Aviation for Women

MAR-APR 2017

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 8 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 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. BarreƩ Barbara Erickson London Florene Miller Watson 2 0 0 6 Fran Bera Jeanne Holm Galina Korchuganova BeƩy Mullis BeƩy 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 MarƟn Wyall 2 0 1 2 First Women's NaƟonal 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 ScoƩ 2 0 1 5 Priscilla (Pat) Blum Phoebe Omlie Deanie and Nancy Parrish 2 0 1 6 Amy Johnson Brenda E. Robinson Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger UPT Class 77-08 Elizabeth "BeƩy" Everts Greene Elizabeth "BeƩy" Everts Greene (deceased) is a trail- blazer in humanitarian and missionary flying. She was born in SeaƩle, Washington, in 1920, and developed an early love of aviaƟon aŌer her 14-year-old brother made his first solo flight. As a teenager, she learned to fly in 1936 and saw an opportunity to both fly and serve her country as a WASP during World War II. BeƩy served with a tow-target squadron at Camp Davis near Wilmington, North Carolina, and then at Wright Field near Day- ton, Ohio, as a trans- port and equipment- tesƟng pilot. She was one of the first women to pilot an aircraŌ into the stratosphere as a copilot of a B-17 on a test flight. Seeing a need to reach remote places to improve the lives of people, BeƩy went on to help found the Mis- sion AviaƟon Fellowship (MAF). She helped choose the first aircraŌ for the organizaƟon and organized the first humanitarian flight service in Mexico and lat- er in Peru. Her experience serving as a WASP trained her well for the challenges she faced as a missionary pilot mostly flying in regions with dirt strips. BeƩy's ability to successfully use her flying skills in Islamic socieƟes in northern Nigeria and the Sudan underlines her humility and excellent qualificaƟons. She was called "The Golden Voice of the Sudan" be- cause she was the only woman heard on aviaƟon ra- dios during that Ɵme in Sudan. Her professionalism, respect for the local male-female dynamics, and in- ner confidence in the work she was called to do made it possible for BeƩy to funcƟon comfortably in any seƫng, despite the odds against it. For 16 years, BeƩy served as a pilot with MAF. She flew in 12 countries and touched down on some 20 more. In 1962, BeƩy began working at MAF head- quarters and later served as an MAF advocate unƟl her death in 1997. Her legacy lives on with MAF's current operaƟon boasƟng 135 aircraŌ in 33 countries, flying 5 million nauƟcal miles a year to provide medical care, disaster relief and parƟcipate in community development. BeƩy will be remembered as both a dreamer and a doer who made this important humanitarian project possible as an aviaƟon pioneer. Lt. Gen. Stayce Harris Lt. General Stayce Harris is the highest-ranking African-American woman military pilot in all the Unit- ed States armed forces. She has been an inspiraƟonal leader and mentor to young people everywhere for more than 30 years. She graduated from the Univer- sity of Southern California with a degree in engineer- ing as an AFROTC scholarship cadet and earned a pi- lot training slot. AŌer graduaƟng from pilot training, Stayce flew the C-141 StarfliŌer upgrading to aircraŌ commander. She also completed a master's degree from Embry-Riddle AeronauƟcal University (ERAU). This began her passion for mentoring and teaching when she became an adjunct professor at ERAU and the squadron chief of training. Stayce began her Air Force flying career in 1984 flying the C-141 and quickly advanced to AircraŌ Commander and Air OperaƟons Officer. Fol- lowing her acƟve duty service, she transi- Ɵoned to the Air Force Reserve and began a career as a commercial airline pilot flying the Boeing 747 for United Airlines. She excelled in the Air Force Reserve and was promoted to Commander of an AirliŌ Squadron, and Air Force ExpediƟonary Group flying air-refueling missions in the Middle East, and an Air Refueling wing. She served in criƟcal high level staff posiƟons as the Air Force Reserve MobilizaƟon Assistant to the Commander of U.S. Africa Command and Air Mobility Command. Her unmatched leadership ability was recognized, and she became the first female commander of the 22nd Air Force, a unit with 15,000 airmen flying 1,200 aircraŌ responsible for tacƟcal airliŌ, pilot training, weather observaƟon, and flight test operaƟons. Today, Stayce is the vice chief of staff and director, Air Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She also serves as deputy chairman of the Air Force Council, and is the Air Force accreditaƟon offi- cial for the internaƟonal Corps of Air AƩachés. She is the highest-ranking African-American female military pilot in the enƟre armed forces. Stayce has logged more than 2,500 hours in military aircraŌ including the C-130H, KC-135R, C-141B/C, T-38, and T-37. Stayce has not only dedicated her life in service in this country but also in mentoring and inspiring young people to careers in aviaƟon and the Air Force. BeƩy Everts Greene Lt. Gen. Stayce Harris

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