Nancy grew up in San Francisco and attended Santa Rosa Jr College where she earned her pilots license and has managed fight schools for over 15 years. Nancy has been flying for over 20 years ..
	A member of various pilot associations including the "99s International Organization of Women Pilots" formed in 1929 with Ameila Earhart as first President.
	Nancy also flew for the Civil Air Patrol search rescue team in South Lake Tahoe.
	Her favorite airplane to fly and do aerobatics in is a 1940 "Stearman" Bi-plane (with over 150 hours logged in the cockpit). They were used as trainers in WWII....
	Flying "INVERTED" with World Famous Aerobatic Pilot Eddie Andreini in his 550 hp, highly modified Super Stearman.
	Proficient in many different types of aircraft, Certified Advanced Ground Instructor and is now working on her commercial license.
	Nancy and Bill first met in 1979 at Bill’s Tattoo Studio. Even though they had many mutual friends, the couple didn’t see each other again for over 28 years. Bill says it was “love at second site”. They were Married on December 8, 2007 by ‘Elvis’ in a pink Cadillac in Las Vegas.

 

Nancy's 1940 Stearman	Nancy The Pilot
Click here to move foreard & backword	Nancy's Palapa

General Aviation News….. Back where she belongs
By JANICE WOOD

Nancy Ginesi-Hill finds the Stearman she was meant to own Some things are just meant to be — just ask Nancy Ginesi-Hill. This was proven to the Sacramento pilot when she bought her 1940 PT-17 Stearman two years ago. While doing some research into the military history of her new plane, she discovered its last assignment was in 1944 at Eagle Field in Dos Palos, Calif., a field where Ginesi-Hill had volunteered for more than three years.      "I knew this plane was meant for me," she said with absolute conviction. It also was with absolute conviction that Ginesi-Hill pursued her passion for flight, facing challenges ranging from lack of support at home to a lack of funds."Before I started flying I restored classic cars and motorcycles," she recounted. "I was a tomboy growing up, working on engines in garages since I was 16. I was living in Grass Valley in 1988 when I read a story on the front page of the Grass Valley Union about the 99s at the airport flying airplanes. I thought how cool would it be to ride my 1940 Harley Davidson, that I restored, to the airport and jump in my old 1940 biplane and fly?"

She was married at the time and his knee-jerk response to her dream was, "You can't fly an airplane! Girls can't fly!" "A few months later I divorced him, went to the local airport in Sacramento and said 'teach me how to fly,'" she said. . She started her flight training in 1989, moved to Santa Rosa and earned her license in January 1990. "After I received my license I could not afford to continue my training," she recalled. "I was a single mom of two with no support, struggling just to pay the bills. No one in my family flew but me, so of course they all thought I was crazy to even want to fly."
          She tried to join the military to continue her flight training, but at 29, she was too old — having missed the cut-off age of 28-1/2 but just a few months.
"I also tried applying for scholarships, which were scarce at that time, with no luck," she said. "To be able to hang around the airport and airplanes, I started working at the local FBO for $6 an hour."
        While she couldn't get a loan for training, she was able to obtain some grants to continue her ground school. She was the first person to receive a government grant to go through the Aeronautics Program at Santa Rosa Junior College.
         But bad news followed that good news. The flight school where she had been working closed down. "My dreams of aviation went on the back burner for a while," she said, noting she took on jobs as a bartender and chauffeur to take care of her two children.
          It was several years later when she moved to Sacramento that she was able to get back into aviation. She started working at flight schools in the area, flew for the Civil Air Patrol and the Yolo County Sherriff's Department to log hours and get back into flying.
In 2003, she became chairman of the local 99s chapter — she had joined the international organization when she was a student pilot. That was the year she also received the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship to continue her training. Meanwhile, she soon discovered another passion. "A friend took me up in his Stearman and I was hooked," she said. "I was able to get my tailwheel endorsement in the Stearman and logged over 200 hours. Still, it wasn't my airplane and I said 'someday I will own my own airplane.'"
     It was while flying in the Stearman with her friend that Ginesi-Hill discovered Eagle Field (CL01) in Dos Palos. During her first visit, the airport was having its annual dinner dance reunion. "Everyone was dressed in 1940s uniforms and clothing, the band filled the air with sounds of Glenn Miller, while pilots were telling stories inside the hangar, and B-25s, Stearmans and PT-22s were parked outside. I was in warbird heaven!
"I fell in love with Eagle Field and would do anything to go back, so I started to volunteer to help restore the airfield," she continued. "I went every weekend and holiday until finally I ended up moving there with my son and worked there for three years."
When she returned home to Sacramento, she married her husband, Bill Hill, who owns Wild Bill's Tattoos in Roseville CA. The couple had known each other for more than 30 years, but hadn't seen each other for 28 of those years. After the wedding, the couple bought the Stearman from Jacques Gandolfo, a pilot from France who had owned it for 30 years.
            "It was a little rough and needed some work so I got started on it, flying it two to three times a week, taking it to air shows and fly-ins to honor the men and women who trained and flew in them during World War II," she said.
       One of those trips was this summer to the annual reunion at Eagle Field.
"It felt like coming home for me and for the airplane," she said. "I think I did my best landing ever! It was like the airplane knew she was coming home. I was the only plane there that could say it flew there during the war."
        Her Stearman remains an ongoing project for Nancy. "It's always needing attention, so it keeps me busy," she said.  The plane is in one of the nicest hangers at Lincoln Regional Airport (LHM). It is filled with aviation art, memorabilia, and newspaper articles she's collected over the years. The big movie screen on the hangar wall projects old-time aviation movies or you might hear the sounds of Glenn Miller on the radio if you're passing by.
While her husband Bill has a large rare car collection she's the only one in her family who flies. Nancy hopes to teach her son Maxx, 16, to fly. He's thinking about joining the Air Force in two years, she said, noting "Then it's my time to fly! I plan to take my plane with my husband as navigator to all the places around the country I ever wanted to go — all the museums and fly-ins I’ve never been to. . . ”At this point in my life I want flying to be fun! Not a job.” Nancy remains busy with her son, her Stearman and the laundry list of aviation organizations she's involved in — the Sacramento Valley 99s, EAA Chapter 52 Sacramento, EAA Chapter 526 Auburn, the Gray Eagles, the Lincoln Regional Aviation Association, and the P-38 Forktail Devils — she's also working to bring more young people into aviation. "I give presentations to various organizations and schools to promote Women in Aviation," she said. "I'm hoping to educate women on the options for careers in aviation I never had during my training."
But it's not just females she hopes to share her love of flight with. "I have a daughter and three grandsons," she said. "I am hoping the boys will want to fly like grandma
someday!"

