Sylvia GrandstaffKathryn (aka Kathy) has been flying gliders for 22 years and owns and flies a Discus CS and a quarter share of a Duo Discus. She represented the United States in the 2007 Junior World Gliding Championships in Rieti, Italy, and served as the team captain for the Junior World Championships in Musbach, Germany in 2011. Representing the US team at the 10th Womens World Gliding Championships in Lake Keepit, Australia in club class she placed 12th. She is proud to be part of the team in which the first US world champion was crowned since 1985 (Sarah Arnold, Standard Class). During the 2020 season, Kathy set 19 National and 26 California state records – the best way to social distance! In her professional life, Kathryn holds a BS in mechanical engineering and a MS in aerospace engineering. Currently, Kathryn is an engineering director at Northrop Grumman where she is the Chief Engineer for RQ-4 Global Hawk Republic of Korea and Japan variants. Kathryn lives in Tehachapi with her partner Jim, and her cat, Norigato (rescued from an RV park at a glider contest).

Kathy has arranged for an ASW-20 to fly in Garray, and to prepare she has is borrowing an ASW-20 local to southern California. She is flying the Avenal spring contest (not SSA sanctioned) and will be flying XC out of Tehachapi (there are more records to break)!

Having been part of 4 international contests, her biggest insight or takeaway is that managing stress is important and that you are the pilot you think you are.

Flying for the USA is a huge honor – especially as part of the women’s team. It turns out that representation matters and she cannot wait for more women to join in the fold of racing pilots.

NEWS ABOUT KATHRYN

14Jan, 2020

John Good’s Report Day 11

More good – really good – soaring weather, and some notable results to report.  Today’s forecast was for something close [...]

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