Sophie Blanchard, Roman Candle

December 23, 1811 Sophie Blanchard, the world’s first female professional balloonist, took off in Rome, falling into a “profound sleep” and ascending to 11,000 feet. Blanchard was nervous and excitable on land but fearless in the air. After her husband’s death in a ballooning accident Sophie had taken over his exhibition business specializing in night flights and an act in which she parachuted dogs or fireworks from the balloon basket.

Teach Them Well Jeanne Herveu

December 22, 1911 Auto racer Jeanne Herveu (sometimes spelled Herveux or Herveau) opened an all female flying school in France. At the time few traditional flying schools accepted female students.

Helene Dutrieu Takes The Coupe

December 21, 1910 Motorcycle champion Helene Dutrieu won the Coupe Femina, a prize awarded each year to the woman who flew the longest in both time and distance. On this day, Dutrieu flew 103.8 miles in 2 hours, 35 minutes and was the first woman to remain airborn for more than an hour.

Fly! Fly! Fly! Viola Gentry

December 20, 1928 Viola Gentry set the first official women’s endurance record, flying 8 hours, 6 minutes, 37 seconds in an open cockpit Travelair biplane. She set off a three way aerial duel between herself, Bobbi Trout, and Elinor Smith. Elinor eventually won, flying over 26 and a half hours, a record that still stands.

Love Is In The Air With Peggy McKillop and Colin Kelman

December 19, 1937 Barnstorming newlyweds Peggy McKillop and Colin Kelman took off on a whirlwind honeymoon from London to France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Burma, Malaya, Java, Timor, Darwin, and Moree, finally landing home in Australia on January 15, 1937.

Laura Ingalls Arraigned

December 18, 1941 Recordbreaking aviatrix Laura Ingall was arraigned in federal court on charges of being a German spy. Ingalls had flown 344 consecutive loops and 714 barrel rolls, and had been the first woman to fly nonstop coast to coast across the United States. Ingalls was convicted of being an unregistered foreign agent and served time in Alderson Prison.

Marie Louise Driancourt and the wide blue yonder

December 17, 1887 Madame Marie Louise Driancourt was born in Lyon, France. A widow with three daughters, Driancourt earned her pilot’s license on June 15, 1911 and performed in many flying exhibitions. When her plane was completely destroyed in a crash she chose to retire from aviation.

Ivy May Pearce Flies In High Fashion

December 16, 1936 Ivy May Pearce competed in the Brisbane to Adelaide Air Race, posting the fastest time for any woman and finishing only two seconds behind the male winner. Pearce was one of the only female aerobatic pilots in Australia. Later she became a prominent Australia fashion “guru” and owned three exclusive boutiques.

Ride, Sally Ride

December 15, 2006 Sally Ride, the first woman to orbit the earth, was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Ride helped develop the Space Shuttle’s robotic arm and used that arm to retrieve a satellite in 1983 during a mission on board Challenger. She founded Sally Ride Science, a company that develops student science projects and curriculum, with a special focus on girls.