Madrid | March 18, 2019
We have always seen how at the controls of those winged giants there were two men wearing impeccable suits, with stripes on their sleeves and their blue cap, usually with a small plane pinned on it. Knowing that they are capable of taking us through the air, as if they were super heroes inside a cockpit full of screens, push buttons and luminous buttons, makes us admire them and, why deny it, a certain touch of envy. It impressed us, and it still does, no doubt.
Today, that fascination was even more intense when we received in our Radio Terrícola studio several women dressed in their brand new aviator uniforms. Women who proudly wore the uniform and who, listening to them, left us open-mouthed.
They are Maria del Mar, Elena and Lucia, all three belonging to the Iberia company, therefore, more than family (literally in the case of Lucia, who is a cousin of our dear colleague Hugo). They were accompanied by Elisabeth, president of the association Las Sillas Voladoras and a male member who joined the microphones for a few minutes, Francisco José, also an Iberia pilot.
Traditionally pilots, Raquel told us, have been men because the origin of this profession comes from the military, where there were no women. However, we miss seeing more women in the cockpit every time we take a flight. We imagine that this is changing, and the proof of that is them.
They told us about the complexity of their profession, about what they like most and least about their work, about some curious anecdotes during flights, about those legendary women, such as Amalia Earhart, pioneer and intrepid American aviator, or Bettina Kadner from Madrid, who was the first woman in Europe to fly an airplane with passengers in 1969.
Elisabeth Heilmeyer also flies and pilots her adapted plane of the association Las Sillas Voladoras. Fantastic name of an association that aims to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to fly at the controls of these impressive sailboats that need only a small impulse to stay floating in the air, as if it were a bird. She reminded us that our dear Antonio Martín "Michael", star of the documentary short film "Michael's Flight", already known all over the world, flew with them and invited us to try this fabulous experience. We will do it, Elisabeth.
Four extraordinary women who reach out to us for whatever they can contribute to our association and who provoke both sympathy and deep admiration for their vocation and achievements. Congratulations for all this and thank you for the generosity of your gestures.
Have a nice flight and see you soon!!!!
