SILVER WINGS New Zealand Women Aviators

Back in the 1920's a woman's place was deemed to be the ground (preferably in the home) and not in the skies. But, from 22 December 1925, when Gladys Sandford became the first woman in New Zealand to obtain a pilot's licence, that concept began to change.

The 1930s saw more women obtaining licences despite the prejudice from male colleagues, from the aviation industry and from friends. Among the courageous early flyers of that decade was Jean Batten, whose name became a household word and who inspired many other young women to take up flying. During World War H several New Zealand women pilots flew with the Air Transport Auxiliry in England.

In the post-war years women began participating in many areas of aviation activity including flying instruction, aerial topdressing, skydiving and gliding and April 1960 saw the formation of the New Zealand Airwomen's Association.

This book tells the history of New Zealand women in the air from the pioneer era to the present-day when there are women flying as airline pilots and with the RNZAF. Shirley Lainé, a pilot herself, records this fascinating story and supports it with a remarkable collection of photographs of early women flyers and aircraft.

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