Aviation for Women

MAR-APR 2016

Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.

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2 7 T H A N N U A L I N T E R N A T I O N A L W O M E N I N A V I A T I O N C O N F E R E N C E Aviation forWomen 45 2 0 0 3 100 Most Infuental Women in Aviaton and Aerospace 2 0 0 4 Rosella Bjornson Ann Lewis Cooper Arlene B. Feldman Nelda K. Lee Dorothy Swain Lewis 2 0 0 5 Sandra L. Anderson Anne Bridge Baddour Colleen C. Barret Barbara Erickson London Florene Miller Watson 2 0 0 6 Fran Bera Jeanne Holm Galina Korchuganova Bety Mullis Bety Jane Williams 2 0 0 7 Deanna Brasseur Iris Cummings Critchell Marie Marvingt 2 0 0 8 Nancy Harkness Love Nicole Malachowski Geraldine (Jerrie) Mock Margaret Ringenberg Air Transport Auxiliary 2 0 0 9 Jacqueline Cochran Patricia Malone Ruth Nichols Dawn Seymour Anna Timofeyeva-Yegorova 2 0 1 0 Trish Beckman Vice Admiral Vivien Crea Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann Alice du Pont Mills Kathryn (Kathy) Sullivan 2 0 1 1 Dr. Peggy Chabrian L. Tammy Duckworth Maj. Gen. Susan J. Helms Hazel Ying Lee Mary Ann Martn Wyall 2 0 1 2 First Women's Natonal Air Derby Pilots Bernice (Bee) Falk Haydu Elizabeth (Elsie) MacGill Mary Magdalene (Maggie) Maga 2 0 1 3 Lt. Col. Karen Fuller Brannen Mary Frances Silitch WAI Founding Board Members 2 0 1 4 Dr. Nancy J. Currie Beryl Markham Dr. Sally K. Ride Sheila Scot 2 0 1 5 Priscilla (Pat) Blum Phoebe Omlie Deanie and Nancy Parrish important Air Force weapons systems. Gen. Wolfen- barger has held several positons in the F-22 Sys- tem Program Ofce at Wright-Paterson Air Force Base, and served as the F-22 lead program element monitor at the Pentagon. She was the B-2 system program director for the Aeronautcal Sys- tems Center (ASC) at Wright-Paterson Air Force Base. She com- manded ASC's C-17 Systems Group, Mobil- ity Systems Wing. Gen. Wolfenbarger was the service's director of the Air Force Acquisiton Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as director of the Headquarters Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Intelligence and Require- ments Directorate, Wright-Paterson Air Force Base. She served as AFMC vice commander from Decem- ber 2009 to September 2011. Gen. Wolfenbarger was then the military deputy, Ofce of the Assistant Secre- tary of the Air Force for Acquisiton at the Pentagon. Gen. Wolfenbarger shaped the U.S. Air Force's ac- quisiton processes during her multple assignments at the Pentagon and Wright Paterson Air Force Base. She led the AFMC's transformaton eforts and streamlined the organizatonal structure. Gen. Wolfenbarger's military career culminated as the AFMC commander, where she was responsible for more than 80,000 members and a $60 billion budget to provide critcal warfghter support through weap- ons systems management, test and evaluaton, depot maintenance, and supply chain management. She retred on July 1, 2015. UPT Class 77-08 In 1975, the chief of staf of the Air Force announced the establishment of a test program for female pilots and navigators. Although women had already proven their ability to fy military aircraf, such as the WASP had in World War II, this test program would estab- lish a precedent for the future of Air Force female pi- lots. The candidates were all Air Force ofcers from various career felds, including a nurse, engineer, and maintenance ofcer. On August 26, 1976, Capt. Connie Engel, Capt. Kathy LaSauce, Capt. Mary Donahue, Capt. Susan Rogers, Capt. Christne Schot, 1st Lt. Mary Livings- ton, 1st Lt. Carol Scherer, and 1st Lt. Kathleen Ram- bo began the T-41 fight screening program at Hondo Municipal Airport in San Antonio, Texas. On September 26, 1976, they proceeded to Wil- liams Air Force Base and together with their 35 male classmates began a 48-week pilot training course. Each candidate accumulated 210 hours in the Cessna T-37 and the Northrop T-38, and 790 hours in academic, fying, and ofcer training. Connie Engel was the frst woman to solo in the T-41 and T-37, and she was the frst woman to lead a two-ship formaton. Christne Schot was the frst woman to solo in the T-38. These women not only passed the course, but also excelled. On September 2, 1977, all 10 women earned their silver wings. Connie, who was the class leader, received the Air Training Command Commander's Cup for overall leadership and fying ability. Additonally she was awarded the Ofcer Training Award. Mary Donahue received the Academic Award, missing only one queston out of 395 asked during formal examinatons. These women went on to fy in support of many combat missions including Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and African conficts. They also accumulated a few more "frsts." Connie Engel became the frst female T-38 instruc- tor and few T-38 chase for the space shutle program. Kathy LaSauce was the frst female pilot to com- mand a C-141. Mary Donahue became the frst female pilot as- signed to the Air Force Academy, where she taught senior cadets to fy the T-41 trainer and was an in- structor in the department of mathematcal science. When the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed, Susan Rogers evacuated many victms of the atack in her C-141. She passed away in 1992 following a long struggle with cancer. When Women Military Aviators created their frst scholarship, they named it in her honor. Christne Schot was the frst to qualify as a C-9 aircraf commander. She also commanded the frst all-female aircrew in the C-9. Sandra Scot became the frst female tanker commander to perform alert duty for Strategic Air Command. The test program opened a door, which these women pushed through for others to follow. The results were increased opportunites for rank advancement, command opportunites, and ult- mately, pilotng the entre inventory of Air Force aircraf, test pilot programs, and spacecraf.

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