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AERONAUTICS

[[image]]

[[caption]] Almost all the old-timers know her as Mrs. Waco. [[/caption]]

Photograph by Whitt-Grett, Toledo


What Men Flyers Think of Women Pilots

By Hattie Meyers Junkin

 I suppose it is a fact that when anyone makes a statement on any topic and makes the statement sincerely he reveals his own personality as much as he does the extent of his information concerning the topic itself. Possibly for this reason men flyers are as a rule reluctant to allow themselves to be quoted on the topic of women pilots. They know very well that when they say anything either in favor of the participation of women in aviation or against it they expose to a certain extent their own experiences with and reactions to women not only in aviation but in every other phase of life. I have found the flying men of my acquaintance very touchy on this topic and it was only after much persuasion and reiterated assurances that I should never under any circumstances reveal their names that I succeeded in provoking a discussion of the topic above indicated. The suggestion was offered that if I contemplated using the material in an article it would be appropriate to print it under the title, Why Encourage Profanity Among Men Pilots? With this promising start the discussion began and it was soon flourishing like a green bay tree. Here is the printable part.
   It should be remarked that, philosophically speaking, all generalizations are false and this well established principle holds good in the present case as well as in most others. It is obviously inexact to say that all the women in aviation are influenced by ulterior motives and are, moreover, complete washouts as pilots. In the first place, among the women who have chosen to actively take up flying, there are probably almost as many who are doing it for the thrill, romance, beauty, inspiration or what not that they can get out of it as there are men, and at that I think the proportion is greater in the case of the women than it is in [[torn]] case of the superior sex. In the second place, a number of women have proved themselves to be very successful pilots.
     (Continued on page 80)