CAPE A STOP FOR WOMEN'S AIR RACE CLASSIC THURSDAY

More than 40 pilots will converge on the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Thursday for the 1998 Air Race Classic.

The all-women's air race begins today in Santa Fe, N.M., and ends Friday in Batavia, Ohio, for a total of 2,385 statute miles.

After leaving from Santa Fe, pilots will stop at Midland, Texas, Woodward, Okla., Ogallala, Neb., St. Joseph, Mo., Cape Girardeau, Rome, Ga., and end the race at Batavia, Ohio.

Bruce Loy, airport manager, said 46 pilots, their co-pilots and passengers will stop at the local airport.

"We're the only `must-stop' along the route," Loy said. "That means they must stop here to take on fuel."

The pilots will stop, place their fuel orders and check weather conditions before heading to the next stop, Rome, Ga., Loy said.

"We're expecting approximately 25 of the planes to stay the night," he said. "Some of the faster planes will go on to the next destination."

At the other stops along the route, pilots will perform high-speed fly-bys along the runways. Pilots will be awarded points for speed during the fly-bys, and older, slower aircraft will be given handicap points.

Pilots can only fly from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the race, Loy said.

"Everything is totally dependent on the wind and the weather across the route," he said.

The public can view the race, but it is hard to know exactly when aircraft will begin to arrive.

"We are expecting the majority of the aircraft between noon and 6 p.m., although some of the faster, twin-engine aircraft will arrive in the morning, and some may even make it through Cape on the previous day, June 24," Loy said.

The Ninety Nines, an international organization of women pilots, will provide staff and ground support at each stop. The Cape Girardeau Area Chapter will staff the stop locally.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Zonta Club will be at the airport selling Amelia Earhart postcards with special commemorative cancellation stamps marking the day of the race.