With the full force of culture and convention ranged against them, women have nonetheless been taking to the air almost from the first days of flight. And because of all the obstacles they have faced, these women in aviation have had to show a rare degree of courage, ambition, and skill.

Book celebrates these women�the wildly daring, the pioneering, and the implacably determined�and their remarkable achievements.In profiles, this illustrated book introduces readers to fifty female stars of the sky (first black female aviator, first female aircraft designer, first woman to fly solo around the world, first female airline manager, and first female Thunderbolt pilot, among others).

Book also profiles women who have made singular contributions, from a flight surgeon and a daredevil sky-writer to an Eskimo bush pilot and air traffic controller, as well as record-setters such as a long-distance record holder, a Hellcat test pilot, and a golden age air racer.