Gone are those days when women were confined to the home and kitchen. The times have changed drastically, and women are making a global mark in every possible sector. One such field is aviation in the aerospace arena, which was previously a male-dominated field. Over the years, many women have made their firsts’ in this sector. As a result, women have become an integral part of the aerospace and aviation industries, from engineers and astronauts to pilots. If you wish to know about the top women who have paved their way into the aviation and aerospace arena, read ahead to find out!
Amelia Earhart
Amelia is one of the top names that pop up when speaking about women in aviation. In addition, Amelia was the only person to fly a solo trip across the Pacific Ocean. These two achievements boosted her aviation career.
Despite her drastic fame in the aviation field, she was famous for her disappearance in 1937, when she attempted to circumnavigate the globe with her navigator Fred Noonan. Finally, her dream was finally fulfilled by Geraldine Jerrie Mock, the first female pilot to fly around the world.
Phoebe Omlie
After graduating, Phoebe quickly joined the drama field and worked as a secretary. However, over time she grew bored with her career choice and convinced the airport manager to take her on a plane. This sparked her aviation journey. She bought her own plane and started with flight wing stunts by walking on the wings, performing parachute jumps, and so on. Her popularity grew, and she was also asked to perform stunts in the movie The Perils of Pauline. In 1927, after being approached by CAA, she became the first woman to be an aircraft mechanic and a female transport pilot. She also flew across the Rocky Mountains in a light aircraft.
Harriet Quimby
Harriet was the first woman to receive her pilot license in 1911. In 1912, she flew across the English Channel. Unfortunately, since the Titanic ship sank two days earlier to her achievement, her accomplishment was overshadowed in the news. Hence she remained bleak to the popularity she well deserved. She had a gruesome end in 1912 when the aircraft she was in unexpectedly pitched forward, throwing her and her passenger from the plane. Even today, the reason for the flight’s failure still remains a mystery.
Elsie MacGill
In 1929, Elsie was the first woman to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering. She was also the first woman in Canada to achieve an Electrical engineering degree. Her passion for repairing things and checking for damages earned her a popular name in the aerospace field. Although she didn’t fly, she accompanied pilots on test flights and also design them.
