Frivolous Flying Facts
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Lady Mary Heath ~ Extraordinary Female Aviator in the Roaring Twenties
Background and Inspiration to Fly Mary Heath’s unfortunate start to life, when her father was found guilty of murdering her mother, did not seem to hamper her development and ambition. Brought up by her grandfather and two elderly aunts, she took an active part in sport and passed a degree in science in Ireland. In…
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Raymonde de Laroche ~25th November 1913
To add to my recent posts about early female aviators I must mention this French lady: Raymonde de Laroche 1886 -1919 Background and Inspiration to Fly Raymonde always enjoyed sport and motorcycles but was inspired to learn to fly after watching Wilber Wright’s flight demonstrations in Paris in 1908. In 1909, under the instruction of…
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Amazing Female Aviators in the Early 20th Century ~ Hilda Beatrice Hewlett
Hilda Hewlett is my favourite of the early 20th Century aviators I discovered whilst researching, not only because she was English but I was also surprised to find out that she opened a factory making planes for the war effort (WW1) near to where I live in Leagrave, Bedfordshire. When I have time I hope…
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Early 20th Century Female Aviators ~ Ruth Bancroft Law
Was my third brilliant aviator from the early 20th Century the first woman allowed to wear an NCO uniform? Of course she didn’t fight in battle and there were characters like Joan of Arc and Boadicea before her, leaders of war in their day, but nevertheless Ruth Bancroft was a strong willed lady who deserves…
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Amazing Female Aviators of the Early 20th Century ~ Bessie Coleman
I love research and I’m looking forward to an autumn of delving into the background for the next novel in my Riduna series. (Having been prompted by several readers to do so) Sometimes it is the ‘blind alleys’ you get absorbed in that give you a gem of an idea for the future and my…
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Amazing Female Aviators in the Early 20th Century ~ Katherine Stinson
Katherine Stinson caught my eye as a remarkable woman, not only because of her aviation achievements but also because she lived to a ‘ripe old age’ of 106 years, unusual even today but certainly ‘against the odds’ for aviators in the early 20th Century, either male or female. I was tempted to put her story on my…
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Amazing Female Aviators in the Early 20th Century ~ Harriet Quimby 1875-1912
Whilst researching for ‘Ancasta Guide me Swiftly Home’ I read a great deal about early aviators and was exciteded to read about Harriet Quimby, even though it had nothing to do with my novel. Anyone writing a novel knows how easy it is to get sidetracked and it led to me finding out about other…
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A Centenary Flight ~ Oldest British Plane to Fly
Last Sunday (7th October) there was a buzz at the Shuttleworth Air Day. Attendance to the show was high, the mood buoyant and we milled around with anticipation as we waited for the display to start. I did a double take when several pipers, resplendent in their kilts, walked towards us but no, we were still in the heart of…