Air Racer: Vicky Benzing

Benzing’s air racing career began in 2010 at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, where she was chosen Rookie of the Year. In 2014, she took home the first place Sport Class Silver and Bronze Class Jet trophies. The next year, Benzing wowed the racing world with her 469-plus-mph qualifying time in an L–139 jet, making her the fastest woman racer in the history of the event. In 2017, she raced an L–39 in the Jet Class, and Dianna Stanger’s twin turbo-charged Lancair Super Legacy Lucky Too in the Sport Class. Faced with a blown turbocharger in the last 100 yards of the final lap of the Sport Class Gold race, her luck held: She finished second.

Benzing grew up in a science and aviation family. Her father was an electrical engineer who taught her to work on engines, and her uncle flew airshows. He triggered her interest in aviation with an airplane ride when she was a child. A self-described “nerd,” Benzing pursued her passion for math and chemistry, earning a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. In graduate school, Benzing got her pilot certificate, but flying was a hobby, not a profession, while she built her successful career in the tech industry. When Benzing retired, her flying took precedence.

Highly motivated, Benzing maintains a rigorous practice schedule that keeps her in the cockpit about 400 hours a year. The reason? “I like the camaraderie, the people, and the opportunity to be a role model for women and girls.”

While Benzing considers herself lucky, her success is clearly the result of hard work. And she shares the glory willingly. “I couldn’t do it alone,” Benzing said. “If my husband, Jeff, ever stops crewing for me,” she laughed, “I’ll have to quit.” And if we’re lucky, that won’t be happening any time soon.