Born and raised in California, Vicky Benzing is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer. With more than 7000 hours of flight time and over 1200 parachute jumps, Vicky has a passion for everything airborne. Her flying career has spanned over thirty years and she currently holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating as well as a commercial rating in helicopters, seaplanes, and gliders. In 2005, Vicky began training with air show legend, Wayne Handley. Competing in aerobatic contests throughout the US, Vicky won first place in the Intermediate category in both the Northwest and Southwest Regional Championships in 2006. Two years later she placed in the top 10 finishers at the US National Aerobatic Championships in the Advanced category. In between flying in aerobatic contests Vicky began performing in local air shows. Today she focuses her energy on flying airshows. Vicky holds a surface level waiver and a formation lead card, and has flown well over 150 air show performances at venues across the US, including performing at the largest airshow in the world, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. In 2010 Vicky began racing in the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV and was chosen “Rookie of the Year” after winning her first race ever. In 2014 Vicky brought home the first place Sport Silver and Bronze Jet trophies. Last September, Vicky made history as the “fastest woman” racer ever in the history of the Reno Air Races when she qualified a one-of-a-kind L-139 jet on the race course at 469.831 mph. In addition to her aviation pursuits Vicky holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley and has had a successful career in the Silicon Valley high tech industry. Vicky is currently Vice President of the Sport Class Air Racing Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA. Vicky is sponsored by the APECS Aerospace Corporation, California Aeronautical University, Accuwright, Oregon Aero, , and ASL Camguard.