Where are all the women - MIA????

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:41 am

deleted duplicate post??

Mark P

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:48 am

Quote:

I have avoided this thread as the last one with a very similar question by (I believe) the same "author" produced problems and was locked and removed.

I recall, and complained about that thread at the time, despite the similar topic, this one has been introduced on a far more respectable tone and approach to the issue, and I dont think it implies an intent to bait, as the first one seemed to clearly do at the time.

Quote:

But after that caveat, there are several very accomplished females in aviation on this board alone as well as others. They are involved in flying, wrenching, airshows and museums. Look around.

If this is not the case downunder, who is to know why.

Australia has a number of women involved in museums, and warbirds, (Lynette Zuccoli and Judy Pay as example) and many more involved in aviation in GA, Commercial and Military flying, and have a long history of doing so as illustrated by the exploits of the recently departed Nacy Bird Walton, who learnt to fly with Kingsford Smith in the 1930's and went on to play a major role in commercial aviation.

Not all males involved in, or interested in aviation seek or meet a woman who shares those same interests, nor is it a requirement for a successful relationship to do so. As I said earlier opposites attract and complimentary and different interests can lead to a fuller and richer life by both partners, the same might equally be true of women in Aviation.

I think the issue in Australia, and indeed anywhere else, is that its up to individual choice and attractions, and in some cases the males interested in warbirds etc may actually be totally uninteresting to any women, regardless of their own interests being aviation or otherwise, and hence alone due to their own issues, rather than the lack of females interested in Aviation in Australia.

However it should be an objective of all of us to try introduce the wider general public (male and female) to our museum's, warbirds, airshows and aviation history etc , or for that matter, the enjoyment that recreational aviation etc can provide, but not to complain if they dont all share our enthusiasms.

regards

Mark Pilkington

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:54 am

Quote:

If this is not the case downunder, who is to know why.

Australia has probably an even percentage to other countries of 'women in aviation', from my firsthand experience in meeting them as I've travelled - Europe, Canada, the USA, and New Zealand similarly having a small but important and powerfully-driven group; more women would be 'a good thing' as would more people involved, as Mark's said.

I've just taken two tour groups through an Australian museum today, about 50% women (I didn't count heads) and in ages of 6 - 15 and retired. It would be fair to say the (majority of) women expect to be bored by the boys toys, and patronised by matt-black number-wizz, but therefore are an easy group to exceed their (low) expectation by showing the illustrious and significant history of their gender in Australian aviation, well promoted in the museum, and they come away feeling it might actually involve them. (Sadly some male aviators behaviour is enough to rapidly reverse that idea.)

In the case of the start of this thread, Australian women may also just be discriminating as to who they avoid. :roll:

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:14 am

PS; the original post is not getting much agreement on the Aussie 'Warbirdz' forum here, either:

http://www.warbirdz.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48

skybolt2003 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:17 am

JDK wrote:

PS; the original post is not getting much agreement on the Aussie 'Warbirdz' forum here, either:

http://www.warbirdz.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48

Ha! the first response was priceless.

(glad I only have to put up with this drivel on one forum)

Eric Presten · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:40 am

My wife (one and only) was not interested in aviation before we met in college.

She has since (we met in 1984) learned to fly, soloed at least a half dozen taildragger and seaplane types (from the Cub to an original Bucker Jungmiester), become well known for her fabric covering work (full time for six years), become a good skiplane pilot, gone to Oshkosh for 20 plus years, started building her own airplane, gotten her seaplane rating, and (as Mike Shreeve, Roger Cain and Cornelious Braun will attest) become a very competent formation and photo pilot.

She now wants to get our SGU 2-22 out and get a glider rating.

I have never pushed her. She is a very motivated person, and I can never guess what she will come up with wanting to do next.

She is also very supportive of my aviation related activities, and I cannot ever remember her saying anything but “go for it” to any of my trips, airplane purchases, and projects. I have never heard “You’re not going to the airport again, are you?” in my life.

And she is also quite easy on the eyes.

She still impresses me on a daily basis, and I think that it’s more what type of person you are, then what sex you are.

She has been involved in the Young Eagles Program for many years, and if we had a museum on our field, with her knowledge of aviation history, I’m sure she would be involved in it somehow.

We have 60 hangers at our airport, and just sitting here for a minute thinking about it, I can think of 17 female pilots that are based at our patch. Maybe they just don’t get noticed as much as us showoff men.

Having her involved sure makes my life a thousand times better. We’re a team, and our two boys (ages 11 and 12) seem to be interested as well. The boys just used almost all of there Christmas money, and ordered a set of Druine Turbulent plans from the UK. I guess my wife and I are about to learn allot about wood working. A family that plays together stays together.

Cindy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:21 pm

As a women who is a pilot, warbird fanatic, airplane owner and volunteer at POF.....

I have been involved with aviation in some form since 1988. Most of the women I know who are truly involved with aviation have successfully ignored or adapted to something that is typically male dominated. They put up with all kinds of comments and attitudes and most of them can hold there own with any guy out there.
The ones who don't get involved....are typically intimidated by the attitudes and comments and therefore don't stick around. Unfortunately for them....they don't know what they're missing.
So....bring it on boys! I can hold my own with the best of them :twisted:

Dan K · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:50 pm

skybolt2003 wrote:

JDK wrote:

PS; the original post is not getting much agreement on the Aussie 'Warbirdz' forum here, either:

http://www.warbirdz.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48

Ha! the first response was priceless.

I find myself concurring more with response #16:

With all due respect, I don't understand what this means, and how it would work. Could you please explain your idea to me?

I am not trolling you, but your posts can be frustratingly difficult to comprehend, which I think contributes to the animosity that you receive here and elsewhere.

Maybe its just me.

So, it's kind of nice to know that it's not just me.