Aviation Thrills, Chills, and Skills with Vicky Benzing

The Adrenaline Zone

Imagine yourself soaring through the air - sometimes just a couple hundred feet above the ground - at hundreds of miles an hour, performing such maneuvers as spins, loops, rolls, as well as the somewhat ominously titled ‘Hammerhead’, all while being subjected to up to 10 g’s of force and knowing full well that one misstep could very possibly lead to hitting the ground! Welcome to just another day at the office for today’s exceptional guest.

Born and raised in California, Vicky Benzing is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer and air racer. With over 9500 hours of flight time and over 1300 parachute jumps, Vicky’s flying career has spanned nearly 40 years, and she currently holds an airline transport rating as well as a commercial rating in helicopters, seaplanes, and gliders. Fascinated by flight since childhood, Vicky was eventually fortunate enough to receive training from the legendary pilot, Amelia Reid. After earning her PhD. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, and working in the Silicon Valley high tech industry, Vicky returned to her lifelong passion full time where she now holds a surface level aerobatic waiver, and has flown in hundreds of air shows across the country. She was voted “Rookie of the Year” in her first year of air racing, and currently holds the crown of the “Fastest Woman Ever” in the history of the Reno Air Races. In addition to all of these spectacular achievements, Vicky has also worked on a number of film, television, and media projects.

Today, Sandy and Sandra sit down with Vicky to explore her inspiring journey from her early fascination with aviation to her remarkable career including her many, many achievements along the way as well as her unique perspective as a truly extraordinary woman in aviation.

Episode Highlights:

• What sparked Vicky’s passion for aviation and aerobatics
• Her aerobatics training
• Amelia Reid’s impact upon Vicky and her career
• Her flight from New Jersey to California in her own plane
• The California Aeronautical University
• Vicky’s PhD in Chemistry and work in the tech industry
• What kept Vicky from becoming an astronaut
• Vicky’s Extra 300 planes
• Surface level aerobatic waivers
• Her favorite and most difficult maneuvers
• Air racing
• Vicky’s P-51 Mustang
• Becoming a movie and TV star with her planes
• Vicky’s interest in parachute jumping
• Her experience over the years as a woman pilot
• Vicky’s advice for young girls who want to follow in her footsteps
• Her thoughts on the future of aerobatic flight

Quotes:

"You can have it all. Absolutely. You don't have to make those choices… you can have it all."

"My uncle took me flying when I was a little kid, and I remember it distinctly."

"The moment I stepped into the airplane and took the controls, I knew that was something I would do for the rest of my life."

"But at an air show, they pay you to come, they pay for your hotel and car. The crowd tells you how much they love you."

"You need a lot of g-forces to make the maneuvers look crisp."

"It's an amazing time to be a pilot, especially for young people entering the industry."

Keep the adrenaline rush going at:

Homepage: theadrenalinezone.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadrenalinezone/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Adrenalinezonep

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theadrenalinezone

Vicky’s Homepage: https://www.vickybenzing.com/