November 25, 1910 Helene Dutrieu became the fourth licensed female pilot. Known as “Lady Hawk” because of her daring, she began setting altitude records soon after her first solo flight, but the FAI refused to recognize her early records because she was female. She beat male pilots in aviation competitions and narrowly escaped death at least twice. The press was scandalized when Dutrieu revealed she did not wear a corset while flying.
