The first thing in my mind, as I read all of the posts here, is the only way I am familiar with the name Samantha Hines is seeing her picture in magazine or on line in photos at contests years ago. i don't think I have heard or read anything about any model related activities of hers in the last several years. From Steve's and Samantha's descriptions she has been working pretty hard in establishing her path in life. Sounds like she will a very successful person in whatever she decides to do with her life.
What I haven't seen anywhere is anything about her involvement in the event, or running a contest and being a CD at any contests. I read the mags, Stunt News and this forum a lot, and do not recall seeing her name any where. I don't think I have ever seen her listed as being a judge at any major contests, or at the NATS. Samantha may have some other real life experience in organizing and managing business that is a definite plus. But I don't think she has left any kind of foot print in the national spectrum of Precision Aerobatics. Some might put it that she has no name recognition in the event. To me that means she hasn't been very active in the event to an extent where she has the experience to be event director at the NATS. I haven't been to very many C/L NATS, but the few that I have and in talking with others that are more experienced, and some of those who have been the ED, it can be and will be pretty intense. This has nothing to do with her being female, If it were Alice Royer, Mary Gebhardt or Randi Gifford or some of the other females in the stunt community with similar flying and/or major contest back grounds, I don't think we would be having this discussion. In thinking about this as I'm typing, wasn't it just at last years NATS where Todd Lee's wife Michelle stepped up to be an assistant E.D. when it was really needed ?? I really don't think PAMPA has been anywhere near what some would call a "good old boys club" as it seems like it's being insinuated here. I think if you are going to be the E.D. of the biggest, most important stunt contest in the country, you need a reputation and credibility that the entrants can feel confident that you will be able to handle all of the crap that is CERTAINLY going to be shoveled your way. I don't think anyone that is a regular NATS attendee gives a rats ass if you are male, female or whatever. Just be some one that knows the rules, knows the event, has some experience to fall back on when the unexpected does (and WILL) happen. And it doesn't hurt if you know or are familiar a pretty good cross section of the people all across the country who fly this event. NATS week isn't exactly the place for on the job training, in my opinion. I like to use the analogy of learning to drive a car at Indianapolis on Memorial Day! In thinking about it again, I don't see it as a bad opportunity for Samantha to be involved as an assistant E.D., add her skills and work experience to the effort, and still fulfil the requirements she needs for her internship, if I am understanding the situation correctly. It's certainly something that should be considered.
This is just my feelings on the issue.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee