Female Pioneers in Aviation

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Key Female Aviators Lead the Charge

There are some amazing stories of courage and determination in the annals of aviation history. The female pioneers in aviation fought a hard battle, but it was a battle worth fighting. This lens pays tribute to those heroic women.

Bessie Coleman, along with Neta Snook Southern, Sheila Scott, Amelia Earhart, Jacqueline Cochran, Beryl Markham, and Harriet Quimby, opened the doors of the skies to females who dared to challenge convention.

Women In Aviation 

WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN AVIATION

A short film about the most famous American women pilots. The film shows the greatest aviation achievements of female aviators. Music: Glenn Miller, In the Mood.

Runtime: 2:49
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Daring Women In Aviation 

Focus Question: What are some of the contributions that women have made to the history of aviaton? What were some of the obstacles overcome by women in their quest to make aviation history?

Description: Since the earliest days of flight, women have played a major role in the history of aviation. From Harriet Quimby and Katherine Stinson who's flying careers began just after the Wright brothers' first flight to Eileen Collens piloting the Space Shuttle Discovery, women have made significant contributions despite the many obstacles confronting them, to the history of aviation. Explore the contributions made by women, and the obstacles they faced as we discover the impact women have had on forming the history of aviation.

Credit: NASA

Amelia Earhart - First Female Solo Transatlantic Flight 

In 1932, when Amelia Earhart piloted her plane across the Atlantic to Ireland, she became the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

She began her aviation career in California as a student of Neta Snook Southern, another pioneer female aviation hero. Due to her untimely disappearance while on an around-the -world flight in 1937 we will never know what heights she could have achieved had she lived.

Photo Credit: NASA

Amelia Earhart and Jerrie Mock Are Both Aviation Pioneers 

Amelia Earhart and Jerrie Mock are Both Aviation Pioneers

The first woman to fly solo around the world was Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock, who in 1964 set out on an ambitious and dangerous solo flight around the world in the family Cessna 180 aircraft. Nearly a month later, she completed the mission Amelia Earhart was trying to accomplish, but Jerrie Mock's historic trip has remained hidden for 44 years. I am a screenwriter and pilot intending to get Jerrie's story told in a full-length feature film so I can bring her fantastic tale to every person in the country. My goal is to inspire young girls and women to pursue flying as a career, and by developing a family film suitable for young kids depicting a strong female heroine in the lead role, the story of Jerrie and her beloved aircraft "Charlie" will propel this legend into the mainstream media and bring her the respect and notoriety she deserves.

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Amelia Earhart Honored By USPS 

Amelia Earhart has been honored by the United States Postal Service with the creation of an eight cent airmail stamp.

Brave Bessie 

Bessie Coleman (pictured at right) was one of several female pioneers in the field of aviation. When she could find no one to teach her to fly in the United States, she went to Paris where females were free to learn.

Prepared remarks by Secretary of the Air Force Sheila E. Widnall at the 88th Annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Convention, Pittsburgh, Pa., July 16, 1997.
http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=768

That same year, a young man -- Eugene Bullard -- left Georgia and went to serve in France. He was sworn into the flying corps named the Lafayette Escadrille. But even though he fought so fiercely he earned the nickname "Black Swallow of Death," he was unable to escape prejudice. His flying career was cut short by white American pilots who refused to fly with him. Bullard remained in France and taught others to fly. Among his students was Bessie Coleman.

Despite growing up poor among 12 children, Bessie Coleman's thirst for knowledge propelled her to greater things -- she wanted to fly. I suppose it's no surprise to this audience that no one in the U.S. would teach a black woman to fly. With financial backing, she went to France and to Eugene Bullard. A licensed pilot, "Brave Bessie" flew thrilling stunts. Eventually, barnstorming would be the cause of her death, but not before she'd made nonbelievers see the power of a dream.

Bessie Coleman Honored With Stamp 

In 1995 the United States Postal Service honored Bessie Coleman with a postage stamp.

Neta Snook Southern 

She taught Amelia Earhart to fly.

Neta Snook Southern, a pioneer female aviator, was managing an airfield in California when Amelia Earhart and her father came in and asked her to teach Amelia to fly. So, in addition to being one the first females in aviation history, she has the added distinction of being the person who taught Amelia Earhart how to fly. They later became good friends.

