Female Helicopter Pilots on The Rise

Women, historically, have had to fight harder to break into male-dominated fields, and aviation is up there at the top of that list. Today, only a small percentage of pilots are female. Keep reading to learn about the trend-setters who paved the way.

German pilot Hanna Reitsch was the first female helicopter pilot and one of the few pilots to fly the Focke-Achgelis Fa 61, the first fully controllable helicopter (1938), for which she received the Military Flying Medal. Hanna Reitsch’s full history is impressive & fascinating. Here’s a link to learn more: https://www.historynet.com/hanna-reitsch-hitlers-female-test-pilot.htm

In 1954, after 18 days of lessons, Jean Ross Howard Phelan became the 8th American woman, and 13th worldwide, to receive her helicopter accreditation. Almost immediately, she began to contact other female helicopter pilots, and the “Whirly-Girls”, an international organization of women helicopter pilots, was formed in 1955.