Incredibly Talented Aerobat and Role Model Passes Away at 71

We regret to note that an incredibly talented pilot and airshow legend (legitimately), Joann Osterud, passed away in March. She was 71 years old and passed away due to natural causes. A dear friend of ours, Joann was an indelible personality who became a true role model for women all over the world as she broke records, worked an airline career, and pushed boundaries for many decades... and she was an absolute delight to party with. And, boy, will we miss her...

Joann grew up in Seattle and graduated from Reed College in Portland in 1968, where she majored in political science, but was also interested in science and physics, spending her summers working for future Washington governor Dixie Lee Ray at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. After college, Joann took flying lessons at Boeing Field when she could, finally fulfilling her childhood dream to fly. She briefly attended MIT for graduate school, receiving her pilot’s license in 1969 instead of finishing her degree in public policy.

Joann started aerobatic flying soon after, as well as working as a flight instructor in Seattle before becoming both a secretary and pilot for Lynden Transport. In 1975, she became the first female pilot employed by Alaskan Airlines, and the sixth female commercial pilot in the country. In 1978, she became the sixth female pilot hired by United Airlines. In addition to flying commercial airlines, she expanded her stunt flying, working at airshows across the U.S. and Canada most weekends between March and November. It was at an airshow on July 13, 1989 in North Bend, Oregon, that Joann set her first flight record, flying 208 outside loops in her Sorrell Biplane Supernova. Previous record holder Dorothy Stenzel set the record of 62 outside loops in 1931 and, after seeing Joann perform at an airshow, encouraged her to break her record.

Joann next set two records at once on July 24, 1991, for both the longest flight upside down and the longest flight upside down in one stretch, flying for 4 hours and 38 minutes over 658 miles between Vancouver BC and Vanderhoof BC. She broke Milo Burcham’s 1933 record of 4 hours and 5 minutes. She had previously attempted the flight in 1990, but had to end the flight early due to an engine oil leak.

Her airshow performances frequently included such nail biting maneuvers as hammerhead turns, tailslides, and lomcevaks, as well as a maneuver she called “The Ring of Fire,” which had her not only flying through a flaming circle but, on her last pass, cutting a ribbon stretched over the runway with the tail of her plane while flying upside down. She was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the 99s.

Joann is survived by siblings Allan (Dru) Osterud and Grey Osterud, as well as nephews Dan (Amelia) and Whitney (Katheryn) Osterud. A celebration of Joann’s life will be held at a later date.

Joann was passionate about both helping animals and supporting women pilots. Donations can be made in Joann Osterud’s name to Ventura County Animal Services (www.concernedpeopleforanimals.org/), California Turtle & Tortoise Club (https://tortoise.org/), the 99s (www.ninety-nines.org/) and the Whirly Girls (www.whirlygirls.org/).

(ANN Thanks EAA for the biographical data).

FMI: Condolences can be emailed to josterudremembered@yahoo.com