Katherine Stinson

For the aeronautical engineer, see Katharine Stinson.

Katherine Stinson
Katherine Stinson standing in front of an aircraft
Stinson c. 1910
Born(1891-02-14)February 14, 1891
Fort Payne, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJuly 8, 1977(1977-07-08) (aged 86)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Resting placeSanta Fe National Cemetery
Known forAviator, stunt, and exhibition flying
Spouse
Miguel Antonio Otero Jr.
​
​
(m. 1927)​
Children4
Relatives
Aviation career
First flightJanuary 1911
Famous flights
  • First female pilot to fly a loop
  • First female to fly for the U.S. Mail Service
  • First female to fly in Canada and Japan
Flight licenseJuly 24, 1912
Pine Bluff, AR
Katherine Stinson and her Curtiss airplane.

Katherine Stinson (February 14, 1891 – July 8, 1977) was an American aviation pioneer who, in 1912, became the fourth woman in the United States to earn the FAI pilot certificate. She set flying records for aerobatic maneuvers, distance, and endurance. She was the first female pilot employed by the U.S. Postal Service and the first civilian pilot to fly the mail in Canada. She was also one of the first pilots to ever fly at night and the first female pilot to fly in Canada and Japan.[1][2][3]

Katherine was the first of the pioneering Stinson siblings of early aviation, who included younger sister Marjorie, and their younger brothers Eddie and Jack.[1][2][3][4]

  1. ^ a b Longyard, William H.: Who's Who in Aviation History: 500 Biographies, 1994, Airlife, Shewsbury, England, pp.177-178; ISBN 1-85310-272-5
  2. ^ a b "The Stinson Family Papers," San Diego Air and Space Museum, retrieved May 8, 2024
  3. ^ a b Schamburger, Page and Joe Christy: Command the Horizon: A Pictorial History of Aviation, 1968, A.S. Barnes, New York; Thomas Yoseloff, London; LOC 68-11541
  4. ^ Carson, Annette: Flight Fantastic: The Illustrated History of Aerobatics, 1986, Foulis/Haynes, Sparkford, England / Newbury Park, California; LOC 86-80522; ISBN 0-85429-490-2