#aviatrixes

Harriet Quimby (1875-1912) First US Woman Pilot

Quimby was the first woman to receive a US pilot’s license, issued by the Aero Club of America in 1911. The following year, she was the first woman to fly across the English Channel. But unfortunately, she got little media attention for her accomplishment since it occurred the day after the Titanic sank. 

Quimby competed in races and flying meets, always drawing a crowd. Like many early aviatrixes, Quimby capitalized on her popularity with the press, who nicknamed her the “China Doll.” Quimby was also a well-known Hollywood screenwriter. 

For National Aviation Day: On the Flying Circus Phenomenon

This is the third time we have been inspired to observe National Aviation Day with a post! Previously we took a look at wacky airplane movies and their climaxes, and a couple of years later, this post on airplane disaster movies of the 1970s. This year, we remembered that airplane stunting has also been LIVE entertainment for well over a century. From the earliest days of flight “barnstorming”…

This cigarette card shows a head and shoulders portrait of New Zealand aviatrix Jean Batten, and of her plane "Percival Gull" G-ADPR. The verso indicates that she had recently made her epic flight from England to New Zealand (1936).

This card will be part of the “Humble” exhibition at the Turnbull Gallery, National Library of New Zealand, 28 August - 17 November 2017. The exhibition will celebrate small ephemera issued for short term use, and often very useful in its day. In this case, the card simply commemorates the feats of a New Zealander, and inspires patriotic pride.

House of Carreras Ltd (England) :Famous airmen & airwomen. A series of 50. No. 43, Miss Jean Batten [ca 1937]