Lynn Rippelmeyer

Lynn Rippelmeyer is the first woman to fly a Boeing 747 (SWA F/O July 2, 1980), and the first to captain the "Jumbo Jet" across the Atlantic ocean (PEX Capt. July 18, 1984). She was also part of the first all-female crew for a scheduled US carrier (with Captain Emily Jones, Air Illinois, DHC-6 Twin Otter, 12/30/1977).

This female pilot began her career in aviation as a TWA flight attendant in 1972. After taking lessons to become qualified, she became TWA's second female pilot as a Boeing 727 Flight Engineer in 1978. She has been honored with her uniform being placed in the Smithsonian Institute, being named as Woman of the Year in England (1984), and being featured in a BBC documentary, Reaching for the Skies.

Lynn's historic flight as a 747 captain was shared at her request with her collegue, Beverly Burns. Ms. Burns flew a 747 earlier in the same day on a transcontinental flight. Earlier in their careers, Rippelmeyer and Burns had shared the honor of creating the first all female Boeing 737 crew at People Express as co-Captains in 1982. They demonstrated the supportive effort of women helping women in the aviation field. Lynn went on to fly for Continental Airlines when PeoplExpress was merged.

[Women in the left seat by Sergio Ortega ]

References

External links

YouTube-clip showing Ms. Rippelmeyer captaining a Continental Boeing 747: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJELpccfWP8]