There’s something incredible about the early days of aviation and the sheer bravery it took to step into an aircraft when flying was still new and unpredictable.
I’ve always loved reading books about aviation, especially those that capture the adventure and determination of the pioneers who dared to take to the skies.
I particularly enjoy reading about the groundbreaking achievements of female pilots, so there’s plenty of them featured on this list!
This list of books about female pilots celebrates the women who pushed the limits of what was possible.
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Great Circle tells the story of two women connected by a shared passion for flying.
Marian is a young woman in the early 20th century, dreams of circumnavigating the globe by plane. Hadley, a modern-day actress, plays Marian in a film about her disappearance during the attempt.
Their stories explore themes of ambition, self-determination, and the allure of the unknown.
This book tells the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a shy college student with literary aspirations. When she meets the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, their lives intertwine.
Despite achieving significant accomplishments like becoming the first licensed female glider pilot in the US, Anne is primarily seen as Charles’ wife.
The book explores the challenges she faces balancing her desire for love and independence within a marriage overshadowed by fame and tragedy.
This book tells the story of Sookie Poole, who stumbles upon a family secret that upends her life. As she delves into her mother’s past, she discovers a hidden history of women running a gas station during WWII, some of whom went on to become pilots.
This revelation not only sheds light on her family history but also inspires Sookie to re-evaluate her own life and seek new possibilities.
This novel, set in 1920s Kenya, tells the story of Beryl Markham, a woman who defies societal expectations. Raised unconventionally with a love for the wild, Beryl navigates a tumultuous life filled with failed relationships and a passionate love triangle.
Ultimately, her true calling emerges as she finds the courage to pursue her dream of flying, conquering her own heart in the process.
In Her Last Flight a war correspondent, investigates the disappearance of aviation pioneer Sam Mallory. Her investigation leads her to the enigmatic Irene Lindquist, who may be the long-lost Irene Foster, Mallory’s student and partner.
As Janey delves deeper, Irene reveals her extraordinary life story, including her flying career, passionate relationship with Mallory, and unsolved disappearance during a solo flight.
Across decades, two women’s lives intertwine through their shared connection to aviation history.
In 1927, Livy West, a fearless pilot, defies the odds to compete in the dangerous Dole Air Race across the Pacific.
Decades later, Wren Summers inherits a mysterious plot of land with clues to a forgotten tragedy. As Wren delves into the past, she uncovers Livy’s daring journey and the challenges she faced as a female aviator.
At the Height of World War II, a group of young women volunteers for the British Air Transport Auxiliary, facing challenges in the air and on the ground.
Spirited Lizzie and shy Ruby, along with pragmatic May, must navigate friction among themselves while proving their flying skills, fighting for equal pay, and handling dangerously ill-equipped aircraft.
As they strive to overcome adversity and contribute to the war effort, they also find camaraderie and the possibility of love in the skies.
Inspired by Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, three ambitious women in 1927 – an aristocrat, a socialite, and a beauty queen – defy societal expectations and embark on a daring mission: becoming the first females to cross the Atlantic, etching their names in aviation history.
This novel, based on real-life aviatrixes, explores their individual journeys and the challenges they face as they push boundaries and strive for a place in the male-dominated world of aviation.
