8 March 2012
As part of the Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, women from all over the world will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Harriet Quimby’s historic 1912 flight across the English Channel. Across the Channel: Women Unifying Nations will take place on Saturday 10 March, when about 120 pilots from around the world are expected to fly into Headcorn Airport, UK and La Touquet Airport, France, in order to recreate Quimby’s pioneering flight.
Pilots from all around Europe and North America will then fly across the English Channel with girls and women flying in a small aircraft for the first time onboard before landing at the airports. The fleet of aircraft is expected to be diverse and include aeroplanes, seaplanes, helicopters and ultra-lights.
Barbara Ganson, 58 from Hollywood, California will be marking the occasion by repeating Harriet Quimby’s historic 1912 flight across the English Channel in a Cessna 172, dressed in a replica of Quimby’s original plum-coloured silk flight suit. It will also serve as a visual aid during a talk she plans to give at the event about the history of women pioneers in aviation and air fashion. Ganson is proud to be following in Harriet Quimby’s path and said, “I’m extremely excited. It’s a dream come true,” also adding her hope that the event sees good flying weather.
Quimby, who was from Michigan, USA, was the first licensed female pilot from the United States and completed the first flight by a woman pilot over the English Channel on April 16, 1912 in her Bleriot aeroplane.
For more information about the event, visit <a href=’http://www.womenofaviationweek.org’ target=’_blank’>www.womenofaviationweek.org</a>