 

 

Roseville woman's other vehicle is a WWII-vintage biplane
By Anita Creamer, Sacramento Bee Published: Thursday, Sep. 10, 2009

Nancy Ginesi-Hill fell in love with the quaint-looking vintage airplane two decades ago, the first time she saw the PT-17 Stearman. The biplane has been her aircraft of choice, especially after she learned its history: A good 70 percent of male pilots trained in the plane during World War II, and were taught by members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots – the WASPs. "When I first started flying, I saw a Stearman while I was soloing in Healdsburg," said Ginesi-Hill, 48, who lives in Roseville. "I saw it, and I fell in love. "There's no sound like that engine," she said. "And the plane goes upside down and does rolls and fun stuff." Not long ago, Ginesi-Hill bought her own PT-17 Stearman. She said she cherishes both the airplane, which she keeps in top condition at Lincoln Regional Airport, and its history. When she flies the plane, she wears a vintage flight suit and aviator goggles and ends up looking rakishly glamorous, with her long blonde hair streaming.

In a case of unfortunate timing, the plane is in the shop just now for a few repairs. Otherwise, Ginesi-Hill would be flying it from Lincoln to Mather Airport this weekend for the fourth annual California Capital Airshow.
Instead she'll volunteer at this year's weekend shows, on the tarmac at Mather Airport, answering questions about female aerobatic pilots.
"There's not many women flying Stearmans," said Ginesi-Hill. "When people see one coming in to land at an air show, it's always some crotchety old guy who hops out. People gather around when a girl jumps out instead. It's something different.
"The history is incredible. It's one of the reasons I love the old Stearman. The women who flew it – they're my inspiration."
Darcy Brewer understands how she feels.
As executive director of the air show, she's busy promoting this weekend's events, which feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron as well as 130 civilian and military aircraft – up from 38 in 2008 – representing 80 years of aviation history.
Northern California aerobatics pilots, including Melissa Andrzejewski and Tim Decker, will perform as well.
Brewer, who learned to fly a dozen years ago, also owns a flight school in Auburn.
"I concentrated on flight training, especially for women and young people," Brewer said. "Nancy and I are passionate about the same thing – anything that goes up.
"I try to inspire as many people as I can to challenge themselves. If just one person gets out of their beanbag chair and turns off the TV and says, 'Wow, I want to do that,' I'll be pleased."
Ginesi-Hill, a San Francisco native, didn't grow up around airplanes, large or small. She was a tomboy, a mechanically inclined kid who liked to tinker with engines and ride motorcycles.
She was 28 and living with her first husband in Grass Valley when the local newspaper featured several female pilots – members of the Ninety-Nines, the international women's aviation group founded in 1929 with Amelia Earhart as its first president.
"I had a 1940 Harley Davidson that I'd restored myself," said Ginesi-Hill, "and I thought how cool it would be to ride that motorcycle to the airport and jump into an airplane and fly off.
"Several months later, I moved to Sacramento and went to Executive Airport and said, 'Teach me how to fly.' "
Her Stearman, built in 1940, was used as a training aircraft in the Southeast before it was ferried to Eagle Field near Los Banos in early 1944. Like other Stearmans – many of which ended up as crop dusters – it was auctioned off after the war.
But Ginesi-Hill found one for sale in Petaluma. She convinced her husband – Bill Hill, who owns Wild Bill Tattoo in Roseville and collects antique cars – that their next vehicle purchase should be a Stearman.
As a novice pilot, Ginesi-Hill tried to sign up for military service but was told she'd just passed enlistment age. She considered going into commercial aviation but couldn't scrape together the funds for training. So she managed small flight schools for 15 years.
"For years, some people wouldn't even get in a plane with a female pilot," she said. "When you look at the WASPs, they're pioneers. They paved the way for women in aviation. They're the heroes.
