Jean Ross Howard Phelan (1916–2004) was the founder of the Whirly Girls and the 13th woman in the world to earn her helicopter accreditation.[1][2][3][4]
Phelan worked briefly at Eastern Airlines as a reservations clerk.[1] Phelan, after being inspired by Jackie Cochran, signed up but did not complete the Women's Airforce Service Pilots training.[1] She did earn her pilot's license in 1941.[5][6] Phelan was asked to stay by Cochran to help run the Women Airforce Service Pilots school.[7] After a year, she joined the Civil Air Patrol, worked for the Red Cross, and then joined the Aircraft Industries Association as an administrative aide in the helicopter division.[1][5]
In 1954, after convincing her supervisor to allow her to train at the Bell Helicopter School in Fort Worth, Texas, and 18 days of training, Jean became the eight American woman and 13th woman worldwide to earn her helicopter accreditation.[1][5]
In 1955, she founded the Whirly-Girls International with the goal of building a community of support for women helicopter pilots.[1][6][7]
She retired as director of helicopter activities in 1986.[5]
Awards and recognitionedit
Phelan was also the first woman chair of the American Helicopter Society's Annual Forum, hosting forums in 1958 and 1959.[5] For her contributions to the Washington, D.C. aviation community, Jean was presented with the Washington Air Derby Association Trophy in 1963.[5] From 1966 to 1968, she was elected president of the American Women's News Club.[5] In 1969, she was awarded the Lady Drummond Hay Trophy, granted by the Women's International Association of Aeronautics.[5]
Phelan was inducted into the Women in Aviation International's Hall of Fame in 1995.[3]
In 2003, Phelan was named as one of the "100 Women Who Made A Difference" by Women in Aviation.[5]
jean, ross, howard, phelan, 1916, 2004, founder, whirly, girls, 13th, woman, world, earn, helicopter, accreditation, bornseptember, 1916, diedjanuary, 2004, aged, alma, matersidwell, friends, schoolgeorge, washington, university, employeramerican, crosseastern. Jean Ross Howard Phelan 1916 2004 was the founder of the Whirly Girls and the 13th woman in the world to earn her helicopter accreditation 1 2 3 4 Jean Ross Howard PhelanBornSeptember 5 1916 DiedJanuary 29 2004 aged 87 Alma materSidwell Friends SchoolGeorge Washington University EmployerAmerican Red CrossEastern Air Lines WorksWhirly Girls Contents 1 Personal life 2 Education 3 Career 4 Awards and recognition 5 Death 6 ReferencesPersonal life editShe was born on September 5 1916 in Washington D C as Jean Ross Howard 5 Her grandfather was John W Ross Education editPhelan attended Sidwell Friends School and Western High School 1 5 She went to Connecticut College and then transferred to George Washington University where she received a bachelor s degree in history in 1939 1 In 1955 she earned a master s degree in history from American University with her thesis on Selected Economic Problems in the Operation of Common Carrier Helicopters 5 Career editPhelan worked briefly at Eastern Airlines as a reservations clerk 1 Phelan after being inspired by Jackie Cochran signed up but did not complete the Women s Airforce Service Pilots training 1 She did earn her pilot s license in 1941 5 6 Phelan was asked to stay by Cochran to help run the Women Airforce Service Pilots school 7 After a year she joined the Civil Air Patrol worked for the Red Cross and then joined the Aircraft Industries Association as an administrative aide in the helicopter division 1 5 In 1954 after convincing her supervisor to allow her to train at the Bell Helicopter School in Fort Worth Texas and 18 days of training Jean became the eight American woman and 13th woman worldwide to earn her helicopter accreditation 1 5 In 1955 she founded the Whirly Girls International with the goal of building a community of support for women helicopter pilots 1 6 7 She retired as director of helicopter activities in 1986 5 Awards and recognition editPhelan was also the first woman chair of the American Helicopter Society s Annual Forum hosting forums in 1958 and 1959 5 For her contributions to the Washington D C aviation community Jean was presented with the Washington Air Derby Association Trophy in 1963 5 From 1966 to 1968 she was elected president of the American Women s News Club 5 In 1969 she was awarded the Lady Drummond Hay Trophy granted by the Women s International Association of Aeronautics 5 Phelan was inducted into the Women in Aviation International s Hall of Fame in 1995 3 In 2003 Phelan was named as one of the 100 Women Who Made A Difference by Women in Aviation 5 Death editPhelan died at the age of 87 on January 29 2004 at George Washington University Medical Center 1 3 5 References edit a b c d e f g h i Sullivan Patricia 2004 02 05 Jean Ross Howard Phelan Dies at 87 Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2021 11 01 Slideshow NASM 1995 0062 ref517 edan si edu Retrieved 2021 11 01 a b c Jean Ross Howard Women in Aviation International www wai org Retrieved 2021 11 01 CONTENTdm twudigital contentdm oclc org Retrieved 2021 11 01 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Texas Archival Resources Online txarchives org Retrieved 2021 11 01 a b Historical Members Texas Woman s University twu edu Retrieved 2021 11 01 a b Mss 825 1 7 twudigital contentdm oclc org Retrieved 2021 11 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jean Ross Howard Phelan amp oldid 1226639357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
