Katherine Stinson

	KATHERINE STINSON Pioneer Aviator and International Exhibition Pilot
	Katherine Stinson was born on February 14, 1891, in Fort Payne, Alabama. After an inspiring balloon ride in 1911, she began flight training in a Wright Model "B" aircraft. On July 24, 1912, she became the fourth licensed American female pilot. Stinson began exhibition flying in 1913, establishing many "firsts." She was the first woman to fly the mail, the first to loop-the-loop, and the first pilot (male or female) to perform night skywriting. She was also the first woman to fly in Canada, at the 1916 Calgary Exhibition. Her international recognition earned her an invitation to Japan, where she thrilled crowds with her night skywriting. She went on to perform exhibition flights in China, becoming the first woman to fly in both China and Japan. During WWI, met gender-based resistance to flying as a military pilot. Undaunted, she began a flying tour to raise money for the Red Cross, eventually earning 2 million dollars in pledges. In 1917, she became the first person to fly nonstop from San Diego to San Francisco - a 610-mile national record for distance and duration, which she later broke with her 783-mile flight from Chicago to New York. She died July 8, 1977.
	Elected to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 2000