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SPEAKER PRESENTATION

12 – 1 p.m.

 

The speaker presentation format offers a unique opportunity to have the entire family meet Vicky and ask her questions in a more intimate setting than out on the ramp.

 

Location: Hangar A-10  

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Vicky Benzing

Vicky will be flying her vintage 450-horsepower 1940 open-cockpit, big red biplane in the airshow this year! Then she’ll meet and greet attendees in addition to presenting at the event’s free speaker presentation.

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Vicky will discuss how she developed her passion for aviation and how a STEM education played a major role in her aviation career.

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Born and raised in California with a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, Vicky is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer. In fact, in 2015 she became the “Fastest Woman Racer” ever in the history of the Reno Air Races when she qualified an Aero Vodochody jet on the racecourse at 469.831 mph. Now that’s FAST!

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Vicky also, in 2018, appeared in the Netflix movie, “Mercury 13” while flying the Stearman that she’ll be flying on June 24!

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The speaker presentation format offers a unique opportunity to have the entire family meet Vicky and ask her questions in a more intimate setting than out on the ramp.

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Navy Commander (Cmdr.) Colette Lazenka 

Cmdr Lazenka will join Benzing sharing her story about what it takes to become a Naval Flight Officer/Aviation Engineering Duty Officer, one of many positions in the field of aviation that is not a pilot. Her squadron is based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in Ventura County, CA, and controls the Restricted air space during missile tests out into the Pacific as well as collecting missile data.

 

Lazenka holds career field certifications in Test & Evaluation and Program Management. She earned her masters in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee and is currently pursuing her PhD in Higher Education Administration from Liberty University in VA. Her personal decorations include the Air Medal Strike/Flight (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (eight awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

 

Cmdr. Colette Lazenka is a native of Horsham, Pennsylvania; she graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2002 and earned her Naval Flight Officer wings in December 2003. Click here to read more.

Brigadier General Clarence “Bud” Anderson – The last living and highest scoring World War II Triple Ace Fighter Pilot!

 

Born January 13, 1922, Bud is 101 years young!

 

  • Leading Ace of 363rd fighter squadron

  • 161/4 victories flying out of Leister Field UK

  • Inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame & International Air and Space Hall of Fame

  • Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

  • Flew P-51 Mustang named Old cCow in WWII

  • “Best Fighter Pilot I’ve ever seen” Gen. Chuck Yeager

 

Come listen to Bud tell some stories, share a video, and greet you!

 

General admission day of the event is free. Seating is limited.

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The following video was developed by Scott and Kyle Guyette of Sleeping Dogs Productions for Bud’s 100th Birthday Celebration in Auburn, Calif. “It will make you laugh; it will make you cry….hallmarks of a good film,” Jim Anderson (Colonel Clarence “Bud” Anderson’s son).

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