Celebrate Female Flyer Centennial by ‘Paying it Forward’

March 5, 2010 — She was the first woman to earn a pilot license, and only the world’s 36th certificated pilot. On March 8, 1910, Baroness Raymonde de la Roche went into the record books, and 100 years later, women pilots are encouraging others to “pay it forward.” Canadian pilot and aviation educator Mierelle Goyer is spearheading a worldwide attempt to mark the centennial of de la Roche's accomplishment by encouraging female pilots to introduce other women to flying by taking them for a short flight and registering online at centennialofwomenpilots.com. "It's an important anniversary so I was checking online to see if something was being planned,” Goyer told the Delta Optimist. By Christmas I couldn't find a thing," she said. "That's why I had to do something." To celebrate the centennial of licensed women pilots, female pilots from around the world will attempt to set a new worldwide flying record: the most women introduced to flying by women pilots in one single day, March 8, and in one single week, March 6-12. To participate, you must hold at least a private pilot license, be current and use an aircraft with appropriate passenger liability insurance. Women pilots who are members of EAA who take a girl, age 8 to 17, for her first flight can also participate in EAA's Young Eagles program at the same time. Already women pilots have registered to participate from four continents and over 10 countries. But those women just won’t be sharing their passion for flying with other women; they can also win prizes. Trophies for the winners and plaques for the runner-ups will be awarded in the following categories: Most women introduced to aviation in one location on March 8 Most women introduced to aviation in one location from March 6 to March 12 Most unusual introduction flight de la Roche at a glance According to the National Air & Space Museum, while Baroness Raymonde de la Roche was dining with aviation pioneer Charles Voisin in 1909, he suggested that she learn to fly an airplane. He not only suggested it; he taught her himself. She was a quick learner, and that same year was the only female participant in the AirMeet at Reims, where she was seriously injured in a crash. But after a lengthy recovery, she went on to win the Femina Cup for a nonstop flight of four hours. In 1919, the Baroness set a women's altitude record of 15,700 feet. In the summer of 1919, de la Roche reported to the airfield at Le Crotoy to copilot a new aircraft in hopes of becoming the first female test pilot. But the aircraft went into a dive on its landing approach and both de la Roche and the pilot were killed. A statue of de la Roche stands at Le Bourget airport in France.

Baroness Raymonde de la Roche became the first women to earn a pilot license on March 8, 1910. Photo credit: NASM Raymonde de la Roche. Photo credit: NASM

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