LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Maureen Alesi is based at Poplar Grove Airport (C77), Poplar Grove, Illinois and flies a Cessna 140.

I started flying in November 1988 when my husband told me to get a hobby because I was driving him crazy. I got my private license the following November, learning in a Piper Warrior. I flew the Warrior for about a year when we bought a 1947 Cessna 140. It wasn’t too long after we had the 140 that my husband decided to get his pilot’s license.

We are based at Poplar Grove Airport, C77. It is a great place for a taildragger; lots of kindred spirits. We take the plane on vacation to where ever the Cessna 120/140 convention is. We also do what pilots do best, fly some where to eat. I can’t imagine life without my airplane.

Elisa Bretterebner is from Trautenfels, Austria, is based at LOXA, Aigen im Ennstal, Austria and flies a Super Cub, C-Falke & and Grob 109B.

Hey to all of you!

I started my gliding instruction in 2005 in the age of 15.

In April 2010 I started my private pilot licence instruction therefore I was flying a Piper PA-18 Super Cub and a SF-25 “C-Falke” which is a taildragger as well.

4 months later I got my licence and I´m still flying only taildraggers. Most of time I´m flying our tow plane, a Grob 109B Turbo which is actually a motorglider, but a taildragger as well .

Blue skies and always happy landings to all of you

Elisa Bretterebner

http://www.fsg-grimming.at/

Windy is based in Utah and flies a PA-12 Super Cruiser.

“I have a PA-12 with big tires that I love to fly to the backcountry to go camping and hiking.”

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“I really enjoyed browsing your site. There are a lot of ladies that are at all stages of flying experience levels! I hope to meet you in person at some of the fly-ins!”

Windy

You may want to check out the November 2010 issue of AOPA Pilot Magazine and read the article “Above the Spill”.  Lady taildragger pilot Sheila Mabbitt is mentioned on page 70, and pictured on page 68.  The article is about GA flying the Gulf oil spill.

Dispersing chemicals over the spill

DC-3 captain Sheila Mabbitt worked full-time in the gulf coast helping with the clean up efforts.

You can still see the entire post and Sheila’s other amazing pictures on the following link.

Link to August 2010 post:

Gulf Oil Spill

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Misty Allsup is based at Antlers Municipal Airport (80F), Antlers, Oklahoma and is a student pilot who owns a Champ!

Last year, my husband bought me a 1959 Aeronca 7FC, that had been converted to a conventional gear, as my 30th birthday present.  I named her Marilynn, and she’s so special to me.  I love my little Champ!

My fear of flying didn’t instantly go away with Marilynn’s arrival so it’s been a slow process but such an awesome journey.

“Tailwheels are the only way to go!”

My husband and I also own a Waco UPF7, a Micco SP26, and a Piper Seneca II, and have our own hanger and grass strip in SE Oklahoma.  We’d love to have ‘ya so drop a line for coordinates.

Judy, love your website, especially since so many of the ladies have Champs. With my husband’s stable of planes, everyone overlooks my poor little Champ so I like to see them fully appreciated!

Cheers,

Misty

Sent in by Jeannie Batto; “The Sedan is up and running… a coldish day in New Hampshire but good for a little mx and flying.  Just out lovin life, the airplane and friends…”  Jeannie

Link to  Jeannie’s Pilot Profile

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I think Jeannie must know they fly better when we cuddle with them a little! There were several Sedans at the Middleton Aeronca gathering last summer and their spacious interior looks like a living room compared to my Champ. In case you don’t know your Sedan history, its the only 4 place aircraft ever built by Aeronca. Remember that great story about a guy out west dropping newspapers from an airplane a few years ago!?! Wasn’t it from the window of a Sedan??!!  Judy

I received the following email from Zdravko Podolski of AeroDynamic Aviation at Reid Hillview Airport.  Since there seems to be a lot of activity on the blog about Reid, his note got me wondering how many of our registered pilots have a connection to this vintage aircraft happy airport? After a quick search I realized we have at least 5 lady taildraggers who are either training, got their rating and/or are based at Reid Hillview (where ‘tailwheel friendly’ seems to be an understatement!). Count ‘em; Janet Gritter, Jan Johnson, Bonnie Ritchey, Jessy Panzer & Liz Smith!! Leave a ‘Comment’ if you want to be added to the list.

“Hi Judy,

One of our students – now certified pilot, Jan Johnston, told me about you.

We are AeroDynamic Aviation, formerly Amelia Reid Aviation, flying school founded by Amelia Reid, who would definitely be on your list if she had still been alive.

As well as Jan and Bonnie, we have quite a few lady pilots that trained with us, a lady instructor, and a bunch of lady students.

We do most of our initial pilot training in taildraggers – usually Citabrias, and we also have a 1946 Champ, a 1945 Taylorcraft L-2, a Zlin Savage Classic, a Cessna 170 and a 180 hp Decathlon on line.”

Who knew? Kelly is teaching Zumba and looking great …. wild and crazy, but great! Must be all that Latin music!

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“I am attaching a picture of me and Fifi.  Besides flying, one of my other passions is teaching Zumba and I wanted to share this with the group.” Kelly

Link to:

Kelly’s Pilot Profile

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Fly it Forward! is a grass roots, personal effort by Karlene Petitt to introduce more women to flying. She’s an airline pilot currently with Delta holding 6 type ratings and lives in Seattle. Karlene says, “In honor of the 100 years of licensed women aviators, I’m holding a drawing and giving a $100 bill to one “Man or Woman” who introduces a girl or woman to flying.”

Earlier this year Ladies Love Taildraggers featured Mireille Goyer’s effort to introduce ’2,010′ new girls and women to aviation through her ‘Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots’ Event. Quite a few of us participated and Gail Schipper received a Second Place award for “Most Unusual First Flights”. Karlene’s mission is to help Mireille reach her goal of 2,010 by the end of the year and there’s only a few weeks to go.

Ladies, here’s your chance to do something that really matters – and really counts! Only a few weeks left to help Karlene and Mireille meet their goals! Here’s the link to Karlene’s blog post & the link to Mireille’s site where you can find all the details !

Fly It Forward Challenge

Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots

Have a good time and don’t forget to register so your flight counts!

Connie McConnell is based at Leeward Air Ranch (FD04), Ocala, Florida and flies a Cessna 140.

I have been flying taildraggers for 34 years. My dad got his license the year I was born and instilled a love of flying in me, taking me with him whenever he flew. He soloed in a Cessna 140. My husband and I both started taking lessons and received our licenses in 1976. After we sold our Cessna 170, my husband, Jim, asked me what kind of plane I would like, and I knew it would have to be a polished Cessna 140.

In 1989 we found a 1946 C140 with 900 hours on it.  I have had “Silver Bird” since.  In the mean time we owned a 1956 Cessna 180.  3 airplanes just didn’t fit in our hangar so the 180 was sold. We also have a 1946 Piper Cub.  We live at Leeward Air Ranch, an airport community, so I can push a button, the hangar opens and push my plane out and take off!  What could be better ?