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100 years of legacy - pay it forward
It started in 1784, when only 8 months after the first manned balloon flight, Count Jean-Baptiste de Laurencin got cold feet and gave his spot for a balloon flight to Marie Élisabeth Thible, a French opera singer. She dressed as a Roman goddess and sang "La Belle Arsène", a celebrated opera of the time, as the balloon ascended to 1500 meters. She is was the first woman ever to fly. 
A few years later, riding along was not good enough for women anymore. Jeanne Labrosse was the first woman to fly solo in an aircraft. It is no surprise that just a few years after the airplane was invented, women were taking on the new challenge. Raymonde de Laroche, an experienced French balloonist became the first woman to earn a pilot license.
Over the last century, women have continued to actively take part in aviation regardless of the set backs they sometimes faced. Bessie Coleman, the first black woman to earn a pilot license, had to learn French and travel to what was at the time far away lands just to learn to fly airplanes. Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu, Roumania, was denied her application for a pilot license in her country and traveled to France to earn her pilot license. Upon her return, her country refused to let her participate to airshows. Many countries refused to let women use their piloting skills to defend their countries in wartime.
All the hard earned breakthroughs would not have been possible without their strong will power and the open mindedness of those men who supported their efforts. As we, today's women pilots, stands in receipt of this legacy, let's gracefully pay it forward to the next generation of women pilots. Let's introduce a record number of women to aviation. Ladies, start your engines!
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Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first woman solo airplane flight on the American continent
1910 was an eventful year for women pilots. On March 8 1910, Raymonde de Laroche became the first woman to earn a pilot license in France and worldwide. However, September 1910, was probably the most action-filled month of the year.
In the United States, Blanche Stuart Scott became airborne while taking flying lessons on September 2nd. On September 16th, Bessica Medlar Raiche soloed in the airplane that she and her new husband, Francois Raiche, had been building together at their home in Mineola, New York. She was accredited as the first woman aviator in America by the Aeronautical Society of America. Three days later, on September 19th, Marthe Niel, became the second woman in France and worldwide to earn a pilot license.
Just like the women pilots before me, I believe that the responsibility to make a difference rests on the shoulders of each and every one of us which is why I spearheaded a grass root campaign to celebrate the Centennial of Women Pilots earlier this year.
The goal is to introduce a record number of girls and women to aviation in 2010. Participating is simple. Make one of your $100-hamburger flights, one of your charity flights or one of your demo flights, a flight to salute the women pilots of the past: introduce a female friend or a female stranger to aviation.
I invite you to join this campaign to not only celebrate our heritage but to also mark history by loudly stating our thankfulness to the trailblazers before us, by displaying our thoughtfulness towards the women pilots of the future and by reiterating our dedication to the advancement of women in aviation.
To make your generous flight officially count, register and join the women pilots from twenty countries on five continents who have already chosen to make a difference.
Canada celebrates the Centennial of Women Pilots at the Toronto Air Show during Labor Day Weekend
The 2010 Canadian International Air show is the culminating event of the Canadian National Exhibition and will take place on Saturday, September 4th, Sunday, September 5th and Monday September 6th from 12:30 PM to 4:30 P.M.
2010 air show will celebrate the centennial of the Canadian Navy, the centennial of women in aviation and the 61st anniversary of the Canadian International Air Show.
On Sunday September 5, our show is being opened by Lt. Col. Maryse Carmichael, the current Commanding Officer of the Snowbirds and the first female pilot on the Snowbirds team.
To learn more about the event, please visit the website by clicking here.
One-of-the-kind Women Pilots Ballooning Event in the UK on October 8, 9 & 10
Allie Dunnington, our current top performer with 51 introductions flights, has organized one-of-the-kind Women Pilots Ballooning Event in the U.K. Women pilots from the U.K. and overseas will fly up to 20 hot air balloons.
This event is co-located with BWPA's annual general meeting at Heythrop Park in the U.K. and will provide a forum for fixed-wing pilots and balloonists to exchange flight experiences.
Prizes will be awarded to the winners of fun and friendly competitions. The Heythrop Park Resort is offering special discounted rates for the event.
A great way to spend a fall weekend. For more information, please visit the event's website.
Spirited women pilots of 2010 celebrate the spirited women pilots of the last century at Airventure 2010
Oshkosh started with a little excess rain this year. For the first few days, only visions from past Airventure events could fill the space between the few tents on the grass with airplanes. That certainly did not stop five of the participants to the celebration of the Centennial of Women Pilots to respond "present" at our forum, 100 Years of Legacy - Pay It Forward, on Friday morning.
After attending the Women in Aviation celebrity breakfast at 8:00 AM and the official women pilots photo at the Aeroshell Square at 10:30 AM, Lesley Page from Oshawa, ON, Canada, Heather Gollnow from Green Bay, WI, USA, Monika Petrillo from Pasadena, CA, USA, Linda Artman from Panama City, FL, USA and Amy Laboda from Florida, USA, took turns during our forum at the EAA Museum to share with the audience the reasons why they are taking part of the celebration of the Centennial of Women Pilots and how it changed their lives and those of their passengers.
Like the passionate women pilots of the past, the women pilots of today believe in taking on challenges and making a difference in the world they live in. Like the fascinating women pilots of the past, the women pilots of today have interesting lives that include tough choices and struggles. And like the community minded women pilots of the past, the women pilots of today are committed to share their passion for aviation.
As Martin said: "I'm for anything we can do to increase women's interest in aviation." With five months to go before the end of 2010, join these women and the men that support them and introduce a record number of girls and women to aviation to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of the women pilots of the last century. Pay it forward.
