by
Tachelle Wilkes
What
does it take to be a fly girl? Many think it's the hottest
clothes, best makeup, and latest hairstyles. This may be true
in the lives of Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson, but the
fly girls we're hinting at have drive, diligence, and most
of all, a love for aviation.
Ever
since the Wright Brothers took flight in 1903 and E. Lillian
Todd designed the first aircraft in 1906, high-flying women
have made monumental strides in aviation. Legendary high-flying
women of the past include Amelia Earhart, a well-known aviatrix
who flew solo across the Atlantic in 1932 and vanished somewhere
off of Howland Island in 1937; and Bessie Coleman, who became
the first and only black pilot in 1921. Having faced massive
discrimination in the states, Coleman learned to fly at the
prestigious Ecole di'Aviation de Frers Caudron in France,
Bessie later returned to the United States to enjoy a soaring
career through 1926.
Anne
Morrow Lindbergh is yet another celebrated female aviator,
who lived an adventure-filled life with her husband Charles
Lindbergh. Together they explored uncharted routes to China,
Japan, and Alaska. In 1931, Anne became the first female glider
pilot in the United States and helped to pioneer Pan America’s
air mail services.
Even
with women advancing in aviation careers within the last two
decades and gaining notable accolades, there is still a great
need for a new generation of high-flying, tech-savvy women.
The number of female flyers in the aviation industry remains
significantly lower than their male counterparts. Presently
women account for less than six percent of working pilots,
and less than 12 percent are aeronautic students.
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