Let’s take an in-depth look at how women have played an important part in the history of aviation and how a few inspiring figures have helped break the mould.
Men may have played an integral part in jumpstarting the aviation industry, but women have been equally important in establishing a culture of aviation and even setting new records and beating male pilots around the globe.
If you are a woman who wants to begin their journey in aviation, then now is the best time to get started. Not only are more women entering the field of aviation for both leisure and commercial purposes, but they are also paving the way for the future of aviation and pilot training as well.
Let’s take an in-depth look at how women have played an important part in the history of aviation and how a few inspiring figures have helped break the mould and ignite the passion of aviation in little girls all over the world.
Breaking the Mould in Aviation
Aviation was never meant to favour one gender over the other. After all, anyone with the appropriate training can fly aircraft!
The reason why men are so prominent in aviation history than women is that in the 20th century, men played a more central role as patriarchs and took up jobs outside the home than women, who took up the equally important job of raising families and taking care of their home.
However, despite these gendered roles, there was never an explicit rule against women. In fact, one can argue that women played an equal role in enabling humans to fly.
Countless hidden figures in history have contributed to air travel and aviation in general. For example, Elisabeth Thible, an opera singer by profession became the first woman to fly in a hot air balloon in 1784! She flew at an astounding height of 1,500 feet via a tether and inspired women around the country to expand their ambitions.
There were also a lot of female scientists that played a vital role in figuring out the mechanics and science behind flight. Johanna Weber, a British mathematician, and aerodynamicist was one of the few women known for making the supersonic airliner, Concorde, a reality.
The first successful flight in 1903, conducted by the Wright brothers sent a wave of excitement and inspiration around the world with many people wanting to get in on the action to build and design their own aircraft – and while it is true that there were several important male figures that laid the foundation for the modern aviation industry, there were also a lot of women like Emma Lilian Todd, that wanted to try their hand at aviation in an equal capacity.
Emma Lilian Todd is credited to be the first woman to design and build her own aircraft in 1906, just three years after the first successful flight by the Wright brothers. Her biplane was called “Miss Todd” and was truly a remarkable feat at the time.
Her design and work in aviation inspired a lot of women in her community and it can be argued that her work helped spark the interest of future record-breaking female pilots as well. Just like Emma, there are several strong female figures in aviation history, let’s take a look at some of them below.
Important Female Figures in Aviation
Here are some of the most influential women in aviation to fly light aircraft and even set records:
Amelia Earhart
There are very few people that don’t know about Amelia Earhart. Known to be one of the fiercest and most capable female pilots in the world, she was one of the most renowned female aviators in the world.
Amelia Earhart’s passion for aviation was ignited when she attended an airshow in 1920. After witnessing the capabilities of aircraft, she wanted to experience what it felt like to fly – and there was nothing to stop her from achieving her dreams! Amelia took up flying lessons and obtained her license within one year which just speaks volumes about her capabilities and her ambitions.
She went on to set several records, even besting a lot of male pilots of the time as well! Amelia Earhart quickly became a symbol for female pilots around the world and her contributions and milestones in aviation are celebrated even today.
Amanda Harrison
Amanda Harrison had a knack for trying new things since she was a little girl. She took up an interest in aviation from a young age and wanted to become the best female pilot in the world.
After taking up pilot training and devoting over 15 years of her life to aviation, she is fondly known as one of the most seasoned pilots in the industry. Amanda Harrison flies light aircraft and has extensive experience with multiple aircraft.
She might have taken up aviation as a hobby, but her passion led her to a more serious and comprehensive private license, which allowed her to completely devote herself to her hobby.
Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman wasn’t just a great pilot, but she was also a force to be reckoned with. Coleman is widely regarded as the first African American woman to obtain a pilot license.
Coleman took an interest in aviation from an early age. After the first successful flight by the Wright brothers, she vowed to become one of the greatest pilots in history. However, things weren’t as smooth for Coleman because of her gender and race.
In fact, she was even denied admission to a flight school in the USA – luckily this didn’t stop her, instead, she became even more adamant about becoming a pilot! Coleman travelled to France in the 1920s and was able to obtain her license after battling several cultural barriers and challenges.
