California couple set aviation record

Linda and David Ravetti. Submitted

On July 4, 2011, the couple flew from Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz., to Crescent City. The 765-mile flight, which included one fuel stop, lasted 5 hours, 26 minutes, for an average speed of 140.49 mph. They made the flight in a 1965 Mooney M20C, a light single-engine aircraft. This record for “Speed Over a Recognized Course” represents the fastest speed of any piston engine landplane weighing between 2,205 and 3,858 pounds over the route.

The couple was married in Redwood National Park and the record flight took place on the couple’s 13th wedding anniversary.

David Ravetti made his first solo flight in 1973 and has since logged more than 19,000 hours of flight time. He holds Certified Flight Instructor and Air Transport Pilot certificates. Linda Ravetti made her first solo flight in 1995 and holds a Private Pilot certificate. This is their first aviation record.

David Ravetti is an air ambulance pilot for Cal-Ore Life Flight, based at Murray Field in Eureka. Linda Ravetti is a nurse practitioner for the Department of Veterans Affairs, also based in Eureka.