Iconic Female Fliers

Great examples of career adventurers to inspire us all

This is my 50th post! I considered recapping interesting anecdotes and lessons learned from 15 months of writing Career Adventurer. But, discussing my visit to the National Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH with my daughters this past week is more interesting.

It was spring break. We needed a fun field trip to keep busy, to avoid the draw of the Paw Patrol. Why not check out a hangar filled with super sonic jets and WWII aerial icons, right? Plus, my daughters are fledgling flight freaks. They love Star Wars.

I visited the museum twenty years ago. I remember not having enough time to see some of the museums stars: Air Force One and the SR-71 Blackbird. It quickly was evident that there was more to the museum than two iconic airplanes.

The museum had countless homages to iconic female air and space pioneers. Given that March is International Women’s Month, it was especially relevant. Plus, my wife and I are raising daughters. We want them to know they can be princesses or pilots. We all should know there are possibilities to be whomever or whatever we want.

Inspirational Female Flight Themes

I’m a student of history. I knew the triumph of Amelia Earhart and tragedy of Christa McAuliffe. I didn’t know many of the following stories of pioneering female flight feats. They were inspiring to see, especially at a time when progress is being challenged.

The WASPs

I normally associate the word WASP either as a venomous insect or a description of a person. Yet, WASP in this sense means Women Airforce Service Pilots. As the first female military aircraft operators, they were ground breakers during WWII. They were dreamers who pushed beyond traditional roles with grit and determination. There are now movies like Avenger Field and Rise Above: WASP lionizing these leading ladies.

Jacqueline Cochran: Hair Dresser to Aviator

As my daughters and I wandered amongst Boeing bombers, Peashooters, and the Memphis Belle, we came across Jacqueline Cochran. She dreamed of rising above poverty and paving her own way. She was a leading hairdresser and owner of a cosmetics business in New York before becoming an aviator. With help from a benefactor, she quickly learned to fly. Prior to joining and leading the WASPs she was a competitive aviator.

Nancy Harkness Love

From an early age, this Michigander dreamt of flying. At 16, she became a pilot. When she was a Vassar freshman, she earned her commercial pilot license. Similar to Cochran, Love was a competitive pilot. At the outbreak of World War II, Love pitched the idea of a female aircraft ferrying group. With persistence and the right champion, this idea would turn into the WASPs. Love became the first female US Air Force Pilot in 1942.

Of Love and all the WASPs, Eleanor Roosevelt said…

“Women pilots, in this particular case, are a weapon waiting to be used.”

Space Firsts

As you work through the museum you progress from Earth flight to Space flight. Technology advancements chronicle greater leaps for man and machine. Sprinkled through the museum are brief chronicles of three amazing women.

Eileen Collins was the first woman to pilot the space shuttle. She was a US Air Force test pilot who initially supported space missions before taking to the stars herself.

Susan Helms was the first American Military Woman to leave Earth. In addition to becoming an astronaut, Helms was an engineer and aeronautics professor. She was also the first woman to work on the International Space Station.

Mae Jemison is the first woman of color in space. We came across a commemoration to her induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame while transitioning from one hangar to another. My daughter recognized her picture and said, “That’s Mae Jemison, Daddy. We learned about her at school.” Hearing her say that made me proud.

Alice King Chatham

As we closed out our visit in the final hangar, home of the Space Shuttle and Air Force One, we saw a small placard for Alice King Chatham. It said, “Art to R&D.” It peeked my interest. King graduated from the Dayton Art Institute. She put her knowledge of the human form and sculpture to use designing helmets, protective clothing and restraints. She notably put the finishing touches on Chuck Yeager’s helmet and designed helmets for Project Mercury using wax.

Museums: Centers for Career Inspiration

I love visiting museums with my daughters. They spark new ideas. They inspire. The National Air Force Museum is no different. I expected my daughters to be awestruck by the cool planes and space stuff. I did not expect for all of us to be inspired by the well curated celebration of female air and space icons.

My favorite part, however, was seeing the range of experiences. While some of the female pilots found their love of aviation from an early age, the majority had other experiences and accomplishments both before and after their careers as aviators and astronauts.

Remember, it’s never too late to shoot for the stars. In many cases, your prior experiences will serve you well. They’ll help you propel yourself into the unknown.

Thanks for reading!

Paul G. Fisher

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