Captain Judy Rice and the Think Global Flight crew have returned from their 2-month around the world flight of adventure, educating and inspiring more than 20,000 students.
The flight departed on June 13 from Burbank, California visiting a total of 25 countries in their donated Citation Mustang. Captain Judy met with thousands of students and media during their scheduled stops along the route.
Among those expressing their support are Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin and Voyager pilot Dick Rutan. Buzz Aldrin joined the Crew on most of their journey. Dr. Aldrin shared his support, saying “Back when I was privileged to be a part of the Apollo program, no one had ever heard of S.T.E.A.M. This is the precise focus of Think Global Flight and why I strongly support Captain Judy and the flight. I witnessed the differences Captain Judy created on this historic flight.”
Augmenting Think Global Flight’s educational message is the greater message conveyed by Captain Rice’s gender in a predominantly male career field. Rice is a model career-mentor enriching the lives of diverse youth through educational and career-mentoring initiatives.
Think Global Flight provides opportunities serving as a global, inaugural experience for the exploration of career options and pathways in the aviation and aerospace industries growing S.T.E.A.M. awareness. The project is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for real-world applications to S.T.E.A.M.
The project’s mission will continue through the development of S.T.E.A.M. apps for all ages. The apps will use actual footage from the flight, articles and books incorporating experiences and photos, and related documentaries for all to enjoy.
