On March 8th of 1910, a French lady named Raymonde de Laroche became the first woman in the world to obtain a pilot licence. She was first but certainly not last.
1910 (March 8 ) – France & Worldwide – Raymonde de Laroche
Raymonde de Laroche
France
Key accomplishments:
- First woman to earn a pilot licence worldwide on March 8, 2010.
- Two altitude records including one at 15,700 feet (4,800 m).
- One distance record, at 201 miles (323 km).
1910 (Nov 25) – Belgium – Hélène Dutrieu
Hélène Dutrieu
Belgium / France
Key accomplishments:
- First Belgium woman to earn a pilot licence on Nov 25, 1910.
- First woman to fly with a passenger in 1910.
- First woman to win an air race in 1911.
- First woman to pilot a seaplane in 1912.
1911 (Aug 1) – USA – Harriet Quimby
Harriet Quimby
USA
Key accomplishments:
- First American woman to earn a pilot licence on Aug 1, 1911.
- First woman to fly across the English Channel in 1912.
1911 (Aug 10) – Russia – Lidia Zvereva
Lidia Zvereva
Russia
Key accomplishments:
- First Russian woman to earn a pilot licence on Aug 10, 1911.
- First woman to fly an aerobatic maneuver (loop) in 1914.
1911 (Aug 29) – England – Hilda Hewlett
Hilda Hewlett
England
Key accomplishments:
- First British woman to earn a pilot licence on August 29, 1911.
- First woman to teach her child to fly in 1911.
1911 (Sep 13) – Germany – Amelie Hedwig Beese
Amelie Hedwig Beese
Germany
Key accomplishments:
- First German woman to earn a pilot licence on September 13, 1911.
- First woman to patent an aircraft design in 1912.
1911 (Oct 6) – Netherlands – Beatrix de Rijk
Beatrix de Rijk
Netherlands
Key accomplishments:
- First Dutch woman to earn a pilot licence on October 6, 1911.
1911 (Oct 10) – Czech Republic – Božena Laglerová
Božena Laglerová
Czech Republic
Key accomplishments:
- First Czech woman to earn a pilot licence on October 10, 1911.
1911 (Nov 19) – Estonia – Ljuba Galantchikova
Ljuba Galantchikova
Estonia
Key accomplishments:
- First Estonian woman to earn a pilot licence on November 19, 1911.
1912 (Aug 15) – Hungary – Lilly Steinschneider
Lilly Steinschneider
Hungary
Key accomplishments:
- First Hungarian woman to earn a pilot licence on August 15, 1912.
1913 (Jan 3) – Italy – Rosina Ferrario
Rosina Ferrario
Italy
Key accomplishments:
- First Italian woman to earn a pilot licence on January 3, 1913.
1914 (Feb 6) – Roumania – Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu
Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu
Roumania
Key accomplishments:
- First Roumanian woman to earn a pilot licence on February 6, 1914.
1914 (Jun 6) – Switzerland – Else Haugk
Else Haugk
Switzerland
Key accomplishments:
- First Swiss woman to earn a pilot licence on June 6, 1914.
1914 (Oct 1) – Argentina – Amalia Celia Figueredo
Amalia Celia Figueredo
Argentina
Key accomplishments:
- First Argentinian woman to earn a pilot licence on October 1, 1914.
1922 – Brazil – Teresa de Marzo
Teresa de Marzo
Brazil
Key accomplishments:
- First Brazilian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1922.
1922 – Japan – Tadashi Hyodo
Tadashi Hyodo
Japan
Key accomplishments:
- First Japanese woman to earn a pilot licence in 1922.
1925 – Korea – Kwon Ki-ok
Kwon Ki-ok
Korea
Key accomplishments:
- First Korean woman to earn a pilot licence in 1925.
1925 – New Zealand – Gladys Sandford
Gladys Sandford
Korea
Key accomplishments:
- First New Zealander woman to earn a pilot licence in 1925.
1927 – Australia – Millicent Bryant
Millicent Bryant
Australia
Key accomplishments:
- First Australian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1926.
1928 – Canada – Eileen Vollick
Eileen Vollick
Canada
Key accomplishments:
- First Canadian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1928.
1928 – Spain – Maria Bernaldo de Quiros
Maria Bernaldo de Quiros
Spain
Key accomplishments:
- First Spanish woman to earn a pilot licence in 1928.
1932 – China – Ruthy Tu
Ruthy Tu
China
Key accomplishments:
- First Chinese woman to earn a pilot licence in 1932.
1933 – Turkey – Bedriye Tahir Gökmen
Bedriye Tahir Gökmen
Turkey
Key accomplishments:
- First Turkish woman to earn a pilot licence in 1933.
1933 – Egypt – Loftia Al Nadi
Loftia Al Nadi
Egypt
Key accomplishments:
- First Egyptian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1933.
1936 – India – Sarla Thakral
Sarla Thakral
India
Key accomplishments:
- First Indian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1936.
1940 – Iran – Effat Tejaratchi
Effat Tejaratchi
Iran
Key accomplishments:
- First Iranian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1940.
1951 – Morocco – Touria Chaoui
Touria Chaoui
Morocco
Key accomplishments:
- First Moroccan woman to earn a pilot licence in 1951.
1951 – Algeria – Marylise Ben Haim
Marylise Ben Haim
Algeria
Key accomplishments:
- First Algerian woman to earn a pilot licence in 1951.
Help us complete this list of pioneering women pilots. If you know the name of the first woman to obtain a pilot licence in a country not in this list, please share it.
Thank you for your contribution.