more frequently. It's so exciting to be able to continue to move forward in my training because of this scholarship, I really am grateful. I'm working two jobs...

On April 14, 2018, at the Spring Board of Directors meeting in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, we awarded two Northwest Section scholarships.

Cindy Fritz of the Idaho Chapter will train for her instrument rating.

Cindy Repp of Intermountain Chapter will fly her initial cross country flight for the private certificate.

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The meeting will be held in the Roosevelt Inn bed and breakfast at 105 East Wallace Avenue, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Telephone: 1-208-765-5200.

All members of the Northwest Section of the 99s are welcome to attend the Spring BOD Meeting, regardless of official office held. Although voting is...

Laura Lloyd poses in front of Elizabeth Harris's RV 6.

I’m writing to update the...

On the weekend of July 21-23, 2017, North Cascades Vintage Aircraft Museum hosted their annual fly-in to Mears Field (3W5) in Concrete, WA. It has become one of the favorite fly-ins west of the Cascades. Surrounded by the foothills of Mt. Baker and with the Skagit River snaking just south of the field, it's a beautiful setting for a fly-in. Mears Field (aka Concrete), a small but beautiful paved and grass strip, is about 27 nm northeast of Arlington Municipal Airport. The Vintage Aircraft Museum has six hangars displaying their...

Apply for the Northwest Section Scholarship!

The Northwest Section Scholarship fund was created in 2013 from funds that the Section held in investment accounts. The scholarship is awarded annually for $1,000 or the amount requested, whichever is less. Scholarship monies can be applied toward aviation expenses greater than $1,000, such as an additional...

On the morning of September 16, 2016, some fortunate 99s got to hear two seminars relating to local flying and achieving the goals we set our minds to. Here's a bit about what you may have missed.

The first seminar was by Karlene Pettit, shown at the end of this article with Past Governor Andrea Chay in front of our section's 99s quilt, which was completed by the Montana Chapter and displayed all weekend. Karlene is an airline pilot and instructor on Boeing jets, 37-year veteran of flying, and author of three novels, a...

Coming to the Northwest Section Meeting in September?

We plan to have another of our fabulous (and profitable) Silent Auctions. Do you have something that you could donate? This is not a "white elephant" sale, but items that pilots would find fun and useful.

We will collect all donations Thursday evening, September 15, 2016. The auction will held all day Friday and Saturday, up until 4 pm, in the room directly across from...

Dear Patty,

My aviation journey started at 12 years old with a flight in a powered parachute. During my university years, I joined the Flying Club and earned my Private Pilot's Certificate at 20, and always assumed flying would just be a hobby. However, in my mid-twenties the itch for flying came back and I started to dream about an aviation career. After scrimping and saving for a few years, I started my first aviation job working as a Front Desk Attendant and Line Fueler at a small FBO in Hood River, Oregon known as Classic Wings.  This was in July 2011. By October, I started training full time for my instrument rating. I dedicated every waking hour and every last dime to the effort, and by July 14, 2012 I had an instrument rating, commercial SEL, commercial MEL, and initial CFI. Although I was incredibly tired, I was also running very low on Top Ramen, so I started work at two flight schools. I am proud to say that on July 17th, 2012 I earned my first dollar as professional pilot by giving a flight review! I might have been the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life! At 336 hours of total time, I felt...

Below you will find many scrapbook-worthy photos from our Northwest Section Meeting in September 2015. This year's "Behind the Clouds" award, which is awarded to the member who is always willing to jump in and help out, went, very deservingly, to Bev Clark. The "Spinning Prop" award, given to the aviatrix...

Greater Seattle and Western Washington chapter members with Rich Alldredge and Judy Moss by the Jim Moss reproduction of the 1934 Gee Bee QED II.

The Greater Seattle Chapter of...