Honored 2010
Carol Rymer Davis was born in Denver, Colorado on November 28, 1944. She graduated with a B.S. from Colorado College, and received her MD from University of Colorado Health Sciences. Her residency was at Lovelace Research Institute in Albuquerque. Davis served as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Army Reserve at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (now Anchutz Medical Center).
Carol was licensed to fly hot-air balloons in 1973 and was licensed to fly gas balloons in 1975. She set the world altitude record of 31,300 feet for AX-5 category hot air balloons in 1979. In 1981 she set the world record for distance in this category. She was awarded the prestigious Montgolfier Diploma from Federation Aeronautique Internationale in 1981.
In 1995, she set the world record for duration and distance for a gas balloon with a flight from Albuquerque to Lisbon, Ohio. In 1999 she won the REMAX National Balloon race with a flight from Denver to East Wales, Maine a distance of 1,782 miles.
Carol Davis participated in five Gordon Bennet Cup races, and was the first woman to win a Gordon Bennett race in 2004. In 2005, she was the Recipient of the Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award given by the National Aviation Club for her outstanding
aviation achievements. She and balloonist Richard Abruzzo received the Harmon Trophy (awarded for outstanding achievements in aeronautics) in 2005.
Do you have an interest or want to support general, commercial, or military aviation?