Photo Credit: NASA

Sheila Scott 

Sheila Scott was the first British pilot, male or female, to fly solo around the world. She was also the first pilot to fly directly over the North Pole in a small aircraft.

Photo Credit: NASA

Beryl Markham 

Beryl Markham was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. She flew from England to North America. Although British, she lived in Africa much of her life.

PHOTO CREDIT: Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 23 July 2007

Jaqueline Cochran - First Woman To Break The Sound Barrier. 

Jacqueline Cochran set a record when she became the first woman to fly the highest to an altitude of 55,253 feet.

Photo Credit: National Museum USAF

Harriet Quimby - First Woman To Fly Solo Across The English Channel. 

Harriet Quimby was the first U.S. woman to receive a pilot's license and also the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel.

Photo Credit: NASA

More Pioneer Female Aviators 

Ruth Law was the first woman to fly at night and the first American pilot to fly non-stop for 590 miles.
Katherine Stinson was the first woman to fly a loop. She also set a flight endurance record.
Anna Low was the first Chinese-American, female aviator who flew in the San Francisco, CA region.
Ruth Nichols was the first woman to earn an international hydroplane license. She is also the first U.S. woman hired as a pilot for commercial passenger flight.
Elinor Smith set a solo flight endurance record of 13 hours and 16 minutes.
Bobbi Trout was the first woman to fly all night.
Florence Klingensmith was the first woman to set a loop record for 143 consecutive loops.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh was the first woman to earn a glider pilot's license.
Kathryn Cheung was the first Chinese-American female to earn a U.S. pilot's license.
Olive Beech co-founded,with her husband, Beech Aircraft Corporation.
Louise Thaden, pilot and her co-pilot, Blanche Noyes, are the first women to win the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race from Los Angeles, CA to New York City, New York.
Willa Brown was the first African-American woman to earn a commercial pilot's license.
Hanna Reitsch was a German WWII test pilot who was the first woman to pilot a helicopter.
Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) They were trained by the government to train the male pilots for combat duty. The U.S. female pilots also ferried airplanes across the Atlantic Ocean for use in combat
Ann Baumgartner was the first U.S. woman to fly an experimental jet airplane.
Ann Shaw Carter was the first U.S. woman licensed to fly a helicopter.
Whirley Girls Female helicopter pilots start their own association.

The List Continues........... 

Jerrie Cobb was the first woman to undergo the testing developed for the selection of the Mercury Astronauts.
Jerrie Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world.
Bonnie Tiburzi was the first female jet pilot to be hired by a major airline.
Emily Howell pilots a 737 passenger jetliner for regularly scheduled commercial airline.
Kathryn Sullivan was the first female U.S. astronaut to walk in space.
Betsy Carroll was the first female to fly a jumbo jet across the Atlantic Ocean for a commercial airline.
Jeana Yeager, along with a male pilot, were the first to fly around the world non-stop and non-refueled.
Jean K. Tinsley was the first female to fly a tilt rotor aircraft.
Eileen M. Collins was the first female to pilot U.S. space shuttle and also the first female US space shuttle commander.
Betty Gilles and Nancy Love began the Women's Auxilary Ferrying Squadron in 1942.
Joan Smith, who was born in 1937 and died in 1965, was the first person to fly solo around the world at the equator. She was the first woman to fly around the world in a twin engine aircraft.
Matilde Moisant received her license at the Moisant School along with Harriet Quimby.
Jean Batten was the first person to fly from England to New Zealand in 1936.
Nicole Malachiwski was the first female pilot to fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds.

The photo above is of USAF WASP trainees beginning their pilot training.

DO YOU HAVE MORE FEMALE PIONEERS TO ADD TO MY LIST? 

If you do, just let me know and I'll add it here.

New Flickr Photos 

Lockheed Vega 5B, Amelia Earhart by cliff1066

Lockheed Vega 5B, Am...

Lockheed Vega 5B, Amelia Earhart by cliff1066

Lockheed Vega 5B, Am...

Pilote Amelia Earhart / Pilot Amelia Earhart by Nationaal Archief

Pilote Amelia Earhar...

Amelia Earhart by George Eastman House

Amelia Earhart

Amelia and Amelia Earhart Raggedy Ann by zaui

Amelia and Amelia Ea...

Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega by Mr. T in DC

Amelia Earhart's Loc...

