These ladies have their By Mary Brotherton
heads in the clouds
Some people like to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground, but not these women. They are all members of The Spaceport 99s, a local chapter of The International Organization of Women Pilots, “the Ninety-Nines.” They all love to fly, yet their careers as pilots have taken each woman into the “wild blue yonder” in uniquely different ways.
Jane O’Connell Jane O’Connell started flying balloons in 1978. She and her husband, both antique car collectors, had been invited to Jackie Gleason’s Inverness complex. “We heard there was a balloon there, but it was a windy day and the pilot took it down before we could see it. We were disappointed until the winds died down and he flew. My husband and I were holding hands and at the same time, we said, ‘I’ve got to do that!’ Ballooning was very rare at that time. It took us a year to find the pilot so we could take lessons from him.” O’Connell said the most strenuous part is managing the balloon on the ground. “My balloon, gondola, propane, envelope all weigh 800 pounds.” The 82-year-old widow said she’s not interested in wrestling that much weight any longer. Her husband had been a notary public and they were both commercial balloonists, so they often performed
weddings in their balloon, Irish Mist. The couple recited vows while the balloon was tethered to the ground, then they took off to land where the wind currents took them. “The rest of the wedding party followed on the ground and we had a reception when we landed,” she said. The retired balloonist said ballooning was an awesome When her husband was moved to experience for her. “We got to meet so many adventuresome people. Even today, a hospice facility, in Tavares, Fla., people have to be adventuresome to take O’Connell noticed a mural of hot air balloons on the wall outside his a balloon ride. You only have a general room. After his death, she was granted idea where you might land. permission to have Irish Mist added to O’Connell said she has landed in the the mural to honor him. street or in people’s yards and they’d offer her a fresh cup of coffee. “The best part was the awesome beauty of being in the sky with the Lord,” she said. “Flying in Albuquerque was awesome,” “You are at the mercy of the wind, created O’Connell said. “Today they limit the by God.” number of balloons to 750 because we all take off at the same place and landing sites are limited.”
Nancy El Hajj At 82 years old, Nancy El Hajj has a fly single- and multi-engine airplanes, a flight instructor. She offered to teach stressful job, one few people over the has flown Mach 1 and set an unofficial me to fly for free. I learned to fly but age of 70 are allowed to do. She’s an record flying an F106. didn’t tell my husband until he came examiner for the FAA and at more than home and I took him for a ride. I’ve 14,000 hours, she has logged more flight “I was 76. A jet is blow and go. I climbed been flying since 1955.” up to 4,600 feet and watched the skin time than most airline pilots. temperature of the airplane go up El Hajj said she wondered how she She said, “The dangerous part of flying toward the redline. Got to Mach 2.01, would react in a crash situation. is driving to the airport. In 2001, I was that’s 2,500 miles per hour on the “It was a good lesson for me. It was on in a bad accident on the way to the groundspeed.” one of my first flight tests in 1972. The airport. The other driver died.” Married to a Navy test pilot, she said engine failed. I acted like an instructor She has owned her own air taxi she didn’t want to talk about babies and we had a controlled crash. I’ve had business, owned four airplanes, built with the other Navy wives. a wonderful life. a seaplane from a kit, is licensed to “One of the ladies in the squadron was I love what I do and it is so rewarding.”
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| Boomer Guide 2016