Legendary Aviatrix Celebrating Her 100th Birthday

The day will start with a greeting from NBC weatherman Willard Scott, and it might be appropriate for Evelyn Bryan "Mama Bird" Johnson to get a weather briefing on her 100th birthday.

Photo Courtesy Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame

On November 4th, the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame aviatrix, who has logged 57,635.4 flight hours, turns100 years old. AOPA Online reports that Mama Bird, who lives in Morristown Tennessee, still serves as manager of the Moore-Murrell Airport in her hometown. Though she no longer is flying, glaucoma cost Johnson her medical certificate, she told AOPA  “I’ve enjoyed that for 56 years, and still do every day. I enjoy everything about aviation and flying.”

Mama Bird was a CFI and a Designated Pilot Examiner, having given over 9,000 flight tests over her career. AOPA reports the Guinness Book of World Records lists her as the highest-time female pilot, and the highest time living pilot.

The city of Morristown is building a new terminal building at Moore-Murrell, which will be named after Johnson. She was hoping it would be finished in time for her birthday, but construction is behind schedule.

As to her birthday, Johnson always said "I used to say that on my birthday Willard Scott would tell me happy birthday, but I wouldn’t hear him because I’d be up flying.”

FMI: www.tnairmuseum.com