Before upgrading from the 2020 Cessna to the Endeavor CRJs later this fall, Endeavor Air STEP student Laura Wilson wanted to add one more accolade to her resume: A repeat win in the Air Race Classic.  

The Air Race Classic is a four-day race that spans an approximate 2,400 miles, bringing together women pilots from all different backgrounds in aviation. After taking home the win for Kent State in the 2022 Air Race Classic, Laura raced to victory once again in 2023, beating the competition by over 3 minutes and achieving accolades of 1^st Overall Collegiate Challenge Award, 1st place Fastest Cessna Award, and 1st place Fastest Women in Aviation International (WAI) Team.  

We spoke with Laura to see where her passion began and to learn more about her journey and accomplishments before starting as an Endeavor First Officer later this fall. 

Could you tell us more about what the Air Race Classic is for those who don’t know? 

The Air Race Classic is an all-women’s race, and this year, there were about 42 teams, so about a hundred racers in total because the team could have two or three racers on it. It’s females from all sorts of backgrounds in aviation, like retired air traffic control, some airline pilots, plenty of flight schools, and then some women who just have a plane and want to do it for fun. Its [main goal] is to gather women from all around the industry to fly competitively and represent women in aviation. 

Since this is your second year competing, how did this year compare to last? 

This year, the race started in North Dakota and went down to Florida. There was a bigger change in latitude and overall, you’re spanning most of the country when you’re doing it. It felt like we traveled more this year than last year. The pressure was on since we won the year prior. 

Kent State always sends someone who has raced before and someone who has never raced before. Last year, I was the new person, and I raced with my friend and roommate Alex. We really had a good feeling for the kind of people we were and how we would work well together. She showed me the ropes and how everything was done.  

This year, it switched. I raced with Peyton Turner, who I’ve known briefly, but I really didn’t get to know her until we were on the race. We worked well together! Again, I had more experience than she did, so she had that respect going into it. But I told her at the start, even though we’re both experienced differently, our decisions still weigh the same amount in the aircraft. 

What started your interest in aviation? 

My dad designed airplane engines for 40 years, which is pretty cool. He also got his private pilot license in college, but it was more so just a hobby. I knew some family friends who flew, and I had some family members who also got their license, so that’s what sparked the interest. Then in high school, everyone is telling you to pick a career and pick what you want to be, and becoming a pilot was always in the back of my mind as something I could do. My dad got me a discovery flight at a local airport, and so I went up, flew over my house, and fell in love with it. 

How did you become passionate about Endeavor? 

I’ve had a lot of friends who recently left Kent State to go to Endeavor, and they always have great things to say about it: the safety, the culture, and the family environment. 

Endeavor has been around the entire time I’ve been at college at various career fairs and outreach and alumni events, and it’s always great to go up and talk to the representatives and keep in touch with them. I can’t imagine a greater company to work for to start my career. 

What has it been like being a STEP student? 

I enrolled in the STEP program when I was still a private pilot back in my first or second year. At that point, I really didn’t know what I was signing up for, but every time I saw an Endeavor table at a career fair, I would always go up, say hi and check in. 

Even though I was just going through training as a private pilot or instrument rating, they still said, “Even though you’re not ready now, we’ll still let you come when you are ready.” It was cool to have that external factor cheering me on through my training. 

Interested in competing in the Air Race Classic in 2024 to help represent women in aviation? Please visit airraceclassic.org to learn more.