The AirVenture Homebuilt Aircraft judging team has a reputation for being a bunch of old men (and one woman) with very little turnover or fresh perspectives. While that impression may have been largely true a few years ago, things are clearly changing as evidenced by the two young women that I talked with this week.
Noelle Palmer has been on the judging team for about 13 years and brings strong credentials as a aerospace engineer with Lockheed Advanced Development Programs—Skunkworks! After graduating from Embry-Riddle, she spent three years in Palmdale, CA, but now lives closer to family in Georgia. While her dad was a GA pilot, Noelle was more motivated by his friends in EAA Chapter 1093, where she attended their Kids’ Aviation Camp. Jim Powell, who was an AirVenture judge, brought her to her first AirVenture when she was 18 in 2007 and put her to work doing data entry for the judging group. She has been volunteering ever since.
Aerin Hubbell also comes from an aviation family. Her father is an A&P for Airbus Helicopters and a life-long pilot. Aerin and her dad built an RV-10, which Aerin currently flies. They are also restoring a Grumman AA1A. Just 18, she graduated from high school and is headed for Purdue University to join their Professional Flight Program this fall. Aerin has shadowed the judging team for the last two AirVentures but they are recording her scores this year. Pretty heady stuff for an 18 year old.
Asked what they thought of the upcoming changes in judging, both young women expressed excitement and support for the changes. “This is a great step to recognize the time and effort that individuals take to build their own airplanes.”
