Alerts Sign-up
Judy Rice, a pioneering aviator and educator, passed away on July 19, 2024. Her life was marked by a passion for aviation that began in childhood when she saw a hot air balloon overhead and dreamed of flying. Despite societal norms suggesting “girls don’t fly,” Rice initially became a teacher and taught for 18 years.
At the age of 40, inspired by her son Ben, Rice pursued her dream of flying. She flew around the world and set a world speed record from Greenland to Iceland. As a former president of the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE), she left her teaching position to develop aviation and aerospace courses for the National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project.
Rice received several accolades throughout her career, including the Experimental Aircraft Association's Outstanding Ground Volunteer Award and the Minnesota Governor's Award for Excellence in Aerospace Education. She owned a bright red 1971 Grumman AA-1A airplane named “Chuck.”
