Two retired U.S. Air Force pilots were the first to cross the invisible boundary between the U.S. and Canada and touch down at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport Wednesday afternoon as part of the 43rd annual Air Race Classic.

Kathy Hughes and Carrie Reinhardt, known officially as Air Race Classic Team 40, took roughly 30 hours to fly from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson, Tenn. to the Canadian airport just inside the Pelham border near Welland.

The Air Race Classic features 49 teams of between two and three women and celebrates the first women's air race held in 1929, featuring famed-aviator Amelia Earhart.

While officially known as Team 40, the two called their team 'No Boundaries' in recognition of boundaries they faced as female pilots when they first joined the air force and the lack of boundaries women in the field face today.

"When we started … there were a lot more boundaries for women, especially in the military. Now they are gone," said Hughes not long after stepping out of her 1963 Beechcraft Debonair B33, fixed-wing, single-engine, four-seater plane.

"We also like to say there are no boundaries between our countries either … it's a great name and what we really believe."

Hughes said the last time she and Reinhardt flew together was in an F-16.

"Carrie is a retired F-16 test pilot and flies for FedEx now. I retired from the air force as a pilot and physician. We were stationed together at Edwards Air Force Base in California and we've stayed great friends ever since."

Hughes said she'd been bugging her friend to take part in the race for a few years, but factors like having children, moving and retirement worked against them.

"This year was the right year. I said to Harb (Reinhardt's call sign in the air force), 'Come on, we have to do this.' And I said, 'It goes to Canada, how often do you get to Canada?' With the 90th anniversary of the race .... she said, 'We have to do this.'"

So the two joined the race, and Tuesday left the Tennessee airport around 12:30 p.m. (Central Time), arriving in Pelham about 5:45 p.m. (Eastern Time) Wednesday. Tennessee is an hour behind southern Ontario. The race was to be 4,000-kilometres, but the flight route was cut down due to bad weather in some of the states it was to fly through.

"It's been a great two days. It's not like we were pushing the plane forward. It was beautiful weather and the airplane was flying like a dream. We had a great time and great crew co-ordination," she said, adding the plane was averaging 160 to 165 m.p.h. (ground speed) throughout the flight.

Known by her air force call sign Fog, Hughes said was glad to be in Canada.

"I'm half-Canadian. My mother is from Prince Edward Island. So it's great to be here."

The plane the two flew in was purchased 25 years ago by Hughes and her husband. They are the third owners and she said it was purchased off of a fellow 99 member.

The 99s is an international organization of women pilots that promotes the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honouring a unique history and sharing a passion for flight. It was established in 1929 by 99 women pilots, and there is a chapter in Niagara.

"Carrie and I are avid 99s."

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Besides meeting great people along the way, Hughes said the two women were excited to see all the young teams in the race.

"About one-third of the teams are collegiate racers, using their school's planes … that's why we picked 'No Boundaries.' It was wonderful to interact with all of the young flyers."

While the former U.S. air force vets were the first to land at Niagara Central, there were teams that landed in North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday.

The only Canadian entry, Team 37, the Canuck Flyers, landed in Wausau, Wis. The team is made up of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Asti Livingston and Ottawa's Susan Begg and were flying in Begg's Mooney M20J, a single-engine, low wing aircraft.

Those interested in following the Canuck Flyers can follow an online link with a map that shows every plane's progress. There's also a link to listen to the radio chatter along the way, too.

For more information on the air race, see www.airraceclassic.org/ and www.centralairport.ca/air-race-classic.html.

Nathaniel.Johnson@niagaradailies.com

905-684-7251 | @DaveJTheTrib

- Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport ideal location to finish air race

- Niagara-on-the-Lake pilot on only Canadian team in 43rd annual Air Race Classic

- Women aviators to be celebrated at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport