Harriet Quimby

First American woman to earn a pilot's license and fly across the English Channel

Harriet Quimby (1875–1912) shattered gender barriers in aviation during the early 20th century. In 1911, she became the first U.S. woman to earn a pilot's license (#37 from the Aero Club of America), defying societal norms that confined women to domestic roles.

Her most daring achievement came on April 16, 1912, when she flew across the English Channel—a feat overshadowed by the Titanic disaster occurring the same day. As documented by the Smithsonian Institution, Quimby's 59-horsepower Blériot monoplane flight from Dover to Calais demonstrated extraordinary navigational skill in foggy conditions.

Quimby also pioneered aviation journalism, writing for Leslie's Weekly to popularize flight. Her signature purple satin flying suit became an icon of women's empowerment. Though her life was cut short in a 1912 airshow accident, her legacy inspired generations of female aviators, including Amelia Earhart. The Women in Aviation International organization honors her as a trailblazer who proved courage knows no gender.