By Pat Lawrence
Jean Pickering |
Many people move because they need more storage space or a bigger
garage. Jean and Charlie Pickering moved “so we could have an
airstrip.”
The Pickerings are both licensed pilots and licensed flying instructors.
Jean’s husband took up flying in the 60’s. Jean got her
own license in 1971. “I took lessons from someone else, not
Charley!” To earn money for flying lessons, she started a sign
painting business. “I had majored in art and home economics
at Wesleyan. After raising four kids, I found it was much easier to
paint signs than sell paintings.
Her sign painting business was a success, and she kept it for 25
years. “I started Pickering Sign Company when my youngest was
in preschool. I painted trucks, and taxicabs, just about anything,
and thoroughly enjoyed it. And, I kept flying.”
It only took 6 months to get her license, but Jean kept going to
school, building time, getting experience with different instructors.
Her first license was as a private pilot. Now, she is licensed as
a commercial pilot for single engine and multi-engine planes.
The woman who had majored in Art and Home Economics taught at Rambar
Aviation for 13 years. She’s been flying for 32 years and has
6000 hours in the air. She has flown all over the US and Canada. Jean
says, “I’ll be 70 this summer. We have eleven grandchildren
on the ramp and one in the hanger. Now, I just fly for the people
I want to fly for.”
In 1976, Jean flew from Sacramento, California to Wilmington, Delaware
in the last of the Women’s Powder Puff Transcontinental Air
Races. The Powder Puff Air Race was held every year from 1929-1976.
“That was the last year the race was an all woman event. I had
four children. My copilot had six. We took turns flying and had a
good sized cheering section waiting for us.” The 200 women racers
flew with a handicap, based on the speed of their aircraft. The race
lasted 4 days and forty-five racers didn’t finish. Their route
took them over the Grand Canyon. Jean says after 1976, “The
men wanted in. They still have an air race, but it’s not the
original Powder Puff race.”
The Pickerings got their first plane in 1968, and moved to Lowell
Ohio, in 1977, the year after the Powder Puff. Jean has taught about
45 people to fly, many of them women. “I taught 2 of my kids
to fly. One daughter married an airline pilot for Delta, one son got
involved in radio-controlled planes, so we’re all interested,
somehow. “
Their airstrip is 2000 ft and home base for seven planes, including
the Pickering’s four seat Cessna, two seat Cessna and a single
seat, open cockpit Baby Ace plane her husband and son built.
Jean had quilted off and on for years, but put the hobby on hold
when she decided to learn how to fly. When she quit painting signs,
she began quilting seriously, even teaching appliqué. “I
don’t think I’m very good but I love to share techniques,
so that’s what I teach on Tuesdays at Town Square Fabric and
Quilt Shop in Marietta.”
Effie Townsend, the owner of the quilt shop, is a close friend. As
part of the Ohio Bicentennial, the two have plans for an Ohio Star
–maybe several Ohio stars - quilt to be painted on the store’s
parking lot. They will also be attending the quilt shows they enjoy
so much, from Houston to Philadelphia. Jean flies her friend and their
husbands in the four seater Cessna. “Effie is a great passenger.
And I let Charlie take a turn every once in a while!”
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