Coleman quickly became a highly skilled pilot who was regarded to be even better than male pilots in her flight school. She eventually performed in several airshows and set an example for women of all colours to achieve their dreams and fight for what is right.
Harriet Quimby
Harriet Quimby is an equally important and strong female figure in aviation history. Initially a journalist, Quimby became interested in aviation and wanted to become a capable female pilot. Not only this, but she also wanted to set world records and be counted as one of the most prominent figures in aviation history.
After travelling to France for her license, Quimby devoted herself to her training programme and quickly became one of the best in her class. She eventually went on to set a record and make headlines by becoming the first woman to fly across the English Channel.
Jacqueline Cochran
Jacqueline Cochran started as a beautician but soon discovered her passion for aviation which led her to not just become one of the most accomplished female pilots in history, but also become one of the few female pilots to break numerous altitude and speed records.
If you think that is impressive, Cochran was also one of the key people in establishing the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. Her contributions to aviation and her feats as a light aircraft pilot made her an icon that is celebrated by not just female pilots, but the aviation industry in general.
Advice for Female Pilots
Throughout history, every prominent female pilot has been adamant about inspiring women to follow their dreams and achieve their goals. If there is one thing that is common in all of these highly accomplished women, is their advice for young pilots.
Here are some important tips and advice for future female pilots:
Set Your Own Limitations
Everyone has limitations, but it is important that you discover your own limitations instead of having them set by someone else. Aviation history has been riddled with challenges for women due to societal norms, however, in the modern world, there are rules against discrimination which is why there is no better time than now for females to become pilots.
When you embark on your aviation journey, please always keep your goals in mind. Never let anyone else tell you what you can and cannot achieve. Take the example of Bessie Coleman. Coleman was refused admission to a flight school due to her race and the fact that she was a female, but instead of giving up, she fought for her ambitions and found another way to achieve her goals.
Be the Best That You Can Be
When you enrol in a flight programme, it is important to give your 110%. There is no easy way to achieve a pilot license for either men or women. If you want to be remembered for your accomplishments, then you will have to put in the work.
Young women find it difficult to manage their time, but it is important to adopt time management skills and take out time for training. Flight training may present a few mental and physical challenges, but one can argue that these challenges are equal for both genders. This is why it all comes down to your training and how much you want to achieve your dreams.
To become a pilot, you must completely change your perspective on life and be the best version of yourself. We highly recommend that you seek other successful female pilots for inspiration which can help you stay motivated throughout your training.
Keep a Tight Network
A common piece of advice that most female pilots give to other pilots is to keep a close network of people who share the same interests and goals as you. For example, if you find several female pilots that share the same ambitions as you, everyone in your group will stay motivated!
This is an incredibly important factor that is unfortunately overlooked. By connecting with other female pilots, you might be able to learn more effectively and who knows, you might end up creating lifelong friends as well.
Be Role Models
Finally, the most important factor in becoming a strong female figure in aviation is to be a role model for not just women but for the aviation industry in general.
Role models have a lot of influence and can virtually shape the passions and ambitions of people. Once you become a pilot, you will have to set an example for other female pilots.
The world needs more capable pilots, regardless of their gender, which is why it is extremely important for female pilots to inspire and guide the next generation of pilots.
Most accomplished female pilots point out that their journey in aviation would’ve been relatively easier if they had strong female role models in aviation when they were growing up. Fortunately, the female pilots of today have the opportunity to be the role models that future generations need!
Role of Flight Schools
Flight schools of today are more transparent than ever. This means that there is equal opportunity for everyone to become a pilot. We highly recommend that you pick a flight school that employs both male and female staff and encourages an environment of growth. Flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, regularly host seminars and aero events and encourage students to attend aviation events.
This is an important factor because it will keep female candidates motivated, and there is also a strong chance of you being mentored by strong female figures in aviation in numerous aviation-related events.
The key point to understand is that aviation is the joint effort of humanity, instead of a particular gender, that enabled humans to fly, and although early history usually focuses on the advances of men in aviation, you will also find several important female figures that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in aviation.
Today, the aviation industry is proud to support the ambitions of both male and female pilot candidates and, as we go forward, we are bound to see more and more women breaking the mould in aviation.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
