Photo above – Lady Heath color NYP Library cards – source is the New York Public Library.
By Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.
Many know of Irish American sky stars, Emily Hanrahan Warner, America’s first female airline Captain, and Eileen Collins, first woman to pilot and, later, to command our U.S. space shuttle. Here are just a few women to celebrate this month, especially on March 17!
In 1910-11, Ireland’s Lilian Bland, pioneer aviator, became one of the first women to design, build, and fly an aircraft. Fascinated by the flight of birds, Lilian studied them for hours. She even photographed them to study their wings in the air. After much study of pioneer French aircraft designs by Louis Blériot and the Wright Brothers, she was ready to test her own aeroplane. Lilian named her invention Mayfly because of its large, delicate wings. First, it was a glider. Eventually, an engine was added. Finally, Mayfly became a successful motorized engine-powered aeroplane. Lilian became the first Irish woman to fly.
After the success of Mayfly, in just a short time, Lilian sold the aeroplane engine and gave the glider to a local club because Lilian literally moved to Canada when she married. Other interests filled her days. Her aviation years were short but her contribution significant.
Another early Irish aviator, Dame Mary Westenra Bailey, ventured skyward. During World War I, Mary volunteered as an aviation mechanic. She served with the Royal Flying Corps in Britain and France. By 1927, she became a licensed pilot. Immediately, she became the first woman to fly across the Irish Sea. In 1928, Dame Mary flew alone in her de Havilland DH-60 Cirrus Moth from Croydon in London all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. Then, she flew back! This return flight included flying across the Congo, the Sahara, and the west coast of Africa. She flew across Spain and France back home. Her solo flight was the longest accomplished by anyone. She won the 1927 and 1928 Harmon trophy as the world’s outstanding aviatrix.
The next year, Dame Mary Bailey won the Britannia Trophy. Presented by the Royal Aero Club for aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviation during the previous year. In 1930, Mary held a leadership position on the Women’s Engineering Society Council. The next year, she because the first woman in the United Kingdom to earn a Certificate for Blind Flying (Instrument flight). During World War II, Bailey joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force where she flew mission critical planes to RAF-Royal Air Force bases throughout the United Kingdom.
A contemporary of Mary Bailey was Lady Mary Heath, another Irish Sky Star. Born as Sophie Mary Peirce. She successfully flew her Avro Avian from Johannesburg, South Africa to London. Her flying and athletic exploits elevated her reputation. When Amelia Earhart visited London, Lady Mary Heath impulsively sold her airplane to Amelia. Lady Mary continued to promote women and girls in aviation throughout her life.
A more modern Irish Sky Star is Gráinne Cronin. In 1977, she became the first woman pilot for Aer Lingus and Ireland’s first female commercially-employed pilot. She hails from a large family of aviators. Her father was a commercial airline Captain. Her sister is a commercial pilot. Her husband is a pilot. Her daughters are pilots.
Cronin learned to fly in her father’s Piper Cub. She continued earning ratings. In 1975, at age 22, she joined Aer Lingus as a flight attendant. She made it known she was continuing flight training. Aer Lingus noticed and invited her to join the flight deck. Her first Aer Lingus flight was in January 1978 as a co-pilot. By 1988, Gráinne Cronin became the first female airline Captain for Aer Lingus. Captain Cronin retired in 2010. In 2019, the airline reported about 10% of their pilots were female.
It is said on March 17, the whole world is Irish. Add these Irish Trailblazers to your list to celebrate.
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