Arty Trost, 65, has been flying her “fat ultralight” MaxAir Drifter, which is now classified as an experimental LSA, for more than 19 years, and this year she flew it from her home in Oregon all the way to Sun ‘n Fun. Altogether, the seven-week round trip will cover about 7,500 miles, all of it poking along low and slow, and Trost revels in it. She’s motivated not only by her love of flying, but also by her passion to inspire the next generation of aviators, especially girls. “I believe that as they see what another woman is able to accomplish — in a sport that has very, very few women — it will inspire them to dream big and live life fully,” she wrote in a blog about the trip. Trost flew south to the southern edge of California, then east along the southern border of the U.S. to get to Lakeland. On the way back, she plans to head farther north, crossing the Rockies near Albuquerque and passing through Monument Valley on the way home. A friend, Randy Simpson, has joined Trost for most of the trip, but her husband of 45 years stayed home on their farm. “This might be my longest trip ever, because seven weeks is a long time to be away from home,” she said. But she plans to continue to fly in her trusted Drifter for a long time yet.
Trost uses her flights to promote Girls With Wings, an organization that encourages girls to reach their full potential. The Penelope Pilot Project seeks to increase girls’ participation in aviation events and activities, as well as encourage them to test their wings in other ways. For more about Arty and her trip in the Drifter, click here to view our exclusive AVweb video, and click here to go to her blog.
