Carolyn Grace: Difference between revisions
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'''Carolyn Grace''' was an Australian-British pilot and aircraft restorer, and the only qualified female pilot of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]]. |
'''Carolyn Grace''' was an Australian-British pilot and aircraft restorer, and the only qualified female pilot of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]]. |
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Grace began restore Spitfire models with her husband Nick in the 1980s, and learned to fly a [[biplane]]. Following Nick's death after a car crash in 1988, she learned to fly the Spitfire.<ref name=telegraph/><ref>{{cite news |title=Spitfire flypast for 'world's only' woman pilot |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12632311 |access-date=7 December 2022 |work=BBC News |date=4 March 2011}}</ref> In 1990, she made her first solo Spitfire flight and qualified as a pilot for the aircraft.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://ukaviation.news/spitfire-pilot-carolyn-grace-killed-in-car-accident/|title=Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace killed in car accident|work=UK Aviation News|date=7 December 2022|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref> Though she was pressured not to take up solo flying as a widow with two children, she felt she needed to in order to commemorate her late husband.<ref name=wod>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/wings-of-desire-1092431.html|title=Wings of Desire|newspaper=The Independent|date=9 May 1999|accessdate=8 December 2022}}</ref> She subsequently accumulated 900 flying hours, performing at various air shows and memorial events. The Spitfire ML407, which she and her husband had restored to working order, became known as the "Grace Spitfire".<ref name=telegraph/> The expensive insurance costs were met by [[Aon (company)|Aon]], who sponsored her events.<ref name=wod/> |
Grace began restore Spitfire models with her husband Nick in the 1980s, and learned to fly a [[biplane]]. Following Nick's death after a car crash in 1988, she learned to fly the Spitfire.<ref name=telegraph/><ref>{{cite news |title=Spitfire flypast for 'world's only' woman pilot |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12632311 |access-date=7 December 2022 |work=BBC News |date=4 March 2011}}</ref> In 1990, she made her first solo Spitfire flight and qualified as a pilot for the aircraft.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://ukaviation.news/spitfire-pilot-carolyn-grace-killed-in-car-accident/|title=Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace killed in car accident|work=UK Aviation News|date=7 December 2022|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref> While female test pilots had flown the Spitfire during World War II as part of the [[Air Transport Auxiliary]], Grace was the only qualified female pilot ever to take part in display flying.<ref name=wod/> |
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Though she was pressured not to take up solo flying as a widow with two children, she felt she needed to in order to commemorate her late husband.<ref name=wod>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/wings-of-desire-1092431.html|title=Wings of Desire|newspaper=The Independent|date=9 May 1999|accessdate=8 December 2022}}</ref> She subsequently accumulated 900 flying hours, performing at various air shows and memorial events. The Spitfire ML407, which she and her husband had restored to working order, became known as the "Grace Spitfire".<ref name=telegraph/> The expensive insurance costs were met by [[Aon (company)|Aon]], who sponsored her events.<ref name=wod/> |
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In 2004, Grace flew this Spitfire over [[Chartwell]], former residence of [[Winston Churchill]], to commemorate the 60th anniversary of [[D-Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3784897.stm|title=Spitfire flies after replica fear|work=BBC News|date=7 June 2022|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref> In 2011, she flew the plane as part of the 75th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight in 1936.<ref name=bbc/> |
In 2004, Grace flew this Spitfire over [[Chartwell]], former residence of [[Winston Churchill]], to commemorate the 60th anniversary of [[D-Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3784897.stm|title=Spitfire flies after replica fear|work=BBC News|date=7 June 2022|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref> In 2011, she flew the plane as part of the 75th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight in 1936.<ref name=bbc/> |
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Revision as of 16:10, 8 December 2022
Carolyn Grace was an Australian-British pilot and aircraft restorer, and the only qualified female pilot of the Supermarine Spitfire.
Grace began restore Spitfire models with her husband Nick in the 1980s, and learned to fly a biplane. Following Nick's death after a car crash in 1988, she learned to fly the Spitfire.[1][2] In 1990, she made her first solo Spitfire flight and qualified as a pilot for the aircraft.[3] While female test pilots had flown the Spitfire during World War II as part of the Air Transport Auxiliary, Grace was the only qualified female pilot ever to take part in display flying.[4]
Though she was pressured not to take up solo flying as a widow with two children, she felt she needed to in order to commemorate her late husband.[4] She subsequently accumulated 900 flying hours, performing at various air shows and memorial events. The Spitfire ML407, which she and her husband had restored to working order, became known as the "Grace Spitfire".[1] The expensive insurance costs were met by Aon, who sponsored her events.[4]
In 2004, Grace flew this Spitfire over Chartwell, former residence of Winston Churchill, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day.[5] In 2011, she flew the plane as part of the 75th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight in 1936.[3]
Grace died on 2 December 2022 in a car accident in New South Wales aged 70.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Lough, Catherine (7 December 2022). "World's only female Spitfire pilot dies in car crash". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Spitfire flypast for 'world's only' woman pilot". BBC News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace killed in car accident". UK Aviation News. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "Wings of Desire". The Independent. 9 May 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Spitfire flies after replica fear". BBC News. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.