Pioneering Female F-35 Pilot Reflects on Legacy of Women in Military Aviation (2024)

ARLINGTON, Va. - Military aviation proudly recounts its past, sustains its present and looks towards its future. Part of its history tells the story of the female pilots who stepped up to ensure aircraft were available and ready during World War II. The WASPs, or the Women Airforce Service Pilots, provided an invaluable service to our country in wartime. Their legacy influenced future women in military aviation who became leaders, innovators, and decision-makers. Now, their legacy lives on as the most lethal and connected fifth-generation aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, operates daily worldwide.

In 2015, then U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Mau became the first female F-35 pilot when she completed a flight in the Lightning II. Mau retired in 2017, but her story remains a key highlight of the F-35 story.

Mau's interest in military aviation began at an early age. Her father was in the U.S. Air Force, and she would watch aircraft launch into the sky from her home near Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. When she was five years old, Mau knew she wanted to fly fighter jets – a challenging goal when women were not permitted to be fighter pilots or serve in combat roles.

Undaunted, Mau pursued her aviation goals and earned admission to the United States Air Force Academy in 1993. Later that year, the U.S. Department of Defense changed its policy to allow women to serve in combat roles. As a result, more opportunities were open to Mau and female pilots who wanted to pursue their goal of flying fighter jets.

Mau worked hard and pursued an assignment at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, where she began her flight training and earned a spot as an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.

As an F-15 pilot, Mau was a part of the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron's first all-female combat sortie in the F-15E that provided air support to coalition and Afghan forces in Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. Women carried out the entire mission, from the pilots and weapons system officers of the two F-15s to the mission planners and maintainers.

Mau remembers thinking, "This must have been what it was like for the WASPs," when seeing the all-woman F-15 crew. During World War II, the aforementioned WASPs tested, ferried, and trained pilots. Established in August 1943, 72 years before Mau's first flight, these women transported aircraft from the United States for overseas deployment and to training bases.

Mau flew the F-15 for most of her career, clocking over 500 combat hours in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and Enduring Freedom.

The time invested and experience gained in the F-15 would lay the foundation for Mau's eventual move to the F-35 Lightning II.

Mau jumped at the chance to train to fly an F-35 in 2015 when a commander from the 33rd Fighter Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, called.

"[The commander said] 'Do you want to come to Eglin and fly F-35s?'" Mau recalled. The job was as the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, a flying position.

"'Oh, hell yes!'" was Mau's response.

Luck, timing, and a great deal of demonstrated skill on her part guided her on the journey to the F-35.

Of 88 F-35 pilots trained at Eglin, Mau was the only woman. Leading up to her first flight, she spent two months going through intensive training and multiple flights in the F-35 simulator, Mau said.

With 16 years of experience in a two-seat F-15, adjusting to the single-seat F-35 was a new experience for Mau.

"I had never really flown by myself before," Mau explained, adding the caveat that she had done one solo flight in the F-15E. But this was different.

While taxiing out for that first flight in the F-35, that solitude struck her.

"As soon as you feel that power, that kick, as you're racing down the runway, it sinks in," Mau said.

Alone in the co*ckpit, with nothing but the sound of her breath and the call from air traffic control clearing her for takeoff, Mau (call sign "Grinder") rocketed down the Eglin runway. As the wheels of her aircraft lifted from the ground on May 5, 2015, Mau became the first female fighter pilot to fly an F-35.

Without a weapons system officer behind her, Mau took comfort when flying initially in listening to the sound of her own breathing.

"For a while, that was my happy place," Mau said. “I would just listen to myself breathe.”

Aside from her first flight, according to Mau, her favorite moment in the jet was participating in a large force exercise with other aircraft because she was able to see the true force and capabilities of the F-35.

“Nobody saw me, and we slayed,” Mau said.

Mau retired from her active-duty role after 20 years of service in the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel and began searching for her next career leap. Luck and timing once again converged when a rare position opened as an instructor training the next generations of F-35 pilots.

"I love instructing students," Mau enthused, "it's a passion of mine."

When it comes to training each new class of F-35 pilots, Mau said, she focuses on instructing the best and the brightest pilots regardless of gender.

"Flying is a great equalizer, she said. “The plane doesn't know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You have to perform."
Mau's experiences gained throughout her life and career have allowed her to look back on some of the most important aspects of what got her to where she is today. For others looking to pursue careers in aviation, Mau advises, work hard, keep your options open and never limit yourself.

