Part of PICRYL.com. Not developed or endorsed by the Library of Congress

Aviatrices

Female AviatorsCreated by: LOC's Public Domain ArchiveDated: 1920
Mrs. G. Curtiss, George Grantham Bain Collection
Élisabeth Thible flew above Lyon, France in 1784. Jeanne Labrosse became the first woman to parachute. Sophie Blanchard took her first balloon flight in 1804, and was made Napoleon's chief of air service in 1811.

In 1903, Aida de Acosta, an American woman vacationing in Paris piloted airship, becoming the first known woman to pilot a motorized aircraft. Katharine Wright flew the Wright Model A. Emma Lilian Todd designed her own airplanes. Her first plane flew in 1910. Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick became the first woman to jump from an aircraft in 1913.

Raymonde de Laroche, was the world's first licensed female pilot. Seven other French women followed her in 1901-1902. Blanche Scott claimed to be the first American woman to fly an airplane and established herself as a daredevil pilot. Bessica Raiche recognized as the first American woman to make a solo flight. Harriet Quimby became the USA's first licensed female pilot on August 1, 1911 and the first woman to cross the English Channel by airplane the following year.

Lidia Zvereva, the first female Russian license performed her first aerobatic loop in 1914. In 1913, Lyubov Golanchikova signed a contract to become the first female test pilot to test "Farman-22" manufactured in Russia. In 1916, Zhang Xiahun (Chinese: 張俠魂) China's first female pilot crashed, becoming a national heroine when she survived.

Katherine Stinson became the first woman air mail pilot, when the United States Postal Service. The following year, Ruth Law flew the first official U.S. air mail to the Philippines. In 1936, Hanna Reitsch of Germany became one of the first persons to fly a fully controllable helicopter and earned the first woman helicopter pilot's license. In 1937 Sabiha Gökçen of Turkey became the first trained woman combat pilot, participating in search operations and bombing flight.

In 1943 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were flying new planes from factories to Army Air Force bases, worked as test pilots.

In 1942 Soviet Union created an all-woman combat flight unit, the 588th Night-Bomber Air-Regiment or the Night Witches. They flew harassment and precision bombing missions and "dumped 23,000 tons of bombs on the German invaders". The Soviets also had the only women to be considered flying aces like Lydia Litvyak and Yekaterina Budanova.
145 Media in collectionpage 2 of 2
Kath. Stinson flying [at Tokyo]

Kath. Stinson flying [at Tokyo]

Picryl description: Public domain image of an aircraft, aviator, 20th-century aviation, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Katherine Stinson in Tokyo - Public domain portrait photograph

Katherine Stinson in Tokyo - Public domain portrait photograph

Photograph shows aviator Katherine Stinson who visited Tokyo, Japan from December 1916 to May 1917. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015) Title from data provided by the Bain News Service on the negative. Form... More

General Nagaoka, Kath. Stinson, Miss Nagaoka, Marquise Nabeshima

General Nagaoka, Kath. Stinson, Miss Nagaoka, Marquise Nabeshima

Photograph shows American aviator Katherine Stinson (1891-1977), Japanese air force commander Gaishi Nagaoka (1858-1933), and Marquise Nabeshima Nagako, wife of Japanese official Nabeshima Naohiro (1846- 1921)... More

AVIATION, ARMY. GROUP OF ARMY OFFICERS WITH MARJORIE STINSON, AVIATRIX

AVIATION, ARMY. GROUP OF ARMY OFFICERS WITH MARJORIE STINSON, AVIATRIX

A group of men standing next to each other, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. Gene... More

Fly to diplomatic post. Col. Hanford MaeNider, new American minister to Canada, and Mrs. MaeNider flew from Washington to Ottawa, where he will take up his diplomatic duties. The photograph shows Col. MaeNider assisting Mrs. MaeNider into the plane as they prepared to leave Bolling Field. They were piloted by Capt. Ira C. Acker who, injured in a parachute jump a few days before, threw away his crutch to act as pilot for his friend

Fly to diplomatic post. Col. Hanford MaeNider, new American minister t...

A group of people standing next to an airplane. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Amelia Earhart and group - Glass negative photogrpah. Public domain.

Amelia Earhart and group - Glass negative photogrpah. Public domain.

A group of people standing next to an airplane, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Date based on date of negatives in same range. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. General information about the Har... More

Mrs. Zelie Longley - Public domain photograph, glass negative

Mrs. Zelie Longley - Public domain photograph, glass negative

Title from unverified data provided by the National Photo Company on the negatives or negative sleeves. Date from negatives in same range. Gift; Herbert A. French; 1947. General information about the National P... More

Roxie Stinson fortune told, 3/27/24

Roxie Stinson fortune told, 3/27/24

Public domain historical photo, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Herbert Hoover presenting the National Geographic Society medal to Amelia Earhart; with Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, at left. White House, Washington, D.C.]

[Herbert Hoover presenting the National Geographic Society medal to Am...

