Eightieth anniversary of the Ninety-Nines

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 23, 2009 | by Jennifer K Rumple

Its legacy boasts noted American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart as its first president in 1929. Its members have included NASA astronauts, commercial airline attendants, private jet pilots and stay-at-home moms -- all with two things in common.

They are women who love to fly, and are members of the Ninety- Nines International Organization of Women's Pilots.

"There were 117 licensed women pilots in America in 1929. Letters were sent out to all of them to form a support group for female aviators. Ninety-nine women responded and the group's name was formed," said Barbara Evans, 90, a 59-year member and former pilot who lives in Concord. "It's just camaraderie of women pilots and getting to know what their problems are, finding answers for your own, exchanging stories and just getting a lot of support."

Ninety-Nines, Inc. has grown to nearly 5,000 members in 35 countries worldwide. This year, the female aviation group is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The San Joaquin Valley Chapter commemorated this milestone at an open house at Buchanan Field this past weekend. Plane rides, airport tours and informational booths drew thousands from around the Bay Area for the event. Concord resident, licensed pilot and chapter member Sue Grass said of women taking to the skies, "we've come a long way."

"I was an army brat on the Presidio. It was my dad's last assignment and the wives of the servicemen were given free rides on a helicopter," Grass recalled when she was 16 years old. "My mother didn't want to go so I went up with my sister and thought it was awesome. I put it on the back burner and didn't even know women could do that sort of thing. It had always been men."

Twenty-four years later, Grass earned her pilot's license and bought her own Cessna 172 in 1991. She'd fly to various cities for lunch and take her husband on vacations to Sedona, Ariz. and Catalina Island -- though she admits taking a ferry from the coast since her plane was not equipped with flotation gear. "That's a lot of water," she laughed.

"I think being part of the Ninety-Nines gives women pilots a lot of confidence, especially as students. Everyone has fears when learning to fly and it's nice to talk to another woman who's been through the same thing," explained Grass. "Men won't admit that they're frightened. They're much more apt to hide feelings than women who aren't afraid to say, 'Hey, I did something wrong.' We're like a sisterhood."

"It's a lot easier for female pilots now than it was for original members of the group. They didn't have instruments in the planes, even headsets like we do now," Grass added. "It took a lot of courageous women to get where we are now. We really have come a long way."

The Ninety-Nines have members flying as young as 17 and as old as 93. Evans, soon approaching her 91st birthday, no longer flies, but said it's important for women to know anyone can learn how to fly.

"It's not much harder than learning to drive a car. It's so wonderful to be up there and see all that beautiful country below you. You get the feeling of freedom and adventure," she said. "It's just something that anyone who has any interest at all should at least try and see if it's something they'd like to do."

Evans knew in 1937 flying a plane was something she wanted to do. She and her future husband Ed were on a date, taking a tour of San Francisco from the air and both agreed someday they'd do it. They married in 1942 and five years later, both were licensed pilots.

"Our instructors actually arranged for us to solo on the same day. Neither of us knew 'til we got back on the ground," laughed Evans, who said as a woman, she was treated like any other student. "It's not only a matter of pride for female aviators, but also a matter of worthiness. We have gained what women should have had all along but weren't given the chance. Women becoming pilots just advanced us as a gender that much more."