In 1929, there were 9,098 men licensed to fly in the United States, and just 117 women. That year, a group of ninety-nine female pilots, let by Amelia Earhart, got together to break down barriers for women in flight.
90 years later, flying is still a largely male-dominated hobby and profession.
"When I started flying, I was really taken back at just how under-represented women are in aviation," says Iowa City pilot and Iowa chapter chair of the Ninety-Nines, Minnetta Gardinier. “[We] are only six percent of the pilot population."
The Ninety-Nines continue to provide networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to recreational and professional female pilots.
In this Talk of Iowa segment, Charity Nebbe talks with Gardinier, about her love of flying, and her plans to compete in the 43rd all-women's Air Race Classic this June.
