Ninety-Nines

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The Ninety-Nines was founded on November 2, 1929 at Curtiss Field, Long Island, New York for the mutual support and advancement of women in aviation. All 117 women pilots licensed at the time were invited and the group is named for the 99 licensed women pilots who attended the meeting or expressed an interest in joining the group. Charter members include Amelia Earhart, Fay Gillis Wells, Ila Loetscher, Phyllis Fleet, Candis Hall, Louise Thaden, Ruth Nichols, and Mildred Stinaff. The first president elected in 1931 was Amelia Earhart. Other famous members include Elsie MacGill, Bobbi Trout, Pancho Barnes, Patty Wagstaff, Jeana Yeager, Sheila Scott, Eileen Collins and Linda Godwin.

The organization currently has 6,000 members in thirty countries. Their mission is to promote world fellowship through flight; to provide networking and scholarship opportunities for women and aviation education in the community; and to preserve the unique history of women in aviation.