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The Girls
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Kelly
Call-Sign: Natasha |
We're just plain girls, but...We Fly!
Not as much as we'd like to, but we still manage to log a few hours, here and there. We're not complaining though, if it was easy, anyone could do it! It's challenging, exciting and just plane/plain fun. And occasionaly, we get to take a ride in something a little different. Take a look.
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The Centex Wing of the Commemorative Air Force flys the replica Kate, a Japanese torpedo and level bomber from the Pearl Harbor era. |
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Natasha in the greenhouse cockpit. |
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The rising sun over Texas is not too unusual. Many of the replica Japanese aircraft created for the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora" are home based at fields in Texas. |
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Stilleto pulling "G"s in ACM (Air Combat Maneuvers) training over the North Sea. |
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This would be a bad attitude in a non-aerobatic aircraft, but the Grob Tutor handles ACM transitions easily.
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Further south over the English Channel, Hotfire cruises in a Cessna 152, in significantly better weather.
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Hotfire with the Duxford Air Museum's airworthy B-17, the famous Sally B. This airplane, with different nose art on the port side, played the Memphis Belle in the last incarnation of the movie. |
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Hotfire's ride, the Cessna 152. |
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Tiger 1 steps up from a 152 to a Cessna 180 with Dan Haggerty (Fantasy Dan) at Sugarloaf Key in Florida. |
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The southermost point of the continental United States, Key West, Florida d GPSWhen |
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Down low over the reef, trolling for sharks. |
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On short final with a stiff crosswind.
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A little different type of flying. Parasailing off Key West's Smathers Beach. |
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400 feet out, the tow boat's engine fades away, and you begin to know what a bird feels like. |
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Tiger 1 and Cuda, cleared for splashdown.
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Splash taxi. |
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And climb out. |
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Gratuitous bikini shot, completly unrelated to flying activities.
Get over it
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Plane-Girls 2006-2007
These are the Plane-Girls.
Pilots, Air Traffic Controlers, mechanics, student pilots, wannabe pilots, and aviation enthusisasts, they're also bank tellers, waitresses, teachers, executives, moms, daughters and wives. Some have been with us from the start, some are new to the organization, and some have moved on to other adventures. But a woman in aviation doesn't stop being a Plane-Girl. Even if she leaves aviation, she's still something special. All of these women are something special, and they represent all of the women in aviation. Mark them well, you'll hear more from them. Because well behaved women seldom make history. And we intend to make some history. |
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Angel |
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Black Velvet |
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Desert Rose |
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Eclipse |
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Foxy |
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Genie |
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Georgia |
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Montana |
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Mustang |
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Natasha |
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Nicky Bravo |
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Oh Yeah |
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Roxy |
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Satin 1 |
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Scooter Bee |
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Smoke |
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Spirit |
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Starlight |
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Stilleto |
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Stormy |
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Tiger 1 |
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Tiny Dancer |
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Viking |
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Viper |
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Meghan
Call-Sign: Angel |
A Plane-Girls Calendar Shoot
Many of our fans have asked for more behind-the-scenes photos, so we wanted to give you an inside look at our last shoot for the 2008 calendar. Every event is different, but they share many of the same elements. Billy Mylenbusch works lights, transportation, photography, water, and whatever else needs to be done to make things work. He's the guy behind the scenes, and this is some of his work. Thanks Bill.
It's a long drive from Austin to Uvalde, this time with the largest crew we've ever assembled. Chasity, Doc, Boy, Meghan and Meghan, Sindy, and Bill. Of course, our hosts for the shoot provided not only the airplanes and facility, but lots of muscle, guidance, safety observers and enthusiasm. So, in addition, we also had Chip, Mark, Cynthia, Millie, Aaron, and a bunch of others. We even had a drive-by assistant, who noticed the activity and stopped to lend a hand. Thanks to all, we couldn't have done it without you. |
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Make-up is always a major consideration. We were lucky enough to recruit Boy Gomez of Austin to help us out with hair, make-up, wardrobe, and moral support. Boy is a great artiste. |
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This was Meghan's very first shoot with the Plane-Girls, so it had to be perfect. The Plane-Girls' signature look is "Electric Eyes and a Dangerous Smile". |
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Hairstyling got the same attention to detail. The folks at the Uvalde Flight Center gave us the pilot's lounge to work out of, and saw to our every need. |
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Almost show time, and Meghan had some pre-shoot jitters. Boy and Chasity helped her out with a little pep talk. |
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On the set, Chasity works with wardrobe.