"You can do anything," Mau said. "It just takes a lot of effort."

Through hard work and dedication, Mau was able to achieve the goals she had set for herself at five years old. Her biggest piece of advice for others chasing their own goals reflects her determination.

"Always give it your best," Mau said. "And your best may fail at times but grow some thick skin. Because through your failures, you learn the most."

Pioneering Female F-35 Pilot Reflects on Legacy of Women in Military Aviation (2024)

FAQs

Who was the first woman to fly an F-35? ›

Kelsey Flannery, the first female F-35 pilot in the Air National Guard. “I was really excited, and I was lucky enough to get a pilot slot with them.” Interviewing with the 134th Fighter Squadron in 2019, Flannery was part of a small group of hundreds of applicants selected to become the squadron's newest pilots.

Who is the most famous female pilot in aviation history? ›

Perhaps the most famous female pilot ever, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. When she began her journey from Newfoundland to Paris in a Lockheed Vega 5B, she kicked off a short career full of highlights.

Are there female F-35 pilots? ›

Air National Guard's first female F-35 pilot completes inaugural flight: 'It's exciting' (Gray News) - A female pilot from Kentucky made history earlier this month by piloting an F-35 fighter jet for the Air National Guard. According to the Air National Guard, 30-year-old 1st Lt.

What is the summary of women in aviation? ›

Women have made a significant contribution to aviation since the Wright Brothers' first 12-second flight in 1903. Blanche Scott was the first women pilo, in 1910, when the plane that she was allowed to taxi mysteriously became airborne. In 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first licensed woman pilot.

How many f35s are on the Queen Elizabeth? ›

The aircraft carrier weighs 65,000 tonnes and has a top speed of 25 knots. She can carry up to 72 aircraft, with a maximum capacity of 36 F-35B fighter jets. It is more likely the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers will have up to 24 Lightning jets on board for operations, however.

How much does an F-35 pilot make? ›

How much does a Pilot make at U.S. Air Force in the United States? Average U.S. Air Force Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $82,004, which is 34% above the national average.

Who is the most famous woman in aviation? ›

If asked to name a woman in aviation, most people's first answer would be Amelia Earhart. Not only was she the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, three years later she was the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to the continental US.

Who was the first woman to fly a military aircraft? ›

Jeannie Marie Leavitt (née Flynn; born c. 1967) is a United States Air Force (USAF) general officer. She became the U.S. Air Force's first female fighter pilot in 1993, and was the first woman to command a USAF combat fighter wing.
...
Jeannie Leavitt
Years of service1991–present
RankMajor General
9 more rows

Who was the first woman to fly in the military? ›

Born on 21 March 1913, Sabiha Gökçen, one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of Turkey, enrolled in the Military Aviation Academy in Eskisehir in 1936 and undertook training at the First Aircraft Regiment there.

What are female pilots called? ›

Women have been involved in aviation from the beginnings of both lighter-than air travel and as airplanes, helicopters and space travel were developed. Women pilots are called "aviatrices".

How long does it take to become an F-35 pilot? ›

Pilots will then attend Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF) lasting about 3 months. Finally, pilots will attend the F-35 Basic Course (B-Course) lasting approximately 9 months at either Luke AFB or Eglin Air Force Base.

What is the f35s nickname? ›

The first F-35A, designated AA-1, was rolled out at Fort Worth on 19 February 2006 and first flew on 15 December 2006. In 2006, the F-35 was given the name "Lightning II" after the Lockheed P-38 Lightning of World War II. Some USAF pilots have nicknamed the aircraft "Panther" instead.

Why is women in aviation important? ›

Women were responsible for many major milestones in the origins of aviation. They contributed to several “firsts” in the industry but faced constant prejudice. One notable individual, Blanche Scott, not only became the first woman to drive across the U.S., but the first female pilot to fly in America.

Why are women underrepresented in aviation? ›

While there certainly are fewer women training to be pilots, women also face gender-unique social pressures, double standards and systemic barriers that deter their entrance into aviation. Women have been interested in aviation since Wilbur and Orville gave up bicycles for airplanes at the turn of the 20th century.

Is there gender inequality in aviation? ›

According to a report published today, gender inequality in aviation remains prevalent, with 30% of female aviation professionals stating that they have been discriminated against due to their gender.

