First place for ISU pilots

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A race lasting lasting more than 2000 miles ended in victory.

Indiana State University senior Jessica Campbell along with faculty member Victoria Dunbar returned with their composite airplane to the Terre Haute Air Center Monday afternoon. They took first place in the collegiate division and second overall among 32 entrants in the all-female 80th Annual Air Race Classic.

"We're pretty excited," said Campbell. "It was a great experience, flying around the country, we had a lot of fun, it was a blast."

The Air Race Classic is a three to four day event lasting 2,359 nautical miles flying throughout the central United States. The competition handicaps each aircraft so winning depends on strategy regarding finding a good tailwind and avoiding storms to make the best time.

"I think we just made smart weather decisions," said Dunbar. "We picked the right altitudes, we just picked the right time to fly."

The ISU team was sponsored by the College of Technology and Dixie Chopper Air. They flew a Diamond DA40 aircraft owned by Dixie Chopper Air, based at the Putnam County Airport. The only other time ISU participated in the Air Race Classic was in 2007.