Women in Aviation

#womeninaviation #IWD2021 Today is not only about struggle but also celebrating successes. Today, from my first career in aviation, I remember, applaud and honour three pioneers in aviation (there are more than three women of course, but here’s a start):

Bessie Coleman. Bessie Coleman was an early American civil aviator. She was the first African-American woman and first Native-American to hold a pilot license. She earned her pilot license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921, and was the first black person to earn an international pilot’s license.

Sophie Blanchard. Sophie Blanchard was the first woman to work as a professional balloonist. Known throughout Europe for her ballooning exploits, Napoleon Bonaparte promoted her to the role of “Aeronaut of the Official Festivals”, replacing André-Jacques Garnerin. On the restoration of the monarchy in 1814 Louis XVIII named her “Official Aeronaut of the Restoration”.

Katherine Wright. The Wright Brothers manager in many respects. She championed and promoted their work (and secured funding) in early aviation in Europe and battled the Smithsonian for them to be recognised. Whole books have been written about her work in early aviation and yet she did her job so well that she is a background figure in the history of flight. Yet, without her, they would not have been able to “get off the ground”, so to speak.

*If you can’t list women who invented things and did things (often for less recognition) in your field of choice or interest – maybe spend some time today seeking out some of this information.