History of Women in Aviation: Top 10 Trailblazers
We are not rank-ordering these women pilots as the best in any category, because how can we? Each female pilot listed below is famous in her own right. Some have held influential roles as aviators, and that influence is all around us. Read on to meet some inspiring ladies…
1. First Female to Fly Solo Across the Atlantic: Amelia Earhart
When people hear the phrase “women in aviation,” they inevitably think of Amelia Earhart, the famed aviatrix who on May 20-21, 1932 was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
However, Earhart is most remembered for disappearing on a 1937 flight across the Pacific Ocean when she was just 39 years old. Earhart’s disappearance has been a staple of mystery fans with dozens of theories about her fate.
In March 2017, new research suggested a plausible conclusion to the mystery, although it’s the kind of story people will likely debate for years. Regardless of her fate, her legend endures. She has served as an inspiration for female pilots for the better part of a century.
2. First Female to Fly Solo: Jeanne Labrosse
The first woman to fly solo was Jeanne Labrosse who piloted a hot air balloon in 1799. She was also the first woman to parachute from a balloon, descending in a gondola carried by the parachute. All this because she witnessed André-Jacques Garnerin’s first hydrogen balloon flight and parachute descent in Paris on October 22, 1797.
She became his student, made history, then married him and continued making her mark in aviation. Since then, women have been embracing aviation with enthusiasm, whether as a hobby or career.
3. First Female Aircraft Designer: E. Lilian Todd
Okay, technically Todd was not a pilot, because her application to become one was denied. However, in 1906, E. Lillian Todd was designing and building aircraft. This female inventor is certainly a hallowed name in the halls of aviation.
4. First Licensed Female Pilot: Raymonde de Laroche
France’s Raymonde de Laroche became the world’s first licensed female pilot in 1910. The Aeroclub de France awarded her the 36th aeroplane pilot’s license on March 8, 1910. On November 25, 1913, the Aeroclub awarded her the Femina Cup for long-distance non-stop flight that lasted more than 4 hours.
5. First Woman Pilot to Fly with a Passenger: Hélène Dutrieu
Also in 1910, Belgium’s Hélène Dutrieu became the first female pilot to fly with a passenger on April 19. She had already achieved success as a cyclist, stuntwoman, and actress. She was known as the “Girl Hawk” at airshows for her aviation prowess.
6. First Black Female Pilot: Bessie Coleman
In 1921, Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to become a licensed pilot. Bessie was bi-racial, so she was also the first Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale awarded Bessie her license on June 15, 1921. Bessie was a media sensation in the U.S. and remains an inspirational figure.
7. First Woman to Fly for an American Commercial Airline: Helen Richey
Helen Richey became the first woman to fly for an American commercial airline in 1934, but her aviation resume is much more than that. She flew with the WASPs (see below) and once teamed up with Amelia Earhart, coming in 5th place in a transcontinental air race. Richey was sworn in as the first female pilot to fly air mail and was one of the country’s first female flight instructors.
Her story continues to inspire female pilots, such as Epic graduate Elissa Figaro who became the first female pilot and first female captain at Caicos Express Airways.
8. The American WASPs in WWII
Yes, we realize this is not just one woman, but what these 1,074 women accomplished as trailblazers deserves recognition. In 1943, these American women took to the skies as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) to do their part during World War II. They logged more than 60 million miles in flight ferrying aircraft across the U.S.
9. First Female Astronaut: Sally Ride
In 1978, Sally Ride became the first female astronaut in the U.S. when she joined NASA. On June 18, 1983, she made history as the first American woman to fly in space, launching from Kennedy Space Center on the Space Shuttle Challenger. She was the third woman to fly in space after two female Russian cosmonauts.
10. First Woman Commander of a Flight Shuttle: Eileen Collins
And as the 20th century drew to a close, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a U.S. flight shuttle. Collins began as a flight instructor and test pilot, but the sky was the limit as she went on to be the first female to command a shuttle mission for NASA.
Each of these milestones inspired women from all around the globe to follow in these airborne footsteps, or, should we say, wing flaps? Read 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space: Aviators and Astronauts for even more inspiration.
Discover the Inspiring Stories of Women in Aviation – Watch Our 8-Minute Video!
Organizations That Support Women in Aviation
The Ninety-Nines
Hundreds of female pioneers rushed to enter the aviation industry, from daredevil stunt flying to military service. In 1929, 99 women pilots formed the first organization to support the advancement of females in aviation. They called themselves The Ninety-Nines in honor of the number of charter members.
Women in Aviation International (WAI)
In 1990, Women in Aviation International was launched, which also supports women in aviation careers. Both organizations are dedicated to encouraging women to take up flying, either as an avocation or career. In fact, in March 2018, the Institute of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week welcomed 61,000 women to its annual conference.
During the first week of March that year, more than 12,000 women around the world took their very first flight! These numbers continue to grow, although women comprise just 9% of pilots, and fewer than 3% of aircraft mechanics are women.
Women in Aviation Today
Southwest Airlines’ Unmanned Flight
On October 18, 2017, Southwest Airlines flew its first “unmanned” flight. In other words, the entire crew was female. In an industry where women are typically seen as flight attendants, this was an historic flight and was not unnoticed by passengers who were surprised to learn this was not a common occurrence.
What Percentage of Pilots are Female?
We are often asked how many pilots are female? Currently, only about 6.3 percent of pilots are women, and only 5 percent of U.S. and Canadian commercial airline pilots are women. but that is changing. Women comprise more than 12 percent of student pilots these days.
The reasons for low female participation in aviation are varied. The career has historically been male-dominated. However, each year more women earn their wings all over the world. In fact, in India, 15% of pilots are women.
In fact, this represents the population at Epic Flight Academy, and we see a steady increase each year. We also employ female flight instructors who go on to fly for commercial airlines. Epic graduate Lauren Hensel, for instance, is a Captain for American Airlines.
An Epic Legend: Captain Judy Rice
Epic’s former Ground School instructor, the late Captain Judy Rice, was a renowned pilot in her own right, flying a Citation Mustang around the world. She visited 10,000 students in 24 countries as an aviation ambassador. She also set a World Speed Record during this flight.
We are extremely proud of the leadership our female flyers demonstrate. They are role models for young women who are thinking about becoming pilots.
Pilot Barbie
With the growing pilot shortage and more women inspired to follow their dreams, we expect to see even more women enrolling in flight schools around the country. Even “Barbie” is getting in on the women in aviation trend. On March 8, 2018 (International Women’s Day), Mattel announced it would manufacture an Amelia Earhart Barbie doll! Perhaps this will encourage even more little girls to look to the skies in pursuit of their dreams.
Finally, Epic supports women in aviation through scholarships. Whether a student pilot, commercial pilot, or aircraft mechanic, our Epic-trained ladies like to say they can fly circles around the guys!
Women in Aviation Day
Is there a Women in Aviation Day? Yes. Women in Aviation International (WAI)) hosts Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) each year around the world. The global event is for girls between the ages of 8 and 18 who are interested in aviation. Membership in WAI supports outreach and scholarships for female pilots.
Would you like to join the pilot ranks?
If you’re considering a career in aviation, Epic Flight Academy is a great place to start. Contact us to learn how we can help. We offer training for U.S. and international flight and aircraft mechanic students. Aviation is one career where women have shattered the glass ceiling with great success.
Who is your favorite female flyer? Share in comments below…
Editors may update content periodically to ensure all information remains current.
