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Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
Sun Apr 16, 2017, 08:24 AM Apr 2017

105 yrs ago today: Harriet Quimby is first woman to fly across the English Channel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Quimby



Harriet Quimby (May 11, 1875 – July 1, 1912) was an early American aviator and a movie screenwriter. In 1911, she was awarded a U.S. pilot's certificate by the Aero Club of America, becoming the first woman to gain a pilot's license in the United States.[1] In 1912, she became the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Although Quimby lived only to the age of thirty-seven, she had a major influence upon the role of women in aviation.

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English Channel

On April 16, 1912, Quimby took off from Dover, England, en route to Calais, France and made the flight in 59 minutes, landing about 25 miles (40 km) from Calais on a beach in Équihen-Plage, Pas-de-Calais. She became the first woman to pilot an aircraft across the English Channel.[8] Her accomplishment received little media attention, however, as the sinking of the RMS Titanic the day before consumed the interest of the public and filled newspapers.

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One of my heroes. Sadly, she died less than 3 months later when she was thrown from her aircraft during a maneuver (no seat belts).
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105 yrs ago today: Harriet Quimby is first woman to fly across the English Channel (Original Post) Cooley Hurd Apr 2017 OP
... shenmue Apr 2017 #1
... Rhiannon12866 Apr 2017 #2
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