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Charter Date: October 25, 1975
The Las Vegas Valley 99's is the oldest aviation organization in Nevada. First chartered in May, 1949, charter members were aviation pioneers Margaret Crockett and Florence Murphy, Wasp Helen Cannon and Solange D'Hooghe; Martha Lundy, (1st Chapter Chairman and 3rd woman to get pilots license in So. Nevada), Clarice Bessent, Mary Ellen Davis, and Barbara Taylor. The chapter was very active with Fly-In's, Seminars, and Air-marking for several years. The first airmarking was on the roof of a building on North Main and Bonanza Road.
The chapter was inactive from1958 until it was re-chartered on October 25, 1964, when Nevada State First Lady, Bette Sawyer, presented a new charter to eight chapter members at the Nevada State Capital, Carson City Airport.
The Las Vegas Chapter is a unique chapter that has a very mobile membership. Members from around the country move to the area, either on a temporary basis, in the military, to fly with the Grand Canyon Airlines, to further their aviation or other careers, or on a more permanent basis through retirement or job transfers. Over the years several chapter members have impressive aviation achievements. The chapter sponsors an Aviation Explorer and is very active with schools and scouts.
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
On Dec 7, 1941, Aviation Pioneer, Florence Murphy and her husband, opened Sky Harbor Field, north of Las Vegas. Also, known as Thunderbird Field, the airport is now North Las Vegas Airport. Besides opening and running the airport, Florence begin working for Bonanza Airlines in 1946. She was the First Women Vice President of a scheduled airline. Bonanza Airlines, along with Pacific Airlines and West Coast Airlines, is now Northwest Airlines.
Aviation Pioneer, Peg Crockett, along with husband George Crockett, owned and operated Alamo Aviation form 1948 to 1967 at Alamo Field, now McCarran Airport. They also worked many years with Howard Hughes.
Helen Cannon served her country as a Women Air Service Pilot (WASP) in WWII. She has a local Elementary School named after her and has been awarded numerous awards form the local community.
Mardell Haskins is a well known Intentional Air Race Pilot. She began Air Racing in 1983 and has several First place finishes, plus numerous Top Ten Cross Country Air Race wins. Along with Ester Grupenhagen, she won the prestigious Air Race Classic in 1990 and 1991, came in a very close second in 1992, was sixth in 1993, and tenth in 1994. Mardell has raced form the Hawaiian Islands to the Bahamas Islands, flown in approximately 100 races in just about every race in the US.
Kathleen Snaper has been a flight instructor since she was 19 years old.
Marie McMillian is an instructor and International Record Holder. She holds 657 aviation records--More than any other person in the world! She was a NAA International representative, Federation Aeronautique Interationale, 1970-80; awarded World Diploma in India from Gandhi in 1985; and awarded Elder Statesman in 1991.
NINETY-NINES NOTABLES
Marie McMillian
-- Southwest Section Women Pilot of the Year, 1976
Mardell Haskins -- Southwest Section Women Pilot of the Year, 1996
Martha Lundy -- Southwest Section Governor, 1955-56, third licensed
women pilot in South Nevada
Lois Erickson -- International President, 1996-1998
Mardell Haskins -- International Director, 1998-2001; Headquarters
Building Committee Chairman, 2000-present
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Hosted four stops for the Powder Puff Derby
July 13-17, 1963 -- Bakersfield, CA to Atlantic City, NJ
July 4-8, 1964 -- Fresno, CA to Atlantic City, NJ
July 4-7, 1969 -- San Diego, CA to Washington DC
July 3-7, 1970 -- Monterey, CA to Britol, PA
Hosted the start of the second Air Race Classic, June 24-27, 1978 and the Hughes Air Race Classic, McCarran, NV to Destin-Ft Walton, FL
Hosted these Southwest Section Meetings:
Stardust Hotel- April 15-17, 1966
Marina Hotel on April 1-4, 1976
Imperial Palace in September 1994
Texas Station, September 27-30, 2001
Hosted the Ninety-Nines International Convention at the Hilton Hotel, June, 1990
Members participate in Discover Aviation, Young Eagles Flights -1990-Present; Career Days; Charity Flights; Speakers to Schools; Community Events; and Scout Troops
The chapter has sponsored these events:
Overton Aviation Explorer Post 705 -1994 to Present
Overton Airport Day, Young Eagle Flight, 1994-2003
Poker Runs-Yearly
White Knuckle Clinics
Flying Companion Seminars
Monthly FAA Safety Seminars
Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic
Library and Airport Displays
AIR RACING
Carole Depue, Mardell Haskins, Velda Mapelli and Marie McMillian, have flown in numerous Air Races, including the Powder Puff Derby, Air Race Classic, and the Angel Derby. Other racers are Rene Crow, Lois Erickson, Doris Fink, Winnie Howard, Claudia Jones, Helen Keidel, Kathleen Snaper, and Carol Valardo.
Amy Koning - 1971 Angel Derby, 3rd Place
Marie McMillian -1972-74 Fresno 400-1st, 2nd, 3rd
Mardell Haskins - 1990 & 1991 Air Race Classic - 1st Place; 1992 Denver Mile High Derby - 1st Place; 1994 Great Pumpkin His & Her-1st Place; 1984 Pacific Air Race - 2nd Place; 1992 Air Race Classic - 2nd Place