"When I first started flying and opened up the charts and books, I thought I'd never figure it all out. But we do whatever it takes, because we love to fly."

 

Nancy And Her Stearman Come Home
Jan 2010 Pacific Flyer Magazine

Nancy Ginesi-Hill lived and worked at Eagle Field near Dos Palos, Calif. for several years, helping to restore the former USAAF training facility and so she has a special affection for it. Although Ryan PT-22s were most commonly associated with the training command, they also used Boeing PT-17 Kaydets. The ground breaking ceremony was on March 12, 1942 and construction began immediately with the first cadet pilots arriving by train from Santa Ana at the railroad station in South Dos Palos in June, 1942. They rode to their brand new base on a tram that was used for the 1939 Worlds Fair held on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay.Only a few employees other than the cadets were actually in the Army. The others were civilians working for the contracting corporation, including the flight instructors who wore regulation Army uniforms and had to march in drill. The civilians worked as mechanics, cooks, gardeners, office workers, fuelers, base security and many other jobs needed to make the base function. Hundreds of people from the local area and from out of town found good jobs and enjoyed working there. It was what they could do to support the war effort, according to their website. One of those PT-17s came to Eagle Field in March of 1944 and did its share to help the war effort before being stricken from US Army Air Force records in June 1945. Herein lies the interesting part - Nancy Ginesi-Hill is the current owner of this aircraft and she has been intimately involved with the airplane's former base. since she had lived and worked there for several years during the restoration. "I have been coming to Eagle Field for many years, and I have always wanted to own and fly a Stearman," she said. "But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever own one that had been stationed at this particular field." That's the interesting part. "When I bought the aircraft in Santa Rosa from Jacques Gandolfo, I had no idea it had been at Eagle Field," she said. "But once I got it, and started going through the log books I found these entries indicating it had been there." During the war, aircraft were moved from the factories and depots to the active bases by women pilots, who were part of the Women's Army Service Pilots, or WASP. Many of the WASP have been and currently members of the 99s and Nancy has met some of them. She joined the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Ninety-Nines International group of Women Pilots 20 years ago. "I became Chairman in 2003, was named Women Pilot of the Year and received the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship," Ginesi-Hill said. "The Chapter is very active in promoting aviation in young and old alike and is a big part of the FAA Safety Team," of which Ginesi-Hill is a representative. She also attends air shows with her biplane and organizes and volunteers at various shows throughout the year including the California Capital Airshow at Mather AFB and the Lincoln Air show. Ginesi-Hill is also on the board for the Lincoln Regional Aviation Association, Vice President of the Grey Eagles and a member of the P-38 Fork Tail Devils, Vice-Chairman of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, Vice President of EAA Chapter 52, and a board member of EAA Chapter 526. You could say she's pretty much into aviation, and aviators. "Sitting there listening to WW II Aces and pilot stories I could do all day long," she said. "I love the history of our men and women of the military and I proudly fly my Stearman in their honor!" Each year Eagle Field honors its veterans with a big party featuring several WW II aircraft including B-25 Mitchell bombers, Ryans, Stearmans, reenactors, vintage military equipment all more, all topped off by a Big Band playing arrangements of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and other popular groups at a dinner dance. Nancy wasn't going to miss that, so this year she flew the Stearman back to Eagle Field for the first time in 65 years, departing Lincoln Airport at 11:00 am and arrived just in time for the big dinner, dance and fly In. She and the plane were home.

