Racing Jets Incorporated

Pilots

Benzing, Vicki

• Race #: 139
• Aircraft Name: Darkstar
• Base: Port Lavaca, TX
• Owner: Dianna Stanger
• Crew: Bruce Carlson
• Vladimir Silchuk
• Steve Plunkett
• Kathy Cloke
• Jasmine Gordon
• Sponsor(s): Electro-Methods, LLC
• Ladd Gardner Aviation Insurance
• Scheyden Precision Eyewear
• Qualifying Speed:
• Race Results:
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Born and raised in California, Vicky Benzing is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer. With more than 7500 hours of flight time and over 1200 parachute jumps, Vicky has a passion for everything airborne. Her flying career has spanned over thirty years flying everything from antique taildraggers to modern day corporate jets. She holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating as well as a commercial pilot rating in helicopters, seaplanes, and gliders.

 

Vicky currently focuses most of her energy on her airshow flying, entertaining and inspiring audiences of all ages in her highly modified Extra 300S and in her vintage 1940 Boeing Stearman. She holds a surface level aerobatic waiver and a formation card, and has flown well over 150 air show performances at venues across the US, including performing at the largest airshow in the world during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI.

 

Vicky began racing in the Sport Class at the National Championship Air Races in 2010 and was awarded the honor of “Rookie of the Year” after winning her first race ever. In 2013, Vicky qualified to race in the Jet Class and in 2014, racing in both classes, Vicky brought home first place Sport Silver and Bronze Jet trophies. Last year in 2015, Vicky raced Dianna Stanger’s one-of-a-kind Aero Vodochody L-139, a 2015 EAA winner of the “Best Jet” trophy. She subsequently made Reno Air Race history as the fastest woman ever on the race course when she qualified the L-139 at 469.831mph. Look for Vicky to be racing this beautiful gold racer again this September.

 

You can learn more about Vicky on her web site at