Magnificent Women and Flying Machines: The First 200 Years of British Women in the Sky

Entertaining and detailed personal stories of women determined to get airborne either because they were fascinated by the new ideas of ballooning or parachuting or, having come from a poor background they seized an opportunity of the moment and were rewarded better for taking risks at public displays. These were surely the equivalent of the 'extreme' sports of today.I enjoyed reading of their problems at home with partners or with the cultural expectations of the time which were anything but welcoming to women although their participation clearly boosted publicity and crowds at displays.The author, who is a balloonist, conveys well the particulars of early flights so you can see the hair-raising risks developing which result in some tragic but also laughable accidents.In 1965 when the experienced WW2 ATA ferry pilot was flying girl cadets at the weekend, probably in a light aircraft like a Chipmunk, she found supportive RAF officers in the bar afterwards. Via a meeting with the minister and a simulator course she became the first woman in the world to go supersonic, flying the Lightning. Bravo!

A superbly researched and written history of what women achieved against, in the early times of this book, the sexist opposition that existed .Sally Smith, a top balloonist and parachutist in her own right, shows her knowledge of matters aviationin this book.Well recommended !

This is as a gift

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had never heard of most of these women and found their stories and exploits amazing. I cannot imagine the research that this author did. Really enjoyed reading about these incredible women.

Wonderful interesting aviation book a great read

Superbly entertainingly and informative, and rewrites British history!