Fifinella: Not All Gremlins Are Bad | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-03.24.25

SunnFun-DayOne-04.01.25

SunnFun-DayTwo-04.02.25

SunnFun-DayThree-04.03.25

SunnFun-DayFour-04.03.25

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT Miss Monday's Historic (Really) SUN n FUN Innovation Preview: www.airborne-live.net, 1600ET!!!

Sun, Feb 18, 2007

Fifinella: Not All Gremlins Are Bad

Roots Of WASP Logo Found At WAI

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) mascot, Fifinella... who, or what, is she -- and where did she come from?

The answer can be found right here in Orlando, FL -- one scant mile or so from where the Women in Aviation Conference is being held; well, sort of, anyway.

The answer actually starts over 60 years back, in the mind of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He created a female gremlin (above) for his book called, appropriately, The Gremlins. Dahl’s story was about the hazards of combat flying, which Dahl, as an ex-RAF pilot knew about.

The book was published by Walt Disney.

Gremlins were imaginary creatures capable of wrecking havoc on aircraft causing failures and other problems. Gremlins were found to be very unbiased, causing problems to all nationalities. Fifinella, was not bad, she was a good Gremlin.

Disney looked to make a film adaptation of the book and the cuter, more lovable gal gremlin was drawn for the movie. The movie was never made but Dahl’s gremlins saw action with Bugs Bunny.

Disney’s version of the female gremlin was not to be retired. The Women Flight Training Detachment was looking for a logo and requested permission from Disney to use her. Fifinella became the official WASP mascot.

"Fifi’s" look remained mostly the same, but her outfit colors could vary. Fifi would even sometimes be depicted sitting atop a large bomb.

FMI: www.wai.org, www.wasp-wwii.org/

Advertisement

More News

SilverLight Aviation Provides Updates

Gyroplanes, New Airplane, AJ Sport Displayed At SUN ‘n FUN SilverLight Aviation, based in Tampa, Florida, announced it will have aircraft on display at the SUN ‘n FUN A>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 03.27.25: MOSAIC To Miss OSH?, Flight Design, Dynon

Also: 2025 SnF Innovation Preview, Nat'l Aeronca Convention, Wright Flyer III, Ford Tri-Motor With a new political reality sweeping Washington, DC, and that doesn’t even incl>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.01.25)

Aero Linx: Fairchild Club Home of Fairchild owners, pilots and enthusiasts. You need not own a Fairchild to be part of our Club and share our enthusiasm for the Airplanes. To Join >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (03.31.25)

Aero Linx: Bellanca Champion Club The Bellanca-Champion Club welcomes all owners, pilots, and enthusiasts. Whether you're a Bellanca owner or not, we invite you to join us. The clu>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (03.31.25)

“The TURBINE powered Velocity V-Twin flew today for the first time!!! Great first flight with just a few minor squawks...” Source: The initial report from Velocity Airc>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC