Women of Flight

Coming Soon!
The Museum has begun plans for a new, expanded gallery on women in aviation history! This new exhibit is scheduled to open in 2007... but the Museum needs your help to make it a reality! Find out how you can help inspire young people and tell the great story of women in aviation history by contacting the Assistant Curator for Special Exhibitions at (619) 234-8291 extension 38, or klacy@sdasm.org.

Women have contributed to aviation since its beginning. Katharine Wright, sister of Orville and Wilbur, assisted her brothers in the construction of their history-making aircraft. In 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first American woman to obtain a pilot's license. Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to orbit the Earth in 1963, and astronaut Sally K. Ride became America's first woman in space on June 18, 1983. Patty Wagstaff is a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion pilot (1991-93).

Women are now active in virtually every field of aviation and space flight. With the extraordinary talent that women bring to business, science and technology, more women are assuming higher positions with airlines, test flying and in the military.

For more information on the upcoming Women of Flight exhibit click here.