Minnetta Gardinier (Pilot)

I began flying in July 2003 and received my private pilot's license in Fall 2004.  I continued my flight instruction and completed an instrument rating in Spring 2006.  In March 2005, I entered into a partnership on a 1978 Cardinal Classic (C177B FG) with Dan Eberl and his family.  Cardinal N1351C is based at IOW in Iowa City IA, and I have flown "51-Charlie" in the 2008 and 2009 Air Race Classic events with Linda Moody ("Wild Women of the Wind" - Classic 34 and Classic 4).

I discovered The Ninety-Nines, the International Organization of Women Pilots, in 2006 and joined the Iowa Chapter of the North Central Section.  It has provided great opportunities to meet other women pilots and to hear about their aviation experiences.  I learned about the Air Race Classic through the 99s and decided to join this lineage of racers reaching back to 1929.

I have the pleasure of flying for recreation and for business.  Some of my favorite flights from Iowa  City have taken me to Austin TX, Bozeman MT, Charleston SC, Columbus OH, Denver CO, Duluth MN, Kansas City MO, Sarasota FL, St. Louis MO, Traverse City MI, and Washington DC.

In my life on the ground, I am an Associate Dean of the Graduate College and an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa.  As a faculty member at the University of Iowa since 1998, I teach Pharmacology and have directed the Molecular & Cellular Biology graduate program that trains future researchers and instructors.  I directed a research lab for about 15 years that focused on basic research seeking answers to a few of the many questions surrounding the devastating disease of multiple sclerosis.  We are excited to again raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through your sponsorships in 2010.

I am looking forward to flying down to Ft. Myers with Deb for the start of the 2010 Air Race Classic.  Follow the route to Frederick MD as we swing up through the eastern half of the U.S. this year.

Deb McGee (Co-Pilot)

I began flying in November 2007 and received my private pilot certificate in November 2009.  I plan to continue my instruction and obtain an instrument rating.  I have been a member of the Iowa Chapter of the 99s since 2008 and learned about the Air Race Classic from Minnetta’s previous race experiences.  I am very excited to be a part of the 2010 Air Race Classic as Co-Pilot for Classic 39!  I think that this will be a great learning experience for me as a "new" pilot, and I am looking forward to meeting women pilots from across the country.

My husband Dan and I own a 1973 Cherokee PA28-180 based at OXV in Knoxville, IA.  Dan is also a pilot, so we have enjoyed several trips in our plane.  We have traveled to Prairie Du Chien WI, Tallahassee FL, Waukegan IL, Columbus OH and many locations across Iowa.  We are members of the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group and have entered the "Fly Iowa Challenge" with a goal to visit every public airport (100+) in the state of Iowa.  We have visited eleven so far since mid April.

Dan and I have been married for 35 years.  We have two adult children and three teen-aged grandchildren.  Our grand kids enjoy going with us for plane rides also and they think that flying is the best way to travel!  When we are not working or flying, we enjoy riding bicycles, spending time in the yard, or just relaxing on our deck at home.   I have been employed by Principal Financial Group for 20 years.  I am an analyst on the finance team at Principal Global Investors, an asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group.