Gliding Women in Aviation

By Yvonne Loader

The 50th anniversary celebration of the NZ Women in Aviation (previously known as The Airwomen’s Association) was held at Queen’s Birthday weekend in Tauranga. It truly reflected the support/mentoring and friendships women with a common interest in all aspects of aviation have formed over the years.

Women glider pilots have always been a very small minority in gliding clubs, so it was extra special to have seven women glider pilots present at one gathering. Included in this group were glider pilots from the earlier years such as Ann Johnson, well known for setting three NZ feminine records in the 1970s – 8th January 1970 speed over a triangle 200 km 37.2kph in a Ka6Cr, and ‘straight distance to a goal’ and ‘free distance’ records achieved in one flight – 245.85 km in an ASW15 flown on the 29th January 1979.

It was great to see Ann and Rosemary Gatland of the well known Gatland family who have been involved in gliding for many years, join in the 50th anniversary celebrations. Rosemary gained her instructor rating in 1967 and at this time also began power flying to become a tow pilot. Rosemary and her sister, Margaret, flew to 10,000 feet in a KA7 two-seater, setting a NZ women’s height record of 7,600 feet. Rosemary set further NZ feminine records including gain of height and absolute height, out and return distance 308.2 km, speed over 300 km out and return 56.5 kph, and others. Ann with her husband, Frank, established a multi-seat record and in 1987 in her ’60s, she achieved her 300 km goal when few women had done so.

Ena Monk took her first gliding lesson in 1963 at Matamata and was instrumental with her husband, Graham, in forming the Rotorua Gliding Club. They purchased a Weihe glider, ZK-GAE, and Ena spent many hours gliding and flying Tiger Moth ZK-AVI as a tow pilot.

As a NZ Women in Aviation Association Past President, I enjoyed

Left to right back row Michelle Lappin from Australia, Sandy Griffin, Yvonne Loader, Ena Monk. Front row Ann Johnson, Ann Gatland, Rosemary Gatland.

the celebrations, having been a member for over 35 years and an active glider and power pilot for even more years*. Sandy Griffin, current President of the Tauranga Gliding Club, did an excellent job of organising and hosting the gliding competition events, and visiting Australian glider pilot, Michelle Lappin, added to the trans Tasman friendships/camaraderie we so much value and enjoy.

The weekend activities included inspirational speakers and video reflections of women in aviation over the years. The foundation members started a scrapbook of newspaper/magazine articles which has grown into quite a number of scrapbooks over the years, truly capturing women’s involvement in NZ’s aviation history. A lot of the information was used in the book Silver Wings. The scrapbooks are now such a valuable collection they are to be gifted into safe-keeping, probably in the Turnbull library, to be preserved for future generations of NZers.

*Yvonne Loader sells herself short. She too is a record holder setting a Woman’s World single seat gain of height (10,212m/33506ft) in 1988 with a record of absolute altitude (11312.3m/37114ft). She also holds NZ women’s records for free distance, out and return distance, and speed over an out and return course of 300 km. – Ed.

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