The Flying Flashes Win the 45th Annual Air Race Classic

The race route is different every year, and this year racers flew from Lakeland, Florida, to Terre Haute, Indiana, approximately 2,500 miles over a four-day time period.

The Flying Flashes, Laura Wilson,senior Aeronautics - Professional Pilot major, and Alex Johnson, 2021 graduate of the Aeronautics - Professional Pilot program, returned to the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the Kent State Airport (1G3) with not only one award - but with three first-place prizes.

The Flying Flashes came home well-decorated with the Fastest Cessna prize, the 1st Place Collegiate Challenge Trophy, and the 1st Place Overall award.

Fastest Cessna. The Fastest Cessna Award is presented to the highest-scoring team flying a Cessna airplane.

1st Place, Collegiate Challenge Trophy. The 1st Place Collegiate Challenge Trophy is awarded to the highest-scoring collegiate team.

1st Place, Overall (Top 10 Category). The 1st Place Overall award is presented to the highest-scoring team in the Air Race Classic. This award includes prizes of $6,000 plus medallions and awards for each team member.

The Flying Flashes, Laura and Alex, will be celebrated with fellow female aviator Victoria Lorenzon, senior Aeronautics - Processional Pilot major, on Thursday, June 30, at 12:30 p.m. EDT at the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center at the Kent State Airport (1G3). The three women will be honored and recognized for their recent awards and achievements and for continuing to promote the tradition of pioneering women in aviation.