Louise Sacchi (April 15, 1913 – March 22, 1997) was an American aviator and author who flew numerous times across the world's oceans, often solo, ferrying single and multi-engine planes. As the first international woman ferry pilot, she piloted planes across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans over 340 times, more than any other non-airline pilot.[1]
Louise Sacchi | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1913 |
| Died | March 22, 1997 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupations |
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Records and Races
editOn June 28, 1971, she set a women's speed record by flying a single-engine land plane from New York to London in 17 hours and 10 minutes, a record that still stands today. Following the New York to London flight on July 1, 1971 she departed Abingdon, England, on the first leg of a seven-day air race to Victoria, B.C., Canada. She finished 2nd in class and tied with Race 31 for overall eighth.[2][3][4]
Legacy
editSacchi won numerous awards in her career, which spanned over 40 years, and was the first woman to win the prestigious Godfrey L. Cabot Award for distinguished service to aviation.[1][5][6]
Publications
edit- Ocean Flying, McGraw-Hill, 1979, ISBN 0-07-054405-0
- The Happy Commuter - Autobiographical Sketches, 1996, Louise Sacchi.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Highlights of Louise Sacchi's Aviation History". The Ninety Nines. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14.
- ^ "For pilots, the sky's the limit". The Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ "History of Aviation and Space World Records". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ a b "THE HAPPY COMMUTER - Autobiographical Sketches". The Ninety Nines. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ "Louise Sacchi Obit". Wetzel & Son.
- ^ "AOPA's Phil Boyer receives prestigious Cabot Award". AOPA.