Sport Aerobatics December 2007, by Scott Westover
Celebrating Debby Rihn-Harvey
Debby Rihn-Harvey is the First Lady of Aerobatics. She owes much of her aviation success to her grandfather, who whisked her away to many weekend fly-ins. Her barnstorming grandpa had an aviation business and a trade school for mechanics in the 1920s. He even built an airplane call the Overland Sport. Debby's father also had the aviation bug, and as a certificated flight instructor he helped the kids learn to fly, and those lessons were punctuated with a solo on their 16th birthday.
Debby discovered aerobatics as a teenager. In an interview with Sport Aerobatics after winning the title of 2006 Unlimited Champion at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship, Debby recalled, "My first spins were when I was about 14 years old, just after one of my dad's friends lost his life in a spin accident. I remember that I was scared to death of stalls, let alone spins. Those spin lessons were my first taste of aerobatics, and my next real aerobatic experience was with my [now] late husband, Eoin "Doc" Harvey. He had flown competition and had been the doctor for the U.S. Team when we met. I decided for safety purposes that I should learn some aerobatics so that I could recover from any attitude without overstressing the aircraft, passengers, or myself."
Debby has been the women's national champion nine times and is the longest-flying member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team. She has represented the United States in 13 World Championships. She refers to herself as "competitive and a perfectionist"; it is no wonder that she has accumulated more medals in world aerobatic contests than any other person in America. Those who work with Debby in the contest environment have come to rely on her expertise on everything from judging and logistics to planning and presenting the perfect 4-Minute Freestyle routine. Bob Stark, the contest director for the 2007 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, recently referred to Debby as "a national treasure".
Debby is an aerobatic competency evaluator for the International Council of Airs Shows and an FAA designated pilot examiner who administers flight exams for private pilot through airline transport pilot certificates. Those credentials keep her busy, but never too busy to keep her aerobatic edge. "During the season I try to fly at least twice a day and on the weekends three times a day with critiquing," Debby said.
An active member of the IAC board of directors and an aerobatic evangelist, Debby believes that the best way to start down the road that may eventually lead to the IAC Hall of Fame is to get involved. "Start by getting instruction and have someone watch you fly as much as possible. Join a local chapter and have fun...it doesn't have to be as intense as I have made it. Participation is so much more than just winning," she said. "You can make lifelong friends from all over the world who share your love of aviation." She is also keenly aware that the giants of our sport do not achieve their success on their own. "If you become a serious competitor, remember that one never totally succeeds on their own," Debby warned. "It takes the support of family, the help of coaches and critique pilots, and a great deal of determination, dedication and sacrifice."
November 15, 2007 News Item
2007 HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT - DEBBY RIHN-HARVEY
Debby Rihn-Harvey is an aerobatic competency evaluator for the International Council of Air Shows and an FAA designated pilot examiner who administers flight exams for private pilot through airline transport pilot certificates. In September 2006, Debby became the highest-ranked overall aerobatic competitor in the United States. She has been the women’s National Champion nine times and is the longest standing member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team. During her 25 years with the team, Debby has represented the United States in 13 World Aerobatic Championships in North America and Europe. She has won more medals in world aerobatic contests than any other person in the United States.
Sport Aerobatics October 2019 article
Putting a Spin on Aerobatic Training
Handling the airplane in any situation
by Rachel Ashely
DbbyRihnHarvey October 2019 SAERO article.pdf
