WEAVING THE WINDS, Emily Howell Warner

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Women flew in balloons before the Wright Brothers conquered powered flight. Soon after, they tested their skills in new-fangled flying machines. Women pilots taught male pilots to fly for two World Wars. Someone said, "A woman taught you to walk; a woman can teach you to fly." Yet, it took 59 years for the first U.S. woman to become an airline pilot in jet-equipped craft one special woman. To melt ingrained resistance, she brought many more flight hours than most male applicants and she understood well the value of cockpit teamwork and cooperation. That special woman was Emily Howell Warner. Early in 1973, Emily wove the winds of chance, of change, and of opportunity to give wing to her own flying career and to throw open cockpit doors to women who followed. It wasn't easy. Emily worked hard for her chances. She seized upon changes wrought by the women's liberation movement and grasped each possible opportunity. As a metaphor for life, a stable aircraft can be put into rotation. Emily faced some turbulent spins; but, she always managed to recover. She changed obstacles into challenges; she answered critics with excellence. A male airline captain said of her, "Atta boy, girl."