THE FIRST WOMEN FLYERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 18

THE FIRST WOMEN FLYERS

The death of Mrs. Cody, who made her first flight in 1908, recalls some of those pioneer airwomen whose nowforgotten exploits were • the sensations of their day, states an English- writer. The first English woman aeronaut was the beautiful Mrs. Sage, who accompanied Captain Lunardi in his balloon in 1785. She just loses the distinction of being the world's first airwoman to Mme. Thible, who went up in Fleurant's balloon in 1784. Fleurant could not find a male passenger willing to risk his life in an ascent.

The first professional woman aeronaut was also a Frenchwoman, Mme. Blanchard. She gave exhibition flights and offered the spectators an extra thrill by discharging fireworks from her balloon. That risky adventure ended in. her crashing in a sheet of flame before a horror-stricken crowd. The first English woman professional was Mrs. Graham, one of the delights of Vauxhall Gardens. She called herself "Aeronaut to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen." Certainly, Queen Victoria once watched her go up and expressed her appreciation. Another professional, Mme. Poitevin, gave exhibitions at Cremorne Gardens of the foolhardy and cruel exploit of ascending by balloon on horseback. She found herself in a London police court charged with cruelty to animals.

Honours again go to a Frenchwoman as first woman air pilot. Baroness de la Roche gained her pilot's certificate from the Air Society of France as long ago as 1909.