In the early days of flight, it was thought that flying was too dangerous to risk losing women who were wives and mothers. Against the odds, women sought out pilots who would give them flying lessons. Many, like Harriet Quimby, Matilde Moisant, Amelia Earhart, Emily Warner, Sally Ride, and Eileen Collins (the first female Space Shuttle commander), demonstrated that women have the skills, courage, and determination to fly.

In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made history by successfully flying a plane of their own design. Though many men were inspired by their example, less is made of the many women who dreamed of taking to the skies. In the early days of flight, people did not want women to become pilots. It was thought that they were not strong enough, that they were too emotional to cope with the inevitable emergencies, and that flying was just plain too dangerous to risk women who were wives and mothers. Against the odds, women sought out pilots who would give them flying lessons. Many, like Harriet Quimby, Matilde Moisant, Amelia Earhart, Emily Warner, Sally Ride, and others, demonstrated that women have the skills, courage, and determination to fly.