A group of people standing next to each other. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Women in airplanes: Katherine Stinson in Partridge plane

Women in airplanes: Katherine Stinson in Partridge plane

Photo by Bain News Service, N.Y.C. Title and other information transcribed from unverified, old caption card data and item. George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Caption card tracings: Shelf; PI; Woman.

BLEVINS, MISS ELINOR, MOVIE STAR, AVIATRIX, AUTO FIEND

BLEVINS, MISS ELINOR, MOVIE STAR, AVIATRIX, AUTO FIEND

An old photo of a woman standing next to a car, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. ... More

Kath. Stinson , 5/13/16 - Glass negative photogrpah. Public domain.

Kath. Stinson , 5/13/16 - Glass negative photogrpah. Public domain.

Photograph shows Katherine Stinson at Sheepshead Bay racetrack, Brooklyn, New York City. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2014)

Mr. & Mrs. Pickup, commercial aviators

Mr. & Mrs. Pickup, commercial aviators

A black and white photo of a man sitting in a plane. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Mme. Franck, George Grantham Bain Collection

Mme. Franck, George Grantham Bain Collection

Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. General information about the George Grantha... More

Mlle. Marving T. - Public domain portrait photograph

Mlle. Marving T. - Public domain portrait photograph

An old photo of a woman standing in front of a plane. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Through the breakers - movie film screenshot

Through the breakers - movie film screenshot

Happily married, Mr. and Mrs. Normand are soon blessed with a child. Unfortunately, as the baby grows up, the Normands become less interested in the child, and more interested in their social lives. By the age... More

Mrs. Oren Root, George Grantham Bain Collection

Mrs. Oren Root, George Grantham Bain Collection

Photo shows Aida de Acosta (1884-1962) whose first husband was magnate Oren Root. She later married lawyer Henry S. Breckinridge. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2009) Title from data provided by the Bain News... More

Portrait photo of PACKARD LePERE PLANE. STINSON, AVIATRIX

Portrait photo of PACKARD LePERE PLANE. STINSON, AVIATRIX

A black and white photo of a woman standing next to an airplane, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Date and part of title from unverified data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection for rela... More

Roxie Stinson fortune told, 32724

Roxie Stinson fortune told, 32724

Title from unverified data provided by the National Photo Company on the negative or negative sleeve. Gift; Herbert A. French; 1947. General information about the National Photo Company collection is available ... More

Amelia Earhart of transatlantic fame is received by President Coolidge. Miss Amelia Earhart of Boston (left) who was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, was received by President Coolidge today. She is shown in this photograph with Porter S. Adams, President of the National Aeronautic Association

Amelia Earhart of transatlantic fame is received by President Coolidge...

A man and a woman standing outside of a building, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data on negative or negative sleeve. On sleeve: Watch Your Credit Line. Gift; Har... More

Joins staff of Bureau of Air Commerce. Washington, D.C., Aug. 14. Blanche Noyes, who in 1930 took John D. Rockefeller, Jr., for his first and only air ride, has been appointed an air marking pilot for the Bureau of Air Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce. She assumed her duties today

Joins staff of Bureau of Air Commerce. Washington, D.C., Aug. 14. Blan...

A black and white photo of a woman in a car, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data on negative or negative sleeve. Harris and Ewing photo. Date (year) based on date... More

Mr. and Mrs. L. Bleriot, with crowd

Mr. and Mrs. L. Bleriot, with crowd

Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. General information about the George Grantha... More

Blanche Scott, George Grantham Bain Collection

Blanche Scott, George Grantham Bain Collection

Photo shows American aviator Blanche Stuart Scott (1885-1970). (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2008) Title from data provided by the Bain News Service on the negative. Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Colle... More

Maude Stinson, Natalja & Mary Black

Maude Stinson, Natalja & Mary Black

Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). General information about the George Grantha... More

Mrs. Zelie Longley - Public domain portrait photograph

Mrs. Zelie Longley - Public domain portrait photograph

Title from unverified data provided by the National Photo Company on the negatives or negative sleeves. Date from negatives in same range. Gift; Herbert A. French; 1947. General information about the National P... More

[Woman at airplane] - Public domain photograph, glass negative

[Woman at airplane] - Public domain photograph, glass negative

Picryl description: Public domain vintage artistic photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Royal S. Copeland and Amelia Earhart

Royal S. Copeland and Amelia Earhart

A black and white photo of a man and a woman, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Date based on date of negatives in same range. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. General information about the Harri... More

Mme. Franck, George Grantham Bain Collection

Mme. Franck, George Grantham Bain Collection

Full length, seated in biplane, (5 - facing front). Title and other information transcribed from caption card and item. George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Flight; Amer. Heritage Flight. Capt... More

Katherine Stinson with her biplane

Katherine Stinson with her biplane

Photo shows American aviator Katherine Stinson (1891-1977) in front of her Curtiss-Stinson Special biplane that she flew to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War I (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2016... More

Miss Boku, George Grantham Bain Collection

Miss Boku, George Grantham Bain Collection

Photo shows Japanese aviatrix with airplane. Title and date from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negative. Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). General ... More

Ruth Nichols & Robt. C. Oretel, 3/19/29

Ruth Nichols & Robt. C. Oretel, 3/19/29

Public domain historical photo, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Herbert Hoover and Amelia Earhart, at White House, Washington, D.C.

