Erin Recke

From Women Aviators

Erin Recke (1975 - ) is an American pilot who won the 2009 Air Race Classic. Her partner in the two-person transcontinental race was Kelly Burris.

A former corporate jet pilot, Erin now flies for a major Delta Connection carrier based in Atlanta, GA. She currently has over 4,000 flight hours and holds the ratings of CFII/MEI and a Citation 500-series type rating. Erin resides in the Seattle area, is active in the local Women in Aviation and 99s chapters, and volunteers with Angel Flight West.

Air Races

Air Race Classic

Ellen Recke participated in the 2008 Air Race Classic with her teammate Kelly Burris, their very first air race. The team flew as "Classic #31" in Burris' 1962 Beech Debonair. It was their first air race and the adventure of a lifetime. The team departed Bozeman, MT and flew over 2,600 miles through 9 towns to the finish line in Mansfield, MA. Unfortunately along the way they encountered very bad weather and ended up having to file an IFR flight plan, which disqualified them from the race. However, they did manage to raise over $15,000 for Air Charity Network.

The following year they had refined their strategy and flew a very different race, earning them the First Place spot. This race was June 23-26, 2009 and started in Denver, CO. Nearly 2700 miles later it finished in the small town of Atlantic, IA. Erin and Kelly flew the Air Race Classic in Kelly's Debonair (Lucky "#7") (nicknamed "The Velociraptor") to raise money for and awareness of Angel Flight. In addition to soliciting donations in the preceding months, they donated their $5000 prize money.