December 19, 2003 Update: Wings of Their Own Dear Friends: We are almost there! After six weeks of intensive editing, including hardware and software failures, floods, bad weather, needy children and a VERY supportive spouse, a preview copy of “Wings of Their Own” was ready to view. On December 13, 2003 we showed a preview of the almost finished piece to a crowd of Ninety-Nines and friends at the IMAX theater in the Cradle of Aviation Museum at Mitchell Field on Long Island. This is very close to Curtiss Field where the Ninety-Nines first formed, and it was days away from the 100th anniversary of powered flight. In the films, there were 138 women pilots; over 99 of the Ninety-Nines, and the piece ran 99 minutes. We still have to add music, cut it down a little, and add a few more ladies. The audience liked that it moved along so well, and was so full of information and interesting voices. With two exceptions (one little girl & a Navy navigator), every voice is a woman pilot. Susan Maule and Ann Honer provided great poetic commentary to move from one topic to another. And we received amazing footage from Rosemarie McRae,a Whirly Girl in Australia, as well as from Pat Keefer of her and her mother’s winning Arc En Ciel air race in 1996. The plan is to now really finish the piece in order to do a premier in January or February. First choice would be to get real theatrical distribution so you can all see it in the local movie theater. Next choice would be to go for national PBS showing, hopefully during either March “Women’s History Month” or for the next pledge drive season. So watch the website for more news. And watch the Sunday New York Times for an article. Yes, a reporter interviewed both Abby and Mary at the preview. Yes! Happy Winter Solstice and a very joyful and hopeful New Year with Fair Skies & Tailwinds for All, Mary Scott and Abby Dress Co-Producers of “Wings of Their Own”