What does US Navy think of HMS Queen Elizabeth? ›

ENVIOUS American top brass have admitted the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth is one of the world's 'nicest ships to serve on'. Colonel Simon Doran, the senior American officer on board the aircraft carrier, said his team of about 250 US personnel were loving life on board the £3.2bn warship.

How heavy is the Queen Elizabeth coffin? ›

Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in an English oak coffin featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago, and lined with lead. It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg.

How many F 35 do the US Marines have? ›

In all, the plan has the Corps fielding 14 active component and two reserve F-35B squadrons and four active component F-35C squadrons by fiscal 2032. The Corps also has two F-35B fleet replacement squadrons, one on each coast. (F-35C training will remain with the Navy's fleet replacement squadron, VFA-125.)

How much do fighter pilots make after retirement? ›

If you serve a full 20 years on active duty you receive 50% of your base pay, every month, for the rest of your life.

What is the highest paying pilot job? ›

High Paying Pilot Jobs
  • Helicopter Pilot. Salary range: $51,500-$115,000 per year. ...
  • Private Pilot. Salary range: $51,000-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Corporate Pilot. Salary range: $55,000-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Chief Pilot. Salary range: $64,000-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Assistant Chief Pilot. ...
  • Air Charter Pilot. ...
  • Airline Pilot. ...
  • Commercial Pilot.

What is the highest paid aviation job? ›

10 high-paying aviation jobs
  • Flight instructor.
  • Terminal manager.
  • Aerospace technician.
  • Aircraft mechanic.
  • Pilot.
  • Test engineer.
  • Airport executive.
  • Aeronautical engineer.

Who is the best woman pilot in the world? ›

Amelia Earhart

One of the most famous pilots of all time, Amelia Earhart was the 16th woman to earn her pilot license. She was the first woman who flew across North America and the Atlantic.

Who was the first female pilot to fly around the world? ›

Three-Eight Charlie: 1st Woman to Fly Solo Around the World

Three-Eight Charlie is the story of Jerrie Mock's record-setting flight as the first woman to solo around the world in 1964 in a single-engine Cessna 180.

Who was the first female captain of a plane? ›

Beverley Bass

What happened to the first female combat pilot? ›

Kara S. Hultgreen (October 5, 1965 – October 25, 1994) was an American naval aviator who served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy and was the first female carrier-based fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy. She was also the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. military to die in a crash.

What is a pilots nickname called? ›

An aviator call sign or aviator callsign is a call sign given to a military pilot, flight officer, and even some enlisted aviators. The call sign is a specialized form of nickname that is used as a substitute for the aviator's given name.

Which country has most female pilots? ›

And now, India has the highest rate of female air captains in the world. In India, 12.4 per cent of pilots are women. This figure is over twice the global average. Just 7 per cent of Air France's pilots are female, whilst at Lufthansa and KLM it's around 6 per cent.

Why are planes named after females? ›

Why do both ships and airplanes almost always bear female names? No one knows for sure. It could be because they were originally named after goddesses and such popular female mythological figures as sirens; this later translated to the use of mortal female names.

What disqualifies you from being a fighter pilot? ›

Distant vision must be at least 20/70 uncorrected, and near vision must be 20/30 uncorrected, but both distant and near vision must be corrected to 20/20. Corrective eye surgery could disqualify a candidate from flying. Pilots also cannot have a history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12.

Is it easier to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force or Navy? ›

Which military branch is the easiest to become a pilot? Requirements to become a pilot in the USAF and Navy are similar and training takes a little less than two years to complete in both branches.

Is F-35 most advanced? ›

The F-35 has the most advanced sensor suite of any fighter in history, including the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) and advanced electronic warfare capabilities to locate/track enemy forces, jam radars and disrupt attacks.

What is the angel of death plane? ›

They've been called Angels of Death: AC-130 gunships. The heavily armed stuff of nightmares for adversaries and the close-air support guardian angels of allies. For decades these titans of the air have dominated battlefields and provided peace of mind for service members on the ground.

Why can't F-35s fly in thunderstorms? ›

Thanks to a compromised ability to render their fuel tanks inert, F-35A Lighting IIs can't fly within 25 miles of a thunderstorm or other atmospheric electrical activity. Over two years after issuing the flight restriction, the F-35 Joint Program Office was expected to lift it.

