WOMEN OF FLIGHT: Aviators celebrate 100 years of achievement

Earlier this month, Destinites Karen Souran and Brenda Waldron took part in a global project that celebrated and coincided with the centennial of the first female pilot.

One hundred years ago, Raymonde De Laroche, a French balloonist, was the first woman to earn a pilot license and thus paved the way for woman to permanently be a part of a profession that remains at the forefront of technology.

Souran and Waldron, who are co-owners at the new Florida House of Destin restaurant, joined Kim Coonce, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., to make a short flight over and around Destin as apart of the Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots Event.

“We’ve always loved flying,” said Souran. “We have flown all over the world together, and we are very fortunate to have had this opportunity.”

Souran, Waldron and Coonce lived together while working as flight attendants for Pan American Airlines. When the airline filed for bankruptcy, Coonce earned her private license and a bachelor’s degree in Airway Science from Delaware State University. Coincidentally, the 100^th anniversary of De Laroche is also the 20^th anniversary of the trio’s last year together as flight attendants with Pan Am.

As a part of the celebration of the week of March 8, women pilots of eight countries and three continents introduced a record number of girls and women, ages two to 70, to the joy of flying. They conducted the flights in balloons, gliders, ultralights, airplanes and helicopters. As many as 225 girls and women were introduced to aviation, but the initiative has been extended through the remainder of 2010, with a goal putting 2,010 in the air.

 “We rented a Cessna 172,” said Coonce. “The folks at Miracle Strip Aviation at the Destin Airport were great. Brian at the front desk set me up with an instructor, Dean, who took me up for a quick check out flight, so that I was familiar with the area and flight procedures for Destin. After that, I took up Brenda and Karen for a view of the beautiful white, sandy coastline.”

With a pilot father, Waldron made trips to the Destin area as a child and loved flying over the white beaches. This month’s short celebration flight was the first opportunity she has had to make a similar, scenic trip.

“It was special to represent a place that we love as much as Destin,” said Waldron. “The Gulf Coast, harbor and shoreline were a feast for our eyes.”

For more information about the Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots Event visit centennialofwomenpilots.com.