High-flying history with vintage WWII bi-plane
By Brandon Darnell Gold Country News Service

During the week Nancy Ginesi-Hill is an accountant. After hours the Roseville resident enjoys Nancy Ginesi-Hill shows some airplane memorabilia. Karina Williams lumbering along at 105 mph, with her 1940 PT-17 Stearman biplane. While it may not have the speed of its glamorous contemporaries but it was no less crucial to America’s victory in World War II. Between 60 and 70 percent of all American pilots who took to the skies in World War II learned to fly in the venerable PT-17 and its variants, according to Ken Miles, director of operations for the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving aviation history. “The first time I saw (a Stearman), I fell in love and knew I had to own one,” Ginesi-Hill said. “It took me 20 years to get, but here it is.” Ginesi-Hill keeps her restored Stearman in top condition in a hangar at the Lincoln Regional Airport, accompanied by artifacts from World War II in display cases. Looking over her Stearman’s records, Ginesi-Hill discovered that her plane had been based at Eagle Field, near Los Banos, from March of 1944 through the end of the war in 1945. It was sold as military surplus in 1946 to a man who kept it in Santa Rosa. That bears significance to Ginesi-Hill, who learned to fly in Santa Rosa while the plane was stored there. Ginesi-Hill also has connections with Eagle Field. She and her son used to spend weekends helping restore the airfield and preserve its rich history as she managed flight schools in Northern California. June 13, Ginesi-Hill returned her Stearman to Eagle Field for the 25th annual fly-in to commemorate the base’s World War II history. A B-25 bomber and five Stearman biplanes were present, as sounds of big bands filtered through the air during the dinner and dance and vintage uniforms completed the living history experience, Hill said. Honored guests at the event included many of the cadets who learned to fly at Eagle Field during the war. Regardless of where they trained, the majority of pilots from the Second World War remember the biplanes, made of wood and steel frames with cloth making up the skin. Lincoln resident George Kresa flew B-24 Liberator bombers from India to China over “The Hump” –pilot slang for the Himalayas – during the latter phases of the war. Kresa has fond memories of the plane. “It was the first one I ever flew in,” Kresa said. “It took me about six hours to solo. If you went over seven or eight, you washed out.” Kresa said a large number of prospective pilots “washed out,” and that the training officers “didn’t mess around” because pilots were so badly needed. After completing six weeks of training on the biplane, Kresa flew advanced trainers before graduating to the four-engine B-24, with a crew of 10. “I hated to get out of (training) because I liked flying (the Stearman) so much,” Kresa said. “It was a wonderful airplane. You could really do a lot of aerobatics in it.” Ginesi-Hill enjoys doing aerobatics in her Stearman as much as the young pilots did in the war. When flying her plane – which she does two to three times per week – Ginesi-Hill enjoys doing rolls, loops and more. “Spins are probably my favorite,” Ginesi-Hill said. “I also like to stall it, then kick the rudder over and pull out of it.” When she flies, Ginesi-Hill wears a leather flight helmet and goggles. Painted just forward of the cockpit is the insignia of the Women’s Army Service Pilots – WASPs. The painting – originally drawn up by Walt Disney – is to commemorate the approximately 1,100 women pilots who ferried thousands of aircraft from the United States to their bases in the war zones, freeing up valuable male pilots to fly the combat missions women weren’t allowed to. The “99” painted on Genesi-Hill’s plane is an homage to the nonprofit 99s Association, which promotes flying among women and of which Ginesi-Hill is a member. Ginesi-Hill said her husband, Bill, of Wild Bill’s Tattoo in Roseville, is supportive of her flying hobby. “He’s always behind me,” Ginesi-Hill said. “He encourages me in my flying and helped me buy my airplane.” Of the more than 10,000 Stearman biplanes built, about 1,000 are currently airworthy. In World War II, the planes cost the U.S. government $9,819, which equals $154,273 in 2008 dollars, according to Ginesi-Hill. Ginesi-Hill flies her Stearman to air shows and puts it on display for all to see to help keep the history alive. “There’s only maybe a handful of women flying this plane,” Ginesi-Hill said. “We’re pretty rare.” Brandon Darnell can be reached by e-mail at brandond@goldcountrymedia.com