Hundreds Gather in Tulsa for Oklahoma’s Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day

Tulsa hosted a giant celebration of girls in aerospace and aviation on Friday, drawing in college students and professionals from throughout the state.

The sixth annual Girls in Aviation and Aerospace Day featured audio system, lunch, and planes in all places you regarded within the Tulsa Tech hangar.

“Aviation is a fantastic group. It is a household group. And I am simply so proud to be part of it,” Gigi Coleman mentioned.

Gigi was dressed from head to toe for the event, holding the legacy of her nice aunt, Bessie Coleman, alive.

“That is the medal that she was inducted into the Nationwide Aviation Corridor of Fame,” GiGi mentioned.

Bessie was the primary African American and Native American feminine to turn out to be a pilot. She needed to transfer to France to be taught to fly, was later recognized for performing in air exhibits, and died in 1926 after an issue along with her airplane. The Nationwide Girls’s Historical past Museum web site describes what occurred.

“At about 3,000 ft within the air, a free wrench obtained caught within the engine of the plane. Wills was not in a position to management the steering wheel and the airplane flipped over. Sadly, Coleman was not carrying a seatbelt. Airplanes on the time didn’t have a roof or any safety. Coleman instantly fell out of the open airplane and died.”

“She was an inspiration to all people,” Gigi mentioned. “Not simply to enter aviation, however to do no matter you need to in life. And he or she by no means took no for a solution.”

Mustang Excessive Faculty Sophomore Olivia Andrews was on the occasion with a few of her classmates within the aviation program.

“I need to be an astronaut,” she mentioned.

Andrews is working towards her future, and he or she is happy others are, too.

“I really like seeing all the ladies right here from totally different colleges; it actually simply makes my coronary heart soften as a result of it is simply, there’s so few of us . And I really need extra ladies on this. It is a great program,” Andrews mentioned.

The occasion, placed on by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Fee, the Tulsa Worldwide Airport, and plenty of others, drew greater than 800 individuals collectively.

“Girls, we deliver so much to the desk. And so I really feel like, having the range, you may have loads of totally different minds, loads of totally different views. And I feel that is crucial,” Andrews mentioned.

With enthusiasm ranging from the bottom, they’re prepared for his or her goals to take off.