‘Flying feels so free, so liberating. You’re totally self-sufficient’

San Diego State University journalism professor January Riddle received her license to fly in 1983. Riddle, 46, mainly a recreational flier, had previously competed in only two small-scale races. But when the opportunity to fly in the Air Race Classic, the Super Bowl of women’s aviation races, arose this summer, she teamed with experienced pilot Sally Bocinski. They borrowed a Cessna 172 for the 2,600-mile, four-day journey that took the racers to obscure airports in New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois and West Virginia before ending in York, P a. Riddle, a member of the 99’s, an international organization for women pilots founded by Amelia Earhart, is now preparing for a 500-mile, one-day race later this month. Riddle spoke with Times staff writer Terry Rather and was photographed by Bob Grieser.

It was wonderful being with all those accomplished women pilots. The race was never scary but was very intense, more so than I thought it would be.

It’s not like getting in a plane and leisurely going somewhere. Every minute you’re concentrating on not getting off course, making sure the plane is flying at full capacity every single second, and watching the weather. It takes all of the skills that you ever learned and tests them every single moment.

The start of the race was a thrill. It was a staggered start with airplanes taking off every 10 seconds. At the beginning of the race, no one talks to you. But, after you’ve flown, people say, “You’re still here, you didn’t flake out, you’re still with us.” Then you become part of the group. It’s a special group, and it becomes an important part of your life.

The airplane we had was one of the slowest allowed in the race, so we were actually in the air seven to eight hours a day. It took us three days to finish the race. So it was three days of getting up at 4:30 in the morning. That was the killer. We had to be able to take off at the first possible minute because our airplane was so slow, and we had to land by sunset.

I had never flown east of Arizona or north of Oregon, so I had a very small scope of what flying is like. There were 48 other planes, and no one had to fly at a certain altitude. You just watched what you’re doing because it’s up to you. It always is. The ultimate responsibility is with the pilot in all situations. But these races are surprisingly safe. The record for women’s air races is very good. There were no crashes or injuries in this race, even though the possibility and potential was there.

Finishing the race was an incredible experience. It was very challenging and very rewarding. The only thing I can compare winning that race to would be like getting an Oscar. It is the absolute, the ultimate, to say you won that race in that kind of competition. We finished 33rd, which is reputable. We were happy we did that well.

Flying feels so free, so liberating. You’re totally self-sufficient, really relying on you and your machine. I feel so fortunate to be able to do this.

When I first started flying, I took a lot of kidding from the guys. There weren’t a lot of women at that time taking lessons at that club. A lot of women who learn to fly do it because their boyfriends or husbands fly, not because they want to. There’s a difference. That made me a little unique, because I wanted to fly.

I always wanted to fly, but there was always something, like college or the job or husband and kids. Women tend to do that, put off their own dreams in favor of others. I found myself looking at my 40th birthday, so I decided now it’s my turn, now I’m going to do it.

Flying is really great. When I get a little crabby, my friends ask me how long it’s been since I’ve flown. “You haven’t flown in a while, have you?” My friends can tell when I haven’t flown.

It’s an addiction. Anything that makes you feel so good makes you want to keep doing it. I’m amazed that people can learn to fly and not keep doing it. I can’t even imagine that. It would be so painful to not be able to do that anymore. Flying adds an entire new dimension to your life.