March 2014 Special Edition: Women in Aviation

Each year, March is designated as National Women's History Month
to ensure the history of American women will be recognized and
celebrated in schools, workplaces, and communities throughout the country.
The 2014 theme is "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment".

This week the NGCP celebrates Women in Aviation.

NGCP Partner

Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight exists to acquire, preserve, and exhibit historically significant air and space artifacts, which provide a foundation for scholarly research, and lifelong learning programs that inspire an interest in and understanding of science, technology, and the humanities. On March 8-9, 2014 the Museum of Flight will be offering an opportunity for girls to experience their first flight in a small plane through a program called Fly it Forward 2014. This event provides 20-minute airplane rides to girls and women to promote interest in aviation and space professions.

http://www.museumofflight.org

FabFems in Aviation

Meet Stacy Sheard, a helicopter test pilot for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation who trains helicopter pilots all over the world. Stacy began her career in U.S. Military Intelligence working at the National Security Agency when she was accepted into the U.S. Army Flight School to fly Hueys and Black Hawk helicopters. She has flown civilian helicopters in several capacities including emergency medical, news, and the entertainment industry. Stacy feels she has come a long way from "the shy little girl who used to look up at the sound of helicopters flying overhead" to the woman she is now in the cockpit.

Visit Stacy's profile at: http://www.fabfems.org/users/stacy-sheard.

FabFems are enthusiastic about the science and technology work they do and want to inspire a future generation of FabFems. To search profiles of other role models working in aviation visit the FabFems website.

Historical Women in Aviation

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937)

Perhaps the most famous women in aviation history Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She felt her historic flight proved that men and women were equal in "jobs requiring intelligence, coordination, speed, coolness, and willpower." Earhart joined the Purdue University aviation department in 1935 as a visiting faculty member to counsel women on careers and help inspire others with her love for aviation. Earhart disappeared during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. Fascination with her life, career, and disappearance continues to this day. The search resumes later this year led by the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery.

Learn more about Amelia Earhart at: http://www.ameliaearhart.com

E. Lillian Todd (1865-1937)

E. Lilian Todd grew up with an affection for mechanical devices; this led to her becoming a self-taught inventor who was identified by The New York Times as the first woman airplane designer on the planet. Todd began to design her own airplanes in 1906, and in 1910, her latest design was flown by Didier Masson. Todd established the Junior Aero Club after realizing that the education of future aviators was an important endeavor. Learn more about E. Lillian Todd at: https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/ToddELillian.pdf

Aviation Events and Resources

Women of Aviation Worldwide Week
March 3-9, 2014

The Women of Aviation Worldwide Week honors women of the past and present and introduces girls to the opportunities that aviation has to offer. The 2014 theme is "Pushing the limits: 100 yrs of female aerobatic pilots & 50 yrs of women flying solo around the world". The website includes contests and planned events.
http://www.womenofaviationweek.org

International Women in Aviation Conference
Lake Buena Vista, FL
March 6-8, 2014
Participants will be immersed in the tactics and strategies used for successful aviation careers and will have the opportunity to engage in tours, educational seminars, exhibit hall showcases, networking, and mentoring. Saturday is "Bring Your Daughter to the Conference Day," with a program for girls ages 10-17.
http://www.wai.org/14conference

International Women's Day
March 8, 2014
March 8th is a global day celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future, and is the anniversary of the first woman in the world to receive a pilot's license.
http://www.internationalwomensday.com

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): The FAA website offers K-12 student resources with information about careers in aviation, activity resources such as coloring books, experiments, games, and word puzzles.
http://www.faa.gov/education/student_resources

Girls with Wings: Girls need flight plans! This nonprofit organization uses aviation to encourage girls to reach their full potential by introducing role models in aviation-related careers and hobbies. The website includes inspirational stories of women involved in various aspects of aviation.
http://www.girlswithwings.com

The Ninety-Nines, Inc.: The Ninety-Nines is an international non-profit organization of women pilots for airlines, industry, and government who promotes advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring their unique history and sharing their passion for flight.
http://www.ninety-nines.org

WASP on the Web: During World War II, a group of women pilots named Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were the first women in history trained to fly American military aircraft. WASP on the Web highlights the inspirational stories of these women.
http://wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp

Whirly Girls: This educational, and charitable organization is dedicated to advancing women in helicopter aviation through scholarship awards, mentoring, public appearances, press releases, magazine articles, and informational displays in aviation museums.
http://www.whirlygirls.org

Spread the Word

Help us celebrate Women's History Month by paying tribute to outstanding women in STEM fields with your networks! Here are a few easy and simple ways to spread the word:

Like us on Facebook and share our daily posts featuring Women in Aviation and resources for inspiring girls to pursue this exciting STEM field!
Follow us on Twitter and retweet or repost our daily tweets to your followers.
Share your own stories about women who have inspired you using #WHMSTEM all month long!

Watch for the special edition next week highlighting Women in Energy & Climate Change.