Marion Alice Orr

Marion Alice Orr (25 June 1918 - 4 April 1995) was a Canadian aviator who was the first woman to run a flying school.

Marion Alice Orr was born in Toronto, Ontario. She realized her childhood dream on January 5, 1940 when she obtained her private pilot's licence. She then worked as an aircraft inspector at de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, and qualified for her commercial licence two years afterwards. She was the second woman in Canada to qualify as an air traffic control assistant. After being told about the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) by Violet Milstead, she applied, was tested in Montreal and was admitted to the ATA. Marion and Violet moved to England in the summer of 1942.

Marion's first flight for the ATA was on June 2, 1943. Although Marion flew many types and marks of aircraft, her favourite was the Spitfire. She was honourably discharged from the ATA with the rank of second officer in 1944 with 700 logged hours.

Marion decided to start her own flying school in 1949. It opened for business, though she was forced to close and relocate to Maple, Ontario where she had to get permission from the Prime Minister to open her own airfield.

She was awarded the Ninety-Nines Inc. Medallion in 1976 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of aviation. In 1981 Marion was named a member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

During her career she flew over 21,000 hours, 17,000 hours as an instructor on single and twin-engine aircraft, on wheels, skis and floats, and helicopters. Marion Orr continued to fly until her accidental death in 1995. She was one of Canada's most distinguished pilots.

In 1993, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

External links

• Marion Alice Orr at The Canadian Encyclopedia