Why are American jets called F? ›

F: Fighter. K: Tanker (dropped between 1977 and 1985) L: Laser-equipped. O: Observation (Forward Air Control)

What were the advantages of the type of aircraft used by the female fighter pilots? ›

What was the advantage? Ans. The aircraft used by the female fighter pilot were built mainly of plywood and Canvas. They were small and usually reserved for training and crop dusting.

Who is the most influential person in aviation? ›

Charles Lindbergh was an American aviator famous for making the first solo transatlantic airplane flight. The flight from New York to Paris in May 1927 took over 33 hours to cover and was longer than any other flight attempted.

Why beauty is important in aviation? ›

Looking well groomed is a part of their job and that's why they do take extra care to maintain their skin, hair, and health. In this post, we will be sharing some beauty secrets that most air hostesses follow to look glamorous all the time, and believe us, they are easy to follow! 1.

What are the top 5 barriers or challenges faced by female team members? ›

  • 6 obstacles for women in top management: what constrains the development of women in IT? Part 1. ...
  • Economic Barriers. ...
  • Corporate Stereotype. ...
  • Psychological Barriers. ...
  • Prejudices and stereotypes. ...
  • Inner Barriers and Social Boundaries. ...
  • Limits of Competence.

Why are there no female fighter pilots? ›

The military had been training women as pilots only since 1973, and none flew in combat or trained for combat missions. The Women's Armed Services Integration Act, passed by Congress in 1948, prohibited that.

What are the barriers to female leadership? ›

Barriers to Women's Leadership
  • Old Stereotypes. Because men have been leaders for so long, the traits associated with leadership are often thought of as masculine and not viewed as favorably when exhibited by women.
  • Fewer “connections” ...
  • Bias and Discrimination. ...
  • Lack of Flexibility.

What are the three most useless things in aviation? ›

The first cliché to approach the podium is the aviation classic: The three most useless things in aviation are: altitude above you, runway behind you, and … air in the tanks.

Are female or male pilots better? ›

Knowledgeable people in the aviation industry are well aware that female pilots are, and have been, unquestionably equal in skill levels with their male counterparts. In fact, some studies show that female pilots are generally less risk-taking, and thus arguably safer compared to male pilots.

Who was the first female jet fighter pilot? ›

Christine Mau became the first female F-35 pilot when she completed a flight in the Lightning II. Mau retired in 2017, but her story remains a key highlight of the F-35 story.

Are there any female f22 pilots? ›

- There are only four female F-22 Raptor pilots in the world, and Maj. Chelsea "Contra" is one of them. Maj. Chelsea is stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and is attached to the 94th Fighter Squadron.

Who is the first woman fighter flight? ›

Flying Officer Bhawana Kanth on 16 March 2018 takes the solo flight of Mig-21 'Bison'. She made the solo flight of Mig-21 from Ambala Air Force Station at around 1400 hours. Kanth also tried some modelling assignments and appeared in print advertisem*nts. She is posted to the Indian Air Force's No. 3 Squadron Cobras.

Who is the first female fighter plane? ›

Born on 21 March 1913, Sabiha Gökçen, one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of Turkey, enrolled in the Military Aviation Academy in Eskisehir in 1936 and undertook training at the First Aircraft Regiment there.

Who was the first female pilot Captain? ›

Beverley Bass (born March 27, 1952) is an American aircraft pilot and was the first female captain of an American Airlines commercial plane.
...
Beverley Bass
OccupationPilot for American Airlines
Years active1976–2008
SpouseTom Stawicki
Children2
3 more rows

Which country has the most female fighter pilots? ›

India has the highest percentage of female pilots globally, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots estimates, with about 12.4% of all pilots women, compared with 5.5% in the US, the world's largest aviation market, and 4.7% in the UK.

Which airline has most female pilots? ›

In 2021, Air India was the leading major airline in terms of female pilots in the world, with roughly 12.7 percent of its pilots being female. During that period, only 6.4 percent of UPS' pilots were female.

What is the name of the first female pilot? ›

That honor goes to Blanche “Betty” Stuart Scott, who became the first American woman to fly a plane in 1910, eighteen years before Earhart's flight across the Atlantic. Blanche Scott was born on April 8, 1885, in Rochester, New York.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated:

Views: 5786

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.