In September 2006, Debby Rihn-Harvey became the highest-ranked overall aerobatic competitor in the United States. She has previously won the Women's U.S. National Championship for the seven years in a row -- excluding 2005 when her aircraft had sustained hurricane damage. Rihn-Harvey is also the longest standing member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatics Team. During her 24-years with the team, Rihn-Harvey has represented the United States in 12 World Aerobatic Championships in North America and Europe and is on her way to number 13 this summer in Granada, Spain.

In world competition, Rihn-Harvey has won 15 medals including Gold. She also holds many regional titles. Her competition background shows in her airshow style with a focus on precision. Watch for near perfect vertical lines and precision in her rolls, point rolls and snap rolls.

Rihn-Harvey flies a Cap 232 known as the Hurricane 2. Delivered from France in the spring of 2000, the Cap was only the fifth of its kind in the United States and featuring a completely new wing design made of high performance carbon fiber. The new airfoil provides increased strength, stiffness and lower weight. The planes' wings span 24 feet and 3 inches and the plane is designed to endure up to 10 positive or negative gs. The Cap can climb 3,290 feet per minute and has an astonishing roll rate of 420 degrees per second.

Depending on the weather conditions, you will see magnificent vertical lines with multiple rolls up and down. The vertical lines will be topped with hammerhead turns, pushes or pulls to vertical lines down, caps to level upright or inverted flight, tail slides, torque rolls or Lomcevaks. All of these maneuvers are routine flying for Rihn-Harvey. Horizontal and vertical rolls will include full rolls, point rolls, and inside or outside snap rolls. Combination rolls frequently change directions and are always done with a focus on precision, even with the extraordinary 400+ degree/second roll rate of the aircraft.

This native Nebraskan is the third generation of aviators in her family. Her grandfather, Roy Furstenberg, manufactured the Overland Sport Aircraft in Omaha in the 1920s, while her father, Jack Furstenberg, began teaching her to fly in her teens. Rihn-Harvey is a captain for Southwest Airlines. Besides the many hours of practice it takes for competition and airshow flying, she also manages her fixed base operation at La Porte Municipal Airport, Harvey & Rihn Aviation. This world renowned aerobatics school is a great place to acquire new skills or just to shake the dust off those that you haven't used in a while. Rihn-Harvey also is an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator (ACE) for the International Council of Airshows and an FAA Designated Flight Examiner who administers flight exams for Private Pilot through Airline Transport Pilot certificates.

Birth date: May 8, 1951, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Education:

• Burke High School, Omaha Nebraska
• Hastings College, Hastings Nebraska
• B.A. Biology, 1973
• B.A. Medical Technology, 1974

Employment:

• Airline Captain with Southwest Airlines.
• Owner/manager of Harvey & Rihn Aviation, Inc.
• FAA Designated Flight Examiner
• ICAS Designated Aerobatic Competency Evaluator.

Pilot Ratings

• Private pilot in 1968
• Ratings include Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Single & Multi engine land, Airplane Single Engine Sea, B-737, 25,000 total flight hours.

Other:

• Air show performer.
• Board of Directors International Aerobatic Club
• Board of Directors Houston Designated Pilot Examiners Group
• Airport Advisory Board, City of LaPorte
• Aviation Advisory Board, San Jacinto College
• Active member of EAA, IAC, AOPA and Ninety Nines, WAI Guest speaker promoting aviation and aviation safety.
• Building a replica of the Overland Sport, and aircraft manufactured in the 1920s by her grandfather, Roy Furstenberg.
• Enjoys swimming and golf.

The Cap is a French -built plane. At this time, there are less than 10 in the United States. For more information, visit www.capaviation.com

World Championships:

• 2007 Granada, Spain -Silver Medal Womens Team
• 2005 Burgos, Spain - Bronze Medal 4 Minute Freestyle
• 2003 Lakeland, Florida - Gold Medal 4 minute Freestyle - Silver Medal Freestyle
• 2001 Burgos, Spain
• 2000 Muret, France - Bronze Medal, Women's Team
• 1998 Trenchin, Slovakia - Bronze Medal, Women's Team
• 1996 Oklahoma City, OK., USA - Silver medal, Women's Team
• 1994 Hungary - Bronze Medal, Women's Team
• 1992 Yverdon, Switzerland - Silver Medal, Women's Team
• 1990 LeHavre, France weather prevented contest
• 1988 Red Deer, Alberto, Canada - Gold Medal, Women's Team Gold Medal, Unknown Flight
• 1986 South Cerney, England - Silver Medal, Women's Team Bronze Medal, Freestyle Flight
• 1984 Bekescsaba, Hungary - Bronze Medal Overall Women, Silver Medal - Women's Team, Silver Medal - "Unknown" Flight

U.S. Nationals

• 2006 Sherman, Texas Overall National Champion Unlimited
• 2004 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
  Overall Vice-Champion
• 2003 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 2002 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 2001 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 2000 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 1999 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 1998 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion Unlimited
• 1997 Sherman, Texas Second Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1995 Sherman, Texas Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1993 Sherman, Texas Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1991 Sherman, Texas Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1989 Sherman, Texas Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1987 Sherman, Texas Qualified for Unlimited Team
• 1985 Sherman, Texas Women's National Champion
• 1983 Mesa, Arizona Qualified for Unlimited National Team
• 1982 Sherman, Texas advanced category
• 1981 Sherman, Texas advanced category
• 1980 Sherman, Texas Intermediate and advanced category

Regional

• Winner of several regional contest since 1980
• 1999 Vice Champion of Championship of the Americas

Sponsorship Information

"Air shows are likely to grow even more popular with marketers as they learn of the event's unusually broad-based demographics and fan loyalty." Adweek Magazine

Airshows are becoming an increasing popular venue for corporate branding and sponsorship opportunities.

And, with Debby's new plane and her growing following on the competition AND airshow circuit, now is a better time than ever to consider a partnership with the U.S. National Champion & World Gold Medalist.

Many sponsorship levels are available - all guaranteed to give your organization elevated awareness and brand-association.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this web site is not to be used for, or in lieu of, actual training from an FAA certified instructor. Please consult an instructor for real answers to any aviation questions.