Air & Space Museum 6 by Son of Groucho

Air & Space Muse...

Amelia is frightened of the new world. by Shawn Allen

Amelia is frightened...

Amelia Earhart by miss_rogue

Amelia Earhart

Collage by Bah Humbug

Collage

Bessie Coleman books on Amazon 

Fly High! The Story Of Bessie Coleman

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Up in the Air: The Story of Bessie Coleman (Trailblazer Biographies)

Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot (Graphic Biographies)

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Bessie Coleman: Daring to Fly (On My Own Biography)

Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Amelia Earhart books on Amazon 

Who Was Amelia Earhart? (Who Was...?)

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart (Picture Book Biography)

Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Amelia Earhart (DK Biography)

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

Amazon Price: $7.58 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Amelia Earhart : More Than a Flier (level 3)

Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Harriet Quimby books on Amazon 

Sheila Scott books on Amazon 

Sheila Scott

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Biography - Scott, Sheila (Christine) (1927-1988): An article from: Contemporary Authors

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

SHEILA SCOTT - A BIOGRAPHY

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Palaeontology : an introduction / James Scott ; ill. by Sheila Scott

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Diagnostic Reading Inventory for Primary & Intermediate Grades, Third Edition

Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Jacqueline Cochran Stuff on Amazon 

Jackie Cochran: An Autobiography

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Jacqueline Cochran America's Fearless Aviator: America's Fearless Aviator (Southern Pioneer Ser.))

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Jacqueline Cochran: First Lady of Flight, (Americans All)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Neta Snook Southern books on Amazon 

I TAUGHT AMELIA TO FLY

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

I taught Amelia to fly

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

I Taught Amelia To Fly Signed

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Beryl Markham - Great Stuff on Amazon 

West with the Night

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

The Lives of Beryl Markham

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Splendid Outcast: Beryl Markham's African Stories

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Straight on Till Morning: A Biography of Beryl Markham

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

The Illustrated West With the Night

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

New Guestbook 

Talar wrote...

Nice work. I'm not old enough (quite) to have bene a colleague of Amelia but I do have instruction in my logbook from Eddie Gorski, a man who worked on her Lockheed Vega for thw 1932 Atlantic flight. It is not inconsequential to note that Earhart flew the Atlantic years before he solo flight ... many are dismissive of this fact because she was not one of the pilots ... but given the dangers and the state of aviation at the time this was still a significant act of bravery and determination.

ReplyPosted August 17, 2008

Lensmaster

Steve wrote

You omitted a very famous woman pilot, Matilde Moisant, who received her license at the Moisant School along with Harriet Quimby. Flew successful exhibitions, including Mexico City before retiring in 1912 before Quimby was killed. Article at www.collectair.com on Moisant.

Reply Posted March 03, 2008

Lensmaster

Ingrid wrote

I am looking for info on Beatrice Winifred Bateman (nee Gillespie) who was also an early pioneer lady aviatrix .. She claimed to have been the first woman to fly (think solo) from America to Australia OR vica versa.

Reply Posted January 23, 2008

Lensmaster

Clare Walker wrote

Wonderful to see you've collected women aviators together, but you have two glaring omissions: NO AMY JOHNSON, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia in 1930!! And Jean Batten, first person (not just first woman) to fly from England to New Zealand (1936), a record for 40 years!

Reply Posted January 01, 2008

Lensmaster

chelea wrote

these aticles were very descriptive, Yet you need to add more information on other astronots. The exact person i was looking for was Ann Shaw Carter but did not find any information on her. If you could do articles on astronots that were not included in all these articles your biusnes wuld go up.

Reply Posted December 12, 2007

lisadh wrote...

Great lens! 5 stars! And I have a more modern pioneer to add - Nicole Malachowski, the first female pilot to fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds.

ReplyPosted November 09, 2007

Bessie Coleman stuff on eBay 

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Amelia Earhart stuff on eBay 

Amelia Earhart

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Beryl Markham - Great Stuff on eBay 

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Great Aviation Stuff on Amazon 

Classic Aviation Films

Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Flight: 100 Years of Aviation

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Aviation: A Filmed History

Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Great Aviation Stuff on Amazon 

Premium Mirror Aviator Sunglasses

Amazon Price: $2.25 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Aviation Sleeper by Baby's Own

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

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