null
Free Shipping on orders $75+ (Shipping Details Here)
1-855-215-2914
Aviation Oil Outlet
Log In Create an Account Quote Request Credit Application Contact Us
View Cart Cart
loginLogin
Cart Cart

HOME OUR PRODUCTS OUR MISSION CUSTOMER SERVICE VIDEO BLOG
sun-n-fun logo
sun-n-fun countdown
Aviation Oil Outlet Aviation Oil Outlet
  • Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • Aviation Piston Engine Oils
      • Straight Grade Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Straight Grade Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Multi-Viscosity Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Grade Oil for Light Sport Aircraft
      • Aviation Oil with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Turbine Oil
    • Aviation Hydraulic Oil
    • Aerobatic Smoke Oil
    • Aviation Greases
  • Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • Aviation Grade 65, SAE 30
      • Straight 65 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
    • Aviation Grade 80, SAE 40
      • Straight 80 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 80 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
    • Aviation Grade 100, SAE 50
      • Straight 100 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 100 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
      • Grade 100 with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Grade 120, SAE 60
      • Grade 120 Mineral, Break-in Oil
      • Grade 120 Ashless for Normal Operation
    • Aviation Oil SAE 10w-40
    • Aviation Oil SAE 15w-50
      • Multi-Grade 15w-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 20w-50
      • Multi-Grade 20w-50 Break-In Oil
      • Multi-Grade 20W-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 25w-60
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 for Engine Break-In
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 Ashless for Normal Use
  • Sanitary Products
  • Bookmark Our Site
  • Get Aviation Oil Outlet's FREE Web App
  • PayPal Resource Page
  • Credit Application
  • Shipping Information
  • Our Products
  • Our Mission
  • Customer Service
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Return Policy
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Quote Request
  • Terms and Conditions of Online Sales
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Shop By Brands
  • Login Create an Account
  • Blog
  • Site Map
The Flight Blog - Read Articles The Flight Blog - Read Articles
Back to Blog Homepage
Pilot Profile: Katherine Stinson

Pilot Profile: Katherine Stinson

By Sarah Simonovich on Dec 8th 2017

A Pioneering American Aviator

As one of America's Early aviators, Katherine Stinson set numerous flying records, including ones for distance, endurance, and aerobatic maneuvers. In July 1912, she became the fourth woman in the United States to obtain a pilot's certificate.

Katherine Stinson was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, on February 14, 1891. It would be twelve years later when Orville and Wilbur Wright would make their first successful heavier-than-air flight.

As a young woman, Katherine loved playing piano and dreamed of studying music abroad so she could be a piano teacher. Initially introduced to aviation in 1911 when she participated in a balloon ascension, Katherine had an idea: she would learn how to be a stunt pilot and use that money to pay for her trip to Europe.

Convincing her parents to let her fly wasn't the challenging part; what was difficult was convincing someone to teach her. In January 1911, she went to Tony Jannus of St. Louis. However, he would only allow her to fly as a passenger so she turned to one of the Wright Brothers' pilots, Max Lillie. Lillie, one of the early great aviators, had found his way to Chicago after emigrating from Sweden. Initially, he refused on the basis that she was a woman, but Katherine managed to persuade him to take her up in a plane. After a few hours of instruction, she was flying alone and Lillie agreed to instruct her in stunt flying.

Pretty soon, her means to pay for a music career overtook piano completely. Instead of becoming a piano teacher, she dreamed of becoming an aviator. Less than a year after discovering flight, Katherine Stinson received her pilot's license on July 24, 1912, at the age of 21.

The "Flying Schoolgirl"


A year after becoming a licensed pilot, Katherine Stinson began exhibition flying. While on the circuit, she was billed as the "flying schoolgirl." Though she told the papers she was, in fact, 21, they refused to believe her and claimed she was 16.

While she didn't travel to Europe to study music as she originally intended, she did travel across the country and appear at various air shows. During these shows she performed a variety of impressive stunts, including diving 1,000 feet, racing automobiles and turning loops.

Katherine's flying feats also inspired other members of her family to become involved in aviation. In 1913, Katherine and her mother, Emma Beavers Stinson, incorporated the Stinson Aircraft Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her younger sister, Marjorie, and her two younger brothers, Jack and Eddie, also took up flying careers. Shortly after, the family established the Stinson School of Flying in San Antonio, Texas. Katherine, Marjorie, and Edward taught there. Their brother Jack conducted his own flying school.

Katherine Stinson became the first woman and fourth pilot in the U.S. to master the loop-the-loop stunt, but she also pioneered other areas of aviation, too. She was the first pilot to fly at night, the first woman authorized to carry airmail for the United States, the first woman to fly to the Orient, and is credited as the first nighttime skywriter. One night in 1915, in Los Angeles, California, Katherine spelled out "CAL" with flares.

WWI and TB

With the outbreak of World War I, the United States put out a call for pilots. Though Stinson answered the call, her application was rejected because she was a woman. While she couldn't participate in the air service, she volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. She transferred to canteen service when her ambulance was disbanded.

Event though Stinson was out of the plane and out of combat, her service to her country during this time of war proved to be injurious to her health. Ill with tuberculosis, she moved to a sanitarium in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was there where she met her future husband, Miguel A. Otero Jr., a World War I aviator, and son of territorial governor. The two married in 1928 and both promised to never pilot a plane ever again.

Here Katherine once again traded in her hobby for another, this time architecture. She spent her later years in life restoring old homes.

Katherine Stinson Otto died in Santa Fe in 1977 after battling a long illness. Although she gave up flying in the 1920s, her influences on aviation and aviation history have left a powerful impact.



Sources:


https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fs...

https://rmoa.unm.edu//docviewer.php?docId=nmupict0...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Stinson

http://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/11/archives/katheri...

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=...

 

  • #Aviation History
  • #curtiss
  • #early pilots
  • #famous aviators
  • #famous female aviators
  • #Famous Female Pilots
  • #Female Pilots
  • #first pilot to fly at night
  • #first pilotse
  • #first skywriter
  • #flying schoolgirl
  • #historic pilots
  • #History
  • #Katherine Stinson
  • #Katherine Stinson Otto
  • #pi

You might also be interested in:


Newsletter | May 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on May 5th 2022

Another Year in the Books! Sun 'N Fun 22 Edition
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | April 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Apr 8th 2022

AeroShell Aviation Grease Grease 5 amber colored, high temperature grease composed of a…
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | March 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Mar 4th 2022

Recommendations for Infrequently Flown Aircraft Ideally, aircraft engines should be use…
monthly newsletter
!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales

aoo logo
Aviation Oil Outlet
454 South Main Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18703
United States of America

1-855-215-2914

Information

  • About Us
  • Accessibility
  • Brands
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Information
  • Terms & Conditions of Online Sales
  • Terms of Use
  • Video Library

Customer Service

  • Contact
  • Credit Application
  • Quote Request
  • Returns
  • Sitemap

Account

  • Account
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Order History

© 2022 Aviation Oil Outlet

payment method icons Bizrate
​