The Whirly-Girls began on April 28, 1955 as an unofficial group with no officers, no dues, and no record of meetings. Six of the 13 known women helicopter pilots in the world met on the mezzanine of Washington D.C.’s Mayflower Hotel and decided to form a group to help other women who had the desire to become helicopter pilots. They were Hanna Reitsch (Germany), Dr. Valeria Andre (France), Ann Shaw Carter (USA), Nancy Miller (USA), Jacqueline Auriol (France), and Jean Ross Howard (USA).
The legacy of those women lives on through Whirly-Girls International and the associated Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund. Through their annual meetings, or “hoverings,” as well as their communications and outreach, members promote interest in helicopters among women. They grant scholarships to female pilots to qualify for helicopter ratings and have worked tirelessly to promote helicopter safety and the establishment of hospital and industrial heliports.
The Museum displays a handmade quilt with the names, numbers, and hometowns of the Whirly-Girls that was presented to Jean Ross Howard at the organization’s 1984 Hovering in Las Vegas. The quilt is accompanied by information about the organization’s founding and its first members. More information about the history of the Whirly-Girls can be found on their website.