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Lighting check on the camera
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The results. |
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While Meghan (Angel) was on the set with Doc, make-up and hair continued on the next Plane-Girl, Meghan (Tiny Dancer). |
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Meghan (Tiny Dancer) on set and Meghan (Angel) is back in make-up for a costume change, and Chasity is scrambling between both. |
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Make sure the shoes match the rest of the outfit. eld GPSWhen |
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And action!
No wait, these are still photos. Uhhhmm, OK. Hold it! |
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Tiny Dancer
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Angel's back with a new look, but now the lights are acting up.
What's the hold up, Doc! |
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Sindy's turn, out of the hangar an on the ramp. The lighting was complicated, and the temp was moving upward. It IS Texas of course. Sometimes the wind is our friend... |
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...and sometimes not.
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But we made it work. |
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Safety is always first, airplanes are hard, sharp, dirty, fragile, and not designed for this type of work. But there are always volunteers to help a girl out. |
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And another great shot of Sindy (Stormy)
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Chasity's turn.
Doc sets up the pose... |
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...and Tiger 1 turns it on. |
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4 girls, 3 crew, 7 hours on set, make for a long day. But the smiles were still fresh, and the margaritas were being mixed for the wrap party.
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The Uvalde Flight Center and Sierra Industries were our hosts for this final shoot for 2007. We couldnt' have met nicer people, and will be forever grateful for your kind assistance. |
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Oh Yeah! |
Ambre Kirkman
Ambre's call sign is from an old portraitist's trick. To get a great smile from a pretty girl, we ask her to say "Oh Yeah", and shoot during the "Yeah" part of it. Depending on how it's said, it can be funny, happy, sexy, raunchy, or sweet, sometimes all of 'em together. The first time we worked together, Ambre had so much fun with it, we couldn't get her to stop saying it!
We work hard on the set, and we take our work seriously, but we do laugh a lot. Sometimes we can't stop until it hurts. And even then it can come rolling back. We can't tell you what started it all, you hadda be there. This is a set of outtakes from our calendar shoot in Granby, Colorado, with a '65 Piper Pawnee crop duster. |
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A mile of runway and an automated terminal at 8,203 feet. GNY has rising terrain to the east, behind Ambre. Take off west! |
Ambre, Chasity and Doc survey the airplane before the evening shoot.
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Even at midday, the light at altitude is spectacular.
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Piper Pawnee, PA-25-235. One of the first and most successful design-built crop dusters. |
Crew's all set, make-up and hair are great, light's excellent, camera's hot, let's roll! |
Hold up , I think it's a bug!
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I can't hold this! |
Dont make me laugh, please! |
Stop it, it hurts! |
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Just let me breath a minute, I'm OK. Really! |
I'm OK, I'm OK. Breath in, breath out. It's working, I think. |
No it's not. Stop shooting! Cut!!!!! |
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OK, this is almost the shot we wanted. We got it, but you'll have to buy the 2008 calendar to get the final. Thanks for having some fun with us.
"Well behaved women seldom make history" |
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Tiger 1 |
Chasity Ballard
Chasity returned on the 4th of July to kick off a new look for the Plane-Girls. We had a lot of requests for some 50's retro pin-up style photography. It's not as easy as it sounds. Chasity found the costumes and worked up the hairstyles, Doc and Billy developed the lighting and script. We all agreed to keep the "Dangerous Eyes" make-up scheme, it's the Plane-Girls' signature look. With the kind and gracious support of Ron Dietes and Grant Lannon, owners of the T-6 "Triple Nickel", we took a shot at it early in the morning of the 4th. And yes, it was raining again. But we were in a hangar this time.
We added some of Billy's behind the scenes photos to help our friends get a better look at us. We work hard on the set, but we have a lot of fun too. Hope you like it. |
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The pose... |
turns goofy... |
and cracks up everyone! |
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Triple Nickel |
Field make-up and hair styling behind the airplane |
Setting up the next pose |
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Miss America
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Miss America II
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Dangerous Eyes, Part I, Par
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Plane-Girls.com, a new generation of women who fly |
Relaxing while the lights are adjusted. |
Mugging for our friends at Ace Energy Drink |
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Dangerous Eyes, Part II
"Well behaved women seldom make history" |
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Sindy - Call sign: STORMY
There are stories in an old leather jacket. This photoshoot started out as a simple gift and tribute to an old friend, a Navy pilot who flew Huey's during the war in Viet Nam. Along the way, the photoshoot turned into it's own story, with old Hueys, new friends, old friends, hot days on a flightline, and another mission.
