Book Review By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

"Today I was in an AT-6 Texan Air Racing in Reno. Later, I fought fires in a Bell 212 helicopter." "Last week I flew in the Space Shuttle Discovery. Next week I may fly with the US Aerobatic Team or pilot a blimp. I may even do it tomorrow."

These are only a small sample of the adventures “The World Beneath Their Wings” will take you on. First time author Julie Jervis tells the always thrilling and sometimes nail-biting tales of 15 female leaders in the aviation world. Jervis calls these women “a new millennium of female aviators.”

Each of the women are trailblazers -- not necessarily first in their fields, but certainly smoothing the path for their successors. Dr. Peggy Chabrian; flight and ground instructor, University professor and founder of Women in Aviation International. Denise Sanchez; Air Traffic Control Manager at San Jose International Airport. Kris Greblo; Hollywood stunt person and stunt pilot.

Says Jervis, “these stories really need to be told, they’re incredibly inspirational for the next generation of female aviators that are coming along.”

Jervis had been working at NASA Ames Research Center on the Super Computing Magazine. A colleague, Nick Veronico, suggested Jervis might enjoy writing on the side for a Magazine. The magazine liked the idea of adding a women in aviation element. The book actually started out in June 2004 as a series of articles for the publication. After two or three articles and a positive reader response, Jervis realized “these would be great to put together as a book.” The book would also permit the full story to be told.

Veronico had suggested the names of some of the ladies and after Jervis had done the interviews, she began to think more about the unique aviation areas she wanted to tell a story about, rather than people. Using internet search engines, Jervis then came up with the women in those fields. Sometimes the choices were very narrow, especially when there are only two female blimp pilots in the world.

Not one of the subjects turned down Jervis’s request for an interview. “Everyone I contacted was more than happy to agree and consent” praises Jervis. Even friends and family members lent their comments adding a different dimension to the subject’s point of view.

'The World Beneath Their Wings' is full of wonderful photos to accompany the 15 stories. The stories range in length from six to 10 pages. Jervis' storytelling will suck you in, and you’ll want to finish the book in one night. This, of course, is fine; though spreading the stories out over time allows each tale to be savored.

Though her touring schedule is not yet fully planned, Jervis will be appearing and autographing her book at The Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA during the Helicopter Vertical Challenge on June 17.

Each woman had a different story to tell, from diverse backgrounds, but no matter what aviation path they chose, they all walked the path with determination and tenacity.

"If you really want to do something you can do it," said Jervis. "You can go out and make opportunities happen for yourself. When you explore your own potential and find those things that really drive you, you can make it happen.”

The downside to the book -- it ended. I’m hoping for a Volume Two, because we all know there are many more trailblazers out there. Some of us would like to live in their footsteps even if only in our imagination.

FMI: www.wai.org