Summary Richarda obtained a civil flying license post-war: the first to do so in her country. Richarda faced numerous challenges on her historic flight around the world. Richarda's one-year-long solo flight made her the youngest female pilot to perform a circumnavigation.
Richarda (Dikki) Morrow-Tait became the first and the youngest female pilot to fly around the world. She was a woman of ambition, determination, and excellence, leading to her historic flight in the late 1940s. This article notes some facts about Richarda and her historic journey around the world.
1 The post-war civil flying license holder First in the country to obtain a license after the war Capacity : 2 Length : 28 ft 2 in (8.59 m) Wingspan : 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m) Height : 7 ft 3 in (2.
21 m) Empty weight : 2,340 lb (1,061 kg) Gross weight : 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) Powerplant : 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Queen II 6-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 210 hp (160 kW) Richarda (Dikki) Morrow-Tait was inspired to fly an airplane from a young age. In the 1930s, Richarda's schoolmates recall her as always inclined towards aircraft and flying. During the Second World War, a civil aviation ban was in place.
Richarda was one of three candidates to sign up for flight training at the Cambridge Aero Club on the first day after the wartime ban was lifted. Following rigorous flight training, Richarda became the first person in the country to obtain her pilot's license in the post-war era. According to the former Managing Director of the Kingdom Aero Club, Captain Terry Holloway, as quoted by Marshall , "Dikki was a quite remarkable woman and a very competent pilot.
In the early days of the Cambridge Aero Club in the 1940s she was remembered with huge fondness for her great enthusiasm and wonderful sense of humour as well as her great bravery in flying around the world.” Richarda obtained her civil flying license at the age of 22. Her pursuit to gain more experience and flying continued as she broke several barriers to make history.
Two years later, at 24, Richards embarked on the historic flight with her navigator, Micheal Townsend, who returned after his war service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Recognizing five trailblazing female aviators throughout aviation's history. 2 An eventful flight Richarda faced a series of incidents during her flight Crash : A minor crash during the first stop in France Maintenance : Mechanical issues required new parts Forced landing : By British Mustangs in Japan Escort : By US B-17 to the Aleutian islands Crash : A major crash in Alaska The 24-year-old pilot encountered several incidents along the way, not to mention harsh weather conditions and mechanical issues onboard the aircraft.
Richard and her navigator were involved in a minor crash during the first stop in France. While the aircraft and occupants survived, the crash caused some mechanical issues. The flight had to be delayed for nine weeks in India while awaiting new parts.
British Mustangs forced the aircraft to land in Japan due to an apparent airspace restriction at the time. The US B-17s later escorted Richarda's Percival Proctor IV to the Aleutian island. The aircraft faced a major crash due to heavy snow conditions in Alaska.
At that point, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and had to be written off. Women can apply for all roles of the Air Force, though some entry requirements are different compared to their male counterparts. 3 Multiple airplanes and crews Two airplanes two different crews Aircraft Registration Pilot Navigator Percival Proctor IV G-AJMU Richarda (Dikki) Morrow-Tait Micheal Townsend BT-13 Vultee Valiant NX-54084 Richarda (Dikki) Morrow-Tait Jack Ellis (Temporary: for three months) After the demise of the Percival Proctor IV in Alaska, Richarda had to wait over four months to raise funds for a new airplane.
One way, mostly the only way, to raise enough money was to work. Richarda earned money by giving lectures on flying, performing radio interviews, and singing in a nightclub. Another challenge was that her navigator, Michael Townsend, had to leave for his final exams to graduate from the university.
Richarda found a BT-13 Vultee Valiant, registration NX-54084. She also found another navigator, Jack Ellis, another member of the RAF. Ellis supported Richarda for three months until Townsend returned from his academic commitment.
Bonza has captured the nation's feelings by naming its next 737 MAX Matilda in a tribute to Australia's women's football team. 4 A one-year-long journey The circumnavigation journey took 366 days Departure from Croydon Airport: August 18, 1948 Arrival at Croydon Airport: August 19, 1949 Despite facing several challenges, the determined female pilot returned to where she began her circumnavigation journey. After one year and one day, she was greeted by her husband and her daughter at Croydon Airport.
The media praised her for her remarkable achievement. Things changed back home. Richarda's apartment building was replaced with student accommodation for Clare College in Cambridge.
Her tribute plaque was set to be installed on the outside of the building. The Chief Executive of a local charity, Cambridge Past, Present and Future, James Littlewood, who runs the Cambridge and District Blue Plaque Scheme, commented, "We are very pleased that the 40th plaque will be put up where Richarda lived before she set off on her amazing journey. We sat down for a chat with two of the women of hydrogen propulsion startup H2FLY for International Women's Day.
5 The 75th anniversary of the flight August 19 marks 75 years since the historic flight On August 19, a plaque unveiling ceremony was held at Cambridge Airport, marking 75 years of the completion of the historic flight. Christopher Walkinshaw, the Group Director of External Relations and Communications at Marshall, commented, "We are proud to support the unveiling of this plaque to a remarkable woman who undertook an extraordinary and historic flight so soon after learning to fly at our Airport in Cambridge." Richarda died in December 1982, at the age of 59.
Richarda still holds the record of being the youngest woman with a navigator to perform a circumnavigation. James Littlewood commented, "We hope her story will inspire passers-by and the students of Clare College, Cambridge." The Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week celebrates achievements made by female aviators.
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