The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots, also known as The 99s, is an international organization that provides networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to recreational and professional female pilots. Founded in 1929, the Ninety-Nines has 153 chapters and 27 regional 'sections' across the globe as of 2022, including a 'virtual' chapter, Ambassador 99s, which meets online for those who are too busy or mobile to be in one region for long.
Amelia Earhart was elected as their first president in 1931, and the organization has continued to make a significant impact supporting the advancement of women in aviation since its inception. In 1982, the Ninety-Nines received the National Aviation Hall of Fame Spirit of Flight Award, and were inducted into the Oklahoma Air Space Museum Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2002, the organization was selected as the recipient of the Frank G. Brewer Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association, and in 2014 became inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
History
In August 1929, a small group of female pilots met informally in Cleveland, Ohio following the United States Women's Air Derby, and that group agreed that there was a need to form an organization to support women in the burgeoning field of aviation. Invitations to an initial meeting at a later date were sent out to all 117 female pilots licensed at the time. On November 2, 1929, the organization was founded at Curtiss Field near Valley Stream, New York by 26 licensed female pilots for the mutual support and advancement of "Women Pilots." At the suggestion of Amelia Earhart, the organization's name was taken from the number of charter members, settling on "Ninety-Nines" based on responses received by Christmas.
Membership
Charter members include:
Amelia Earhart
(president 1931–1933) Mary C. Alexander Ruth Elder Viola Gentry Fay Gillis Mary Goodrich Florence Klingensmith Opal Kunz Ila Loetscher Ruth Rowland Nichols Phoebe Omlie Thea Rasche Marjorie Stinson Louise Thaden Mary Webb Nicholson Helen Cox Bikle Nellie Zabel Willhite
Other notable members include:
Margaret Adams
Ruth Alexander
Suzie Azar
Pancho Barnes
Janet Zaph Briggs
Maie Casey, Baroness Casey
Katherine Sui Fun Cheung
Jackie Cochran
(president 1941–1943) Eileen Collins Marjorie Crawford Betty Gillies Linda M. Godwin Kathryn Hach-Darrow Nancy Hopkins Elvy Kalep Peggy Kelman Theresa M. Korn Dot Lemon Elsie MacGill Anésia Pinheiro Machado Pamela Melroy Betty Miller (pilot) Terry Neese Norah O'Neill Dorothy Rungeling Sheila Scott Katharine Stinson Jane Straughan Manila Davis Talley Penny Thompson Bobbi Trout Hermelinda Urvina Patty Wagstaff Shannon Walker Nancy-Bird Walton Jessie E. Woods Edna Gardner Whyte (president 1955–1957) Jeana Yeager
Charter member Margaret Thomas "Tommy" Warren believes she might have been the youngest charter member of the 99's – being only 17 when she joined. She was not present at the first gathering of women aviators on Long Island in October 1929, but did go to New York with Frances Harrell for the second meeting on December 14 at the home of Opal Kunz, and was appointed to represent Texas.
The Ninety-Nines, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, and as of 2017 has 5,159 members in 30 countries. The mission of the Ninety-Nines is to promote world fellowship through flight, provide networking and scholarship opportunities for women in aviation, foster aviation education opportunities in the community, and preserve the unique history of women in aviation. The organization is divided into "sections" that are part of geographical areas covering multiple states in the continental U.S. and outlying territories, provinces in Canada, and regions of countries in continents across the globe. Chapters are the smallest grouping, often representing large cities or metropolitan areas under their geographical "sections".
Historical initiatives
Efforts of members which significantly contributed to the documentation, preservation and publication of The Ninety-Nines historical records and museum contributions include those of Virginia Thompson, who joined the organization in 1954. Thompson became the first Historian of the Mid-Atlantic Section (formerly the Middle-East Section), a founding member and Chairman of the Washington D.C. Chapter, and eventually the Mid-Atlantic Section Governor during a pivotal time in U.S. History leading up to the Kennedy Administration and boom of the United States Aerospace Industry.