Sindy isn't a pilot, but is open to suggestion. She is a fan of air shows and can be found at most of the Central Texas shows. She's a friend to a veteran pilot and knows some of the stories in that old jacket. That makes her a Plane-Girl. Happy 4th of July to all veterans, young and old, and to all of their friends. |
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KT - Call sign: VIPER
Viper is a California girl, about 5'11", weight appropriate. We did some lighting studies with the airport derelicts, a pair of Merlins quietly corroding away. Last we heard, she was on her way back to LA. Fair winds and fly safely. |
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Ariel - Call sign: SPIRIT
Ariel flew in from Cedar Park for a 1 hour shoot with us in the Georgetown hangar. Like so many times before, it poured buckets (in Texas, we call it a "frog strangler"). After she dried off and the rain let up a bit, we got some really nice work done. Of course, when we ran out of time, the weather turned severe clear. All in a day's work for a Plane-Girl. Ariel is 23 years old and "Five feet nothin'". Five feet of Plane-Girls spirit. That ain't nothin', folks. |
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Kim Ray - Call sign: MUSTANG
Kim came up to Georgetown from her home base in San Antonio to spend a day with us and just hang out with other Plane-Girls. Mustang is 24 years old, 5'10" and 150 pounds of athletic ability. She posed for us with a Cirrus and a couple of old Merlins that are parked around the field. Kim has a busy schedule, but we hope to have her join us on the 2008 Plane-Girls traveling team for the air show tour (which begins in April 2007). |
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Chelsie Shanafelt - Call Sign: Smoke
Chelsie returns with photos from recent travel and from her final calendar shoot. Her goal is to complete her training for her Private Pilot Certificate in helicopters, then continue training for qualification as an EMS pilot. One of her instructors said that flying a helicopter is like trying to balance on a beach ball. True, but Chelsie has the hand-eye coordination, reflexes and focused concentration necessary to fly smoothly and safely. We'll keep you updated on her progress. |
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Amanda - Call Sign: BLACK VELVET
Amanda joins the 2007 Plane-Girls Team just in time for the Reno Air Races in September. From San Antonio, Amanda is 22 years old and 5'10", majoring in Business Management. Amanda was on a very tight schedule the day of the shoot, so we only got a few photos, but we'll get a lot more soon. |
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Briana - Call Sign: SATIN 1
Briana is the fourth member of the 2007 Plane-Girls
traveling and flying team. From Leander, Texas, Briana is 24 years old, 5'5" and 110 lbs. Her first tour with the team
was the 4th of July at Fort Hood. Despite the downpour, she had a great time with the team, the soldiers and the people
of Killeen. |
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Chasity
- Call Sign: TIGER 1
Chasity is back for a return engagement. She's been
touring with the team and finalizing the 2007 calendar, coordinating personal appearances and preparing the team for
Oshkosh the last week of July, as well as managing the business end of Plane-Girls. She took some time out from her busy
schedule to pose with John Yearwood's Aviat Husky, as well his Harley and classic 1940 Ford Deluxe. |
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Angelic - Call Sign: Desert Rose
Angelic is a half Puerto Rican, half Cuban, all American Jersey girl. Now a Plane-Girl, our Desert Rose left the cold,
crowded Northeast for the Texas heat and endless skies, with year round flying weather. This Rose blooms in Austin's
"severe clear" climate. Welcome home, Rose. Angelic is showcased with Scott Meder's classic V-35 Beech Bonanza,
another all American beauty. Scott joined the crew for another day and has been a steadfast friend of the Plane-Girls.
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Chelsie - Call Sign: Smoke
Chelsie signs on for the 2007 Plane-Girls Team. She's 23 years old, 5' 3", and 110 pounds, from Austin, Texas. Chelsie toured with us at the Central Texas Air Show in Temple for two days, and will be on the road again to Hondo and other points south. Her call sign is "Smoke" for her beautiful dark hair and quiet personality. But if you look closely, you'll see the red highlights in her hair and the danger in her eyes. Where there's Smoke, there's fire. Proceed with caution.
Chelsie posed with Bill Nations, Jr's New Piper Seneca IV, the most successful six place light twin aircraft for family and business. |
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Beth - Call Sign: Viking
Beth
is 23, 5'-9", and 150 athletic pounds. Beth caught Plane-Girls
coming and going. She had her first photo shoot in March, and
was an absolute natural for a spot on the Plane-Girls team.
Then she went on Spring Break, and was offered a position as
a dive instructor in the Caribbean islands. We miss her already,
but we're happy that she was with us for a while. We'll hook
up again when the Plane-Girls do the Island Tour. Best wishes
to Viking and her new career.
Beth posed with Daryl Dressler's classic jet warbird, the Aero
Vodochody L-29 Delfin. The L-29 was a cold war jet trainer built
in Czechoslovakia, and is now popular on the air show circuit
and jet air racing. Daryl's L-29 is stationed at the Georgetown,
Texas airport and is flown regularly. |
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