08/19/2026
Happy National Aviation Day! President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the day in 1939, on Orville Wright’s birthday, to honor his contributions to aviation history.
Though often seen as a man's domain, women have been trailblazers in aviation from its earliest days. This , let’s honor these pioneering women aviators whose daring feats inspire the next generation of dreamers and doers!
Harriet Quimby (1897 – 1912) was the first American woman to earn her pilot’s license in 1911, and a few years later, completed a solo flight over the English Channel, achieving another milestone first for a woman aviator. As a professional journalist, she shared her experiences flying with her readers, inspiring others to take to the skies.
Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) broke barriers in 1921 when she was the first African American woman to earn an international pilot’s license. To achieve her dream, she traveled to France because she was denied flying lessons in American. Upon returning to the U.S., she inspired countless African Americans to take up flying. Tragically, she died preparing for an air show.
Elinor Smith (1911-2010) at 16 became the youngest woman to receive pilot’s license. In 1928 she set a daring record of flying under four East City bridges in New York City. She set multiple records in the 1930s, and then paused to raise a family. She returned to flying in the 1950s and flew to age 89!
Arguably, the most iconic female aviator in history, Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) captivated the world as the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 1928 as a passenger. She set multiple records before becoming the first woman to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic in 1932. In 1937, she vanished during her quest to be the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.
