Whirly Girls Founding Celebrated with Special Event on May 12th

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) will be holding a special “Coffee & Collections” event this month, bringing focus on the history of the Whirly Girls on Friday, May 12.

The Whirly Girls date back more than 7 decades, when the first 13 female helicopter pilots were honored for their contributions to the rotary wing industry. Since then, the Whirly Girls have gone on to include thousands of members from 44 countries, awarded scholarships, facilitated networking opportunities, provided mentoring, and created a robust global community for female helicopter pilots." To go back through the history of their founding membership, IWASM Collections Manager Liz Konopka will bring audiences on a tour through the museum's exclusive collections.

"This event is part of IWASM’s continuing effort to share the experiences and impact of women in all areas of air and space," said IWAC executive director Sara Fisher. "With only two percent of the entire museum collections ever on display, Konopka will explore the diverse backgrounds of the original Whirly Girls, including Frenchwoman Valerie Andre. Dr. Andre was a one-woman M.A.S.H. (mobile army surgical hospital) unit in the 1940s."

Event registration rings up at $10 per person. Seats must be reserved by May 9th.

FMI: www.iwasm.org