Women in Aviation are strong and unique. In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Raymart Aviation has put together women in Aviation who have flown clear and unclear skies and have carved unique paths in the aerospace and aviation sector.
Have you ever been flown in either a commercial or private aircraft by a female pilot? Did you feel any different? In this article, we’ll be looking at different women in Aviation and their amazing contributions to the Aviation sector. This is an interesting read.
WHAT ARE FEMALE PILOTS CALLED?
Female pilots are called Aviatrices. Women have been involved in Aviation from the beginning. Starting from the inception of airplanes, helicopters, and space travel development.
WHEN DID WOMEN IN AVIATION BEGIN
Since 1908, women have been flying powered aircraft. Prior to 1970, most were restricted to working discreetly or in support roles in the Aviation industry.
Within the first two decades of powered flight, women in Aviation were breaking speed and altitude records. They were competing and winning against male pilots in air races. Female pilots on every continent except Antarctica (of course) had begun to fly, parachute, and fly passengers. Fast forward to World War II, women helped with war efforts and though mostly restricted from military flight many of the female pilots flew in auxiliary services. In the 1950s and 1960s, women were primarily restricted to serving in support fields such as flight simulation and as flight attendants.
Presently, all around the world women are interested in aviation. The overall number of women in Aviation has increased.
Here are a few prominent women in Aviation you might want to read about;
AMELIA EARHART
In history, one of the prominent women in Aviation was Amelia Earhart. She is probably the most famous female pilot in the history of aviation. This is an accolade due to her aviation career. On the 21st day of May in 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her journey across the Atlantic Ocean is what caused her Aviation career to take off.
BESSIE COLEMAN
Bessie Coleman was the first black woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license. This woman was famous in Aviation and became known for her action flying and aerial tricks. She drew her inspiration from World War 1 pilots and went ahead to pursue a pilot’s license. She got her license from Federation Aeronautique Internationale. She was the first black woman to earn an international pilot’s license.
VALENTINA TERESHKOVA
Valentina beat 400 other female candidates to become the first woman to travel into space. She achieved this as part of the Soviet space program. She traveled in the Vostok 6 on the 16th of June 1963 and returned three days later on the 19th of June, after completing 48 orbits.
ZARA RUTHERFORD
Zara became one of the groundbreaking women in Aviation by becoming the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. She flew over California’s wildfires and celebrated this amazing solo flying feat by getting 2 weeks of sleep. She completed this feat in 155 days and she did this in her Shark UL plane. However, this was due to bad weather conditions and visa holdups.
Women in Aviation showed their strength and uniqueness in different ways. They were found as advocates, in aerospace and aviation, in military/modern government, as astronauts, in sports aviation, commercial aviation, etc
Are you a woman interested in a career in aviation and aerospace? You too can become a pilot or one of the prominent women in aviation.
Click here to learn more about how you can take your future to the skies as one of the women in aviation.