Herbert Hoover and Amelia Earhart, at White House, Washington, D.C.

A black and white photo of a man and a woman walking down a path, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Date based on date of negatives in same range. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. General informa... More

Royal S. Copeland, left; Amelia Earhart, right

Royal S. Copeland, left; Amelia Earhart, right

A group of people sitting around a table, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Date based on date of negatives in same range. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. General information about the Harris & ... More

The newlyweds, New York City

The newlyweds, New York City

After being jilted by their respective sweethearts, Dick Harcourt and Dora Dean have both become disenchanted with the opposite sex. Unknown to each other, they happen to share a seat on a passenger train. Due ... More

Aviatrix leaving plane - Public domain portrait photograph

Aviatrix leaving plane - Public domain portrait photograph

Photo by Office of War Information (OWI). This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.

Mons. and Madame Wagner - Public domain portrait photograph

Mons. and Madame Wagner - Public domain portrait photograph

Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. General information about the George Grantha... More

A joy ride / Leighton Budd. - Political cartoon, public domain image

A joy ride / Leighton Budd. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration shows a woman piloting an airplane with a frightened female passenger.

McADOO, MRS. WILLIAM GIBBS, NEE ELEANOR WILSON. WITH MARJORIE STINSON

McADOO, MRS. WILLIAM GIBBS, NEE ELEANOR WILSON. WITH MARJORIE STINSON

A group of women standing next to each other, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection. Gift; Harris & Ewing, Inc. 1955. Ge... More

Maj. Howard P. Davidson, Miss Ruth Nichols, Robt. C. Oertel, 3/19/29

Maj. Howard P. Davidson, Miss Ruth Nichols, Robt. C. Oertel, 3/19/29

A group of people standing next to an airplane. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ruth Nichols & Robt. C. Oretel, 31929

Ruth Nichols & Robt. C. Oretel, 31929

Title from unverified data provided by National Photo Company on the negative or negative sleeve. Gift; Herbert A. French; 1947. General information about the National Photo Company collection is available at h... More

Aeronautics / drawn by Joseph Clement ; engraved by A.W. Warren & J. Davis.

Aeronautics / drawn by Joseph Clement ; engraved by A.W. Warren & J. D...

Technical illustration shows early balloon designs: "Lana's aeronautic machine," Montgolfiers' balloon," "Blanchard's balloon," "Garnerin ascending [and] descending" in his parachute, the "Charles & Roberts' ba... More

The light that came - movie film screenshot

The light that came - movie film screenshot

Grace, a disfigured young woman with two beautiful sisters, Vivian and Daisy, falls in love with Carl Wagner, a blind violinist, and they become engaged. Though she fears losing his love when he sees the scar o... More

MILLER, MISS BERNETTA. MOISSANT AVIATRIX. IN BLERIOT PLANE

MILLER, MISS BERNETTA. MOISSANT AVIATRIX. IN BLERIOT PLANE

A black and white photo of a man in an airplane, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title and date from unverified caption data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection. Gift; Harris & Ewing, I... More

Famous transatlantic flyer demonstrates new type plane to Navy Officials. Clarence Chamberlain, famous Transatlantic flyer, and Ruth Nichols (in cabin) noted aviator, arrived in Washington today with the new Chamberlain cabin menoplane. In this photograph they are pointing out the many features of this new plane to Commander A.H. Douglas, Commandant of the Naval Air Station and Commander J.H. Towers, Assistant Chief of the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics (right). Unusual visibility and special aerlons which Chamberlain says practically makes it impossible for this ship to stall or go into a tailspin, are the new features

Famous transatlantic flyer demonstrates new type plane to Navy Officia...

A group of men standing next to an airplane, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data on negative or negative sleeve. On sleeve: Watch Your Credit Line. Gift; Harris &... More

Chinese Aviatrix receives gift of new plane from Col. Roscoe Turner. Washington, D.C., April 3. Col. Roscoe Turner, winner of speed trophies in the air, dropped down to Washington Airport today with a red high wing monoplane which he presented to the friends of New China, represented by Miss Hilds Yen, Chinese Aviatrix. The plane, 'the Spirit of New China', was built by the Porterfield factory. 4-3-39

Chinese Aviatrix receives gift of new plane from Col. Roscoe Turner. W...

A man and a woman shaking hands in front of an airplane, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Title from unverified caption data received with the Harris & Ewing Collection. Gift; Harris & Ewing, In... More

